Chapter 13
Alexis sighed loudly as she climbed into bed. She listened to the deep rumbling laughter coming from Micah, whose bed was at the far wall opposite of her bed.
“I can’t believe my father is okay with you sleeping in the same room as me. You are still a guy after all.”
“Yeah, but he knows I don’t look at you as a woman.”
“Oh? Then what am I?” She asked as she pulled the covers up to her chest.
“A sassy spoiled princess.” He snorted as he turned his head to look at her. The room was dark, but he could see clearly with his exceptional eyesight.
“I see. So, if I strip down naked in front of you it would have no effect on you at all?” Alexis listened to Micah scoff loudly.
“No,” Micah replied tersely.
“Oh really?”
Micah sat up and looked towards the bed. “Would you expect Cody to be aroused seeing your mother naked?”
“Well, no because they are siblings… AWWWW, Micah! You do look at me as your sister.” Alexis sat up squealing and looked over at him.
“I never wanted your parents to adopt me because I didn’t want parents again. I didn’t want… but anyways a sister I can handle.” He smiled at her for a moment before he laid back down on his bed. “A troublesome sister but a sister nonetheless.
“I love you, Micah.” Alexis made a kissing sound and flopped back onto her bed. “You’re my brother too. And I would be totally mortified to see you naked.”
“What about seeing Aken naked…” Micah teased.
“Um I saw him with clothes on and all I will say is wow. And I can’t wait to-”
“Ugh, Lex!” Micah closed his eyes in disgust. “Rated PG Lex. This isn’t girl chat time. Wait for Raine for that. We aren’t going to talk about… those things… ever. As far as I am concerned you will live your life as a nun and if you get pregnant it will be a virgin miracle.”
Alexis giggled. She hopped up and quickly ran over to her closet making Micah sit up to look at her like she was crazy. He watched her grab something and jump back in bed.
“What was that?”
“Aken’s shirt. It still has just a little bit of his scent left on it and it’s comforting.”
“Go to sleep Lex.” Micah rolled over with an annoyed tone.
“Nighty night Mikey.” Alexis pulled the shirt up nestling her head on it. She couldn’t sleep in his arms right now so this would have to be good enough.
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Aken used his connection to pinpoint her exact location and teleported into her room. He just couldn’t take it. He needed to see her and make sure she got home safely. He looked in the darkroom and noticed the two beds. He looked over at the male body that he knew to be Micah, Alexis’ guardian. Who looked to be sleeping soundly instead of watching Alexis. He took a couple of steps towards Alexis and a low deadly growl rippled through the room. He stopped and turned to notice the intense eyes drilling into him. Like a silent assassin. The bear knew he was there and was watching him.
Aken raised his finger up to his lips. Hush little bear. Don’t wake my princess.
Your princess? Pfft. You haven’t even been around her to make a claim on her. Micah leaned up on his arm to look more directly at the man.
When Micah first sensed the figure, he went into combat mode. But then he detected his scent, and he recognized the smell. It was the scent on the shirt Alexis was holding. He had never seen Aken before, but he knew his scent because of that shirt. This man in front of him wasn’t a threat to her. And he was someone who Alexis really wanted in her life. Once Alexis and Aken marked each other Micah would also be Aken’s guardian, not that he needed one though.
I’ll be claiming her soon. She is mine. Aken arched his brow at Micah seeing if he would challenge this.
Is that right, Aken? Well… Micah rolled on his back and yawned. Will you do it already and start helping me? She’s a handful.
Aken smiled and turned to look at his golden-haired angel sleeping. He walked silently up to the bed to get a closer look at her. His eyes furrowed as he studied the item she was clinging onto. Then the realization hit him. It was his shirt. A wave of warmth flooded over him. His sweet little mate. He grabbed the bottom hem of his shirt and raised it over his head.
I’m in the room remember. I don’t need a show.
Aken’s lips twitched upwards as he laid his shirt next to Alexis. Now she would have something heavier with his scent. He knew if she woke up he wouldn’t be able to leave her. But he couldn’t resist the urge to k**s her. He slowly leaned down and tenderly brushed the top of her head with his lips. She squirmed a bit and instinctively reached for the new shirt of Aken’s pulling it close to her. Damn, he wanted her to hold him instead of his shirt. Maybe he could just for a little bit… He reached his hand towards her slowly-
Look, I know you two are mates. But she is asleep. I’ll let the k**s on the forehead slide this time. Until its consensual hands-off. Not that she would mind but it seems wrong with her asleep.
Aken straightened up and turned to look at Micah. If I wake her, I don’t think I’ll be able to leave her.
So, stay with her during the night. Micah looked at the bed. I know she would be happy with that.
Aken held out a couple of crystals. These suppress my presence. Which is why the water serpent doesn’t know I am here. But you felt me… how?
I’m a guardian so I guess that’s how. I am designed to protect her. It’s my whole purpose. She is my life.
Aken stared at the crystals curiously and then tucked them back inside. Maybe the bear could also detect Erebus if that is the case.
I don’t know when I’ll be able to stop back to check on her. I have to go to some dangerous places. Some of them are not easy to get in and out of. Even if I don’t kill Erebus, I will come back as soon as I can. I can’t go long without seeing her. Aken looked back at Alexis longingly. His heart was rapidly beating with the excitement of being near his mate. He imagined crawling in bed next to her and holding her close. It’s what he had wanted for so long. And he couldn’t believe he was actually going to have it.
For so long, he had been telling himself that he couldn’t have her. That he was no good for her. And he still didn’t feel like he was good enough. It was one of the things he wanted to talk to her about. He loved her at a level that terrified him. He was afraid that something would happen to her because of him. But there was something else that he couldn’t deny. And that was no one would protect her as he would. Terra was right. He was a god. He had the strength to protect her. The best way he could protect her wasn’t to stay away from her but be by her side.
Of course, the moment he would realize he couldn’t be without Alexis Erebus would show up. He had a different idea in mind of how tonight would go. He fully planned to be holding her right now. He had come to talk to Alexis and tell her everything in his heart. Then he saw Erebus with his grubby hands on her. Damn, he wished he could have gone straight for the kill then. But he didn’t want Alexis to get caught in the crossfire.
Erebus was a devious bastard. He knew the best way to control Alexis would be to attack her family. They were scattered all over and it would be easy for him to kill them one by one.
He balled up his hand making his knuckles turn white. Erebus put his fingers on Alexis. And now he wants to claim her as his own. As if Aken already didn’t have a reason to kill him. Now there was added fuel to the fire. He would never let that disgusting vermin have her.
There was a part of Aken that wanted to take Alexis and hide her. But he knew she would be worried for her family. He would do anything he could to make her happy. The bear mentioned staying with her at night. Maybe that is something he could do until Erebus is killed. They could hide their relationship for now. He had a couple of areas he needed to check out but afterwards, he would come to Alexis. And they could discuss how they wanted to move forward with their relationship.
He raised his hand up and a soft glow formed. A gold chain with a sparkling gem appeared. He turned and looked at Micah and mentally linked to him. Make sure she gets this and wears it. Tell her if there is an emergency to break the gem and I will come to her. He watched the bear nod and held out his hand expectantly. Aken took a couple of quiet steps over to Micah and placed the necklace in his hand.
It’s warm.
Aken smiled and nodded his head. It has my magic inside of it. As long as I’m alive it will stay warm.
She is going to be upset she didn’t get to talk to you. Micah looked up at Aken who sighed nodding his head sadly.
I know she will be. But I don’t have the willpower… I’ve been fighting it for so long. I don’t want to fight it anymore. I lost the will to fight it. I need to go to enter to demon realm now while it is still dark. It is my best bet to get in undetected.
Be careful. I don’t love you or anything but that girl over there does. And I won’t forgive you if you make her sad.
Aken smiled and looked at his mate’s beautiful, peaceful, sleeping body. I’ll be back. Protect her for me until I return.
Micah shook his head. I’m protecting her for me. She’s my life’s purpose. You can protect her for you when you come back.
Aken smiled. He liked this bear. Very few people talked freely with him. Most were afraid of him or spoke to him with reverence. But not Micah. Aken kept his sights on Alexis as he teleported away from her. Trying to hold her features deep in his memory.
Micah watched the deity vanish and he raised the chain up to study it. He reached his fingers up touching the warm gem. He stared at it closely and a smile spread across his lips. There was something engraved on the gold chain it said ‘You’ve always had it’. And then inside of the clear sparkling gem was the shape of a heart.
Micah chuckled to himself and rolled over on his side. The deity had game. He raised his eyes to look at Alexis. The Kraken who everyone feared was completely wrapped around her finger. Just like Leviathan was with Rhea. Hopefully, everything would work out for them like it did for her parents. He closed his eyes and smiled. Alexis was going to go nuclear on him when she realized Aken was here, and no one woke her.