Taming Her Beastly Mate

High pitch screams echoed in the dark forest. Closer. Closer. Closer. The cries moved closer as they wailed in the wind.

Micah turned and stared in the direction where the sound was coming. He didn’t move or flinch as he braced himself for the approaching evil. Alexis chuckled and walked next to Micah.

“You aren’t afraid of the shrieks, are you?” Alexis scoffed and turned as the shrieks arrived in masses.

Instantly the shrieks stopped, and their screaming ceased. It was as if they sensed the unnatural swirling energy of the woman in front of them. And for the first time ever the shrieks retreated going deep into the forest. Entities of evil retreated from the dark fairy princess. Because what was in front of them was an untouchable creature. One that didn’t fear death but welcomed it.

Alexis shrugged. “I guess they didn’t want to play.” The world was now quiet and even the birds didn’t dare to sing.

Micah stared at Alexis as he tried to adjust to her new personality. He did what he had to do back at the castle. He made sure that Alexis allowed him to stay close. He would protect her no matter what. And he hoped that he could reach the real Alexis that was deep inside.

“What is the plan now, Xi?” Micah asked casually when he noticed her gaze landed on him. “Are you going to turn into Elsa and let it go?” He chuckled and watched a wry grin spread over her face.

“That’s not a bad idea.” Alexis walked into a small clearing in the middle of the forest. Then she spread her hands out and began to build her fortress.

Micah watched with a sense of dread as Alexis’ beautiful ice magic was now dark. Black ice sprang from her hands and rose from the ground. A black rigged crystal tower reached for the sky. It branched out from the center like limbs from a trunk. Sharp dark ice spikes spread out in an imposing warning. Two thick, round towers branched out from the center but remained connected by obsidian ice walls. A set of small icy stairs led to the center of the ice building which had two thick frozen doors.

“I’m disappointed. Elsa’s castle was way cooler.” Micah chided and listened to her snort at him.

“Elsa was a cry baby who built a large castle to hide herself inside. I’m not hiding from anyone. If they want me, then come for me.” Alexis shrugged as she walked up the steps of her ice palace.

“Xi, you wouldn’t really fight against your parents if they come… right?” Micah watched her snap her head in his direction. She was studying him with her dark glaring eyes. Her eyes were almost black now and completely void of the beautiful blue that often lit up when she smiled. A red hue could be seen flickering across a red eye.

“Why Micah? Is that a problem for you? Who am I to you? Am I Alexis? Or am I Xi?” Alexis’ face turned cold as she set her icy gaze on Micah. She brought Micah with her thinking he accepted the person she is. But, if he was only following her because viewed her as Alexis this was a problem.

Yet, when she heard him ask if she planned to fight her parents her insides froze. She felt her emotions begin to tear like a piece of paper. It was like that part of her as Alexis wasn’t her at all. It was a distant memory of someone familiar that she could no longer relate to. There was a dark cloud in her mind that put a barrier around that part of her. She didn’t know why but it made her frustrated. It was confusing to think about. It was… painful. But Micah made her feel like she wasn’t lost. It was like he was part of her. He also had a darkness inside of him and belonged by her side.

Alexis watched as a gentle smile spread over his lips. He stepped over to her and wrapped her in his embrace. And— She didn’t push him away. Instead, she felt his acceptance embrace her and she sighed with relief. Why was she relieved? Did she really need Micah that badly? This was something she wasn’t going to analyze any further. She decided she would refer to before as her past life. And maybe her past life was who needed Micah so badly.

“Xi, it doesn’t matter to me what you call yourself. I’m the one who will always be by your side. If you need me to slide into some leather pants and a leather jacket just let me know. You are my princess no matter what. I won’t allow myself to be apart from you. Remember, it is us. I need you.” Micah felt her tension ease after that. Which gave him hope. Xi wasn’t all bad. She was still Alexis. He just needed to remind her of that. But he would bide his time. No matter how long it took.

“So, did you set me up with a hot tub? Or something cool in my room?” Micah teased as Alexis backed away from him. He could see the confusion in her eyes for a moment before they returned to darkness. Maybe being near him could help the light find its way out.

“Be thankful I made you a room.” Alexis gave him a dark smile.

Micah’s smile faded slightly at the new coldness she was showing him. And swallowed the pain down deep. “Lead the way… Xi.”

__

Aken flashed into the upper level of the castle in the dragon kingdom. By his side he had Terra. As soon as he found her he quickly teleported back so he could be with Alexis. But he didn’t sense her there…

“Aken! Thank the gods you are back.” Brian jumped up from his seat with panic and Bella stood up next to him.

“Where is Alexis? What happened?!” Aken felt sheer fear wash over his body. He could see the apprehension on Brian and Bella’s faces.

“Erebus entered Elysium and killed Alexis’s Great Grandparents, Alice, Ethan, and their guardian Dylan. Something inside Alexis snapped and she has changed – she isn’t our Lexi anymore. She even attacked Rhea and demanded we call her Xi. Levi told me to send you to Elysium.” Brian watched an eerily dark expression form on Aken’s face. “They might have more information there.”

“Where is she now? Is she in Elysium?” Aken asked in a cold voice.

“No. She teleported with a black smoke that was untraceable. It was—demonic.” Brian watched Aken clench his jaw and his knuckles whitened as he squeezed his hand. Terra took a timid step away from him as she watched him cautiously.

“I told that damn reptile that the glass needed to come out now. Damn it… I should not have left her.” Aken shifted his weight on his legs as he tried to think what to do.

“Levi said—” Brian started but quit talking with the irate glare Aken gave him.

Aken took in a deep breath in order to calm himself. He would get his mate back. No matter what he was collecting what was his. Even if he had to lock her up. It didn’t matter to him. He would protect her from herself if he had to.

“Where is Micah?” Aken growled lowly.

“Micah is with her. When Levi pushed her darkness back at her to protect Rhea Micah defended Alexis.” Brian could see Aken’s shoulders sink down in relief.

“Good bear. Alright. I’m going to bring Alexis back.” Aken could feel his rage swirling inside of him. But above that was fear. His sweet mate was lost inside of herself. That damn piece of glass was clouding her mind. He needed to get to her before it was too late.

“Erebus was trying to kill Tyler in order for the curse—” Brian listened as Aken growled through his teeth.

“Oh, I know what that bastard was thinking. Even now he is still a coward. He is afraid to face me. Instead, it is easier to reactivate the curse. Well, I’m not going to give him that opportunity. It’s time I claim my mate.”

“Xi, it doesn’t matter to me what you call yourself. I’m the one who will always be by your side. If you need me to slide into some leather pants and a leather jacket just let me know. You are my princess no matter what. I won’t allow myself to be apart from you. Remember, it is us. I need you.” Micah felt her tension ease after that. Which gave him hope. Xi wasn’t all bad. She was still Alexis. He just needed to remind her of that. But he would bide his time. No matter how long it took.

“Levi is waiting for you in Elysium,” Brian said once more.

“And that means what to me? Serendipity can handle whatever business he needs to handle there. Alexis is my business and the only business I care about. I will find her.”

“Through your mate connection?” Bella asked curiously.

“Perhaps? But it isn’t consistent enough. She wears a necklace with my essence in it. And that is something I can easily track.” Aken then turned to look at Terra. “Stay here until I return.” He glanced at Brian to see him nod his head letting him know it was alright.

“My lord, I can help.” Terra watched as Aken shook his head.

“No, not this time. Just stay here and wait for my orders.” Aken then turned to look at Brian. “When Levi comes back tell him I am bringing back my mate and to leave it to me. I don’t need him coming and making matters worse.” Before Brian could respond Aken vanished.

Aken moved instantaneously through space. He allowed himself to be guided as he tried to connect with his own energy. As he got closer, he could feel a new pull. He felt his connection to his mate. And if he could feel it… Alexis would be able to feel it too.

Aken appeared in a familiar forest. One he had visited before when he protected Lucy from the shrieks. Through the trees, he could see a black shiny structure. The magnificent ice structure was beautifully made. The shiny ice was like a black pearl in the forest. It was exquisite and so was the person who made it.

It was in that direction that he could feel his heart pulling him. As he got closer his breath caught in his chest. Standing outside of a black ice palace was Micah and next to him was Alexis. Her eyes were dark, and they stared at him like he was a foreign existence.

“What exactly do you want?” Alexis snapped at him in a cold tone.

Aken chuckled and leaned back on his heels in a relaxed manner. “Well, that is an easy question… you.”

Alexis scoffed. “No thanks. I’m not interested.” She stared at this man with her foggy memory. All she could remember clearly was the pain and sorrow. He never came for her. He was always hiding from her. Her emotions were swarming and intertwining with darkness.

Micah looked over at Alexis. “How does he look to you? Does he look like Erebus at all?”

Alexis looked at Micah and rolled her eyes. “No. If he looked like Erebus I would have killed him already.” She wasn’t sure why but she had a deep-rooted hatred for Erebus.

“Does he look like—” Micah started, and Alexis clicked her tongue.

“Just a person, Micah. A person that I don’t feel anything towards.”

Micah looked up and met with Aken’s green eyes. Alexis probably no longer feared Erebus, so she didn’t see his face. But the fact that Aken looked normal to her meant he was no longer her heart’s desire. That… or she didn’t have anything she feared anymore.

“Lex, I’m—” Aken started but Alexis immediately snapped at him.

“Xi. I’m not this ‘Lex’ you speak of. It’s Xi.”

Aken grinned and tilted his head to look her over. His eyes trailed over her body very slowly. He watched her body tense for a moment under his gaze. “No, you are her alright. You are mine.”

“I belong to no one. Least of all, a god who left Alexis alone her whole life. What? Now you have a change of heart? Well, Alexis is dead. She isn’t here now. You don’t have a mate anymore.”

Aken stared into her dark eyes and watched as a red hue swirled through one of them. She didn’t remember things clearly. And she was obviously trying to warn him off. But he was certain that he could reach her. No matter what… he was going to bring her back.