Page 171 of The Dragon's Gambit
Lee nodded. “For now, how about we practice?” His dark eyes stared down at his fairy lustfully.
Reiya giggled. “I love you, Lee.”
He moved his lips downward and whispered into hers. “I love you too, my fairy.” His lips then met with hers and they shared a warm, sweet kiss, one that was filled with love and affection. He held her tightly against him, and then inched back, separating his lips from hers. “Time for some practice.” He reached down, lifted her up, and took off with her toward the castle.
Reiya squealed with laughter as she hung onto him. The future was not certain. There was still a dangerous battle ahead. But they had now. They had this moment, and she was going to soakup every minute she had with her mate. She threw her head back and laughed as he raced past the others and into the castle. She knew one thing for certain. She was happy ... the happiest she’d ever been. She was no longer the caged canary. With Lee, she had gotten her wings. Not just her wings, though. She had gotten the man she loved, her mate. With him by her side, she could face whatever the future had in store.
She had chosen to be with Lee by falling in love with him. Her heart chose him first. It just so happened that he was also her mate. Which was more important? To her, there was only one answer. Love. Love was more important. She would never have left his side, no matter what. She couldn’t deny the fact that she was destined to be with Lee, though. Even from the beginning, the Ocean’s Tear was created for their union. The Ocean’s Tear and the mate bond may have connected their lives, but love connected their hearts.
Levi and Reiya Beginnings
He was mildly annoyed over the whole idea. He couldn’t help it. He was going to be giving someone a very rare gift. Something he had never given to anyone before, not even hisdragons. He was going to become a young woman’s summon and gift her with the ability to bend water.
Levi sighed as he walked down the stairs from his private living area. He didn’t know much, except that her name was Reiya. Selene had specifically requested that he take this on. Why didn’t she get one of the lower deities for this, like she did with Seraphina? It was mildly embarrassing. A tier-one deity would be at someone’s beck and call. But if Selene was asking this of him, it had to be important.
As he opened the door to the main level, he heard panicked noises coming from the kitchen.
“I didn’t mean to. I—” A young man’s voice trembled slightly.
“Xander, what’s with the worried face?” Levi asked as he reached the young man. Levi had been watching over him in the absence of his father, and they had a very good relationship. Honestly, the young whelp was like a brother to him.
“Everything is fine, Levi.” An old man walked in from a side door. “He accidentally burned one of the maids. It was her fault. We asked that only those who can tolerate his aura stay. She didn’t want to give up her position and thought she could tolerate it. Well, I guess she’s been tolerating it well, but his heat is worse today. It burned her even though she was a few feet away.” Grandpa Sage was also in charge of taking care of the young dragon king. In a way, he was like the young man’s grandfather. He even called him Grandpa Sage, and the name just stuck.
“You are going to be quite the powerful dragon. Especially if your aura keeps increasing like this.” Levi placed his hand on Xander’s shoulder. “She’ll be fine. She’s a dragon and will heal fast.”
“At this rate, I wonder if I’ll even be able to take a mate.” Xander’s amber eyes looked off in the distance, until he was suddenly shoved. His hands sprawled out as he caught himselffrom crashing into the ground. He turned and looked back at Levi, who had a small smirk across his lips.
“That wasn’t a pity party, was it?” Levi watched as a smile curled over Xander’s lips.
“Not unlike your own pity party about having to take the fairy princess as your summon. Wah wah wah … I’m stuck babysitting the fairy princess.” He dodged Levi as he swatted at him. “And if she looks anything like her mother, I wouldn’t mind being her babysitter. Her mother, Lita, was able to touch me. I was so fascinated by her. I wonder what her daughter is like. Let me go with you today.”
“Not a chance. You’re staying right here and not burning all the werewolves alive with your aura. They’re weaker than you. I doubt even Lita would be able to be around you now.” Levi chuckled and turned to look at Grandpa Sage. “Well, I’m going to get this over with. I hope she doesn’t call me all the time.” He really enjoyed his privacy, and this was going to be very invasive. She would be able to call out to him anytime she wanted. He would always hear her voice from now on.
Reiya found a secluded area in the woods away from everyone and sat down. She had just turned sixteen and had hoped she would finally get her wolf. Her twin brother got his wolf a year ago, so why hadn’t hers arrived? She couldn’t feel her. She couldn’t sense her. She never said anything, but she felt like she was being left behind. Already the pack was shifting their focus to her brother Hunter, who would be the next alpha of the pack. But she felt a bit out of place. She was the fairy princess, but shelived in the werewolf pack. This was her home, but it wasn’t. It was her responsibility to rule the fairies one day.
She reached for a nearby stick, its rough bark and gnarled knots familiar in her grip. With quick, determined strokes, she drew in the soft dirt beneath her feet. Each line and curve was an outlet for the emotions swirling inside her, a release from the burden of pretending everything was fine. The cool earth gave her a sense of grounding, a moment to catch her breath before returning to the façade of strength and composure.
Concealed within the lush bushes, Levi watched her intently. He had come to bestow upon this stunning young woman the gift of becoming her summon, but as he gazed at her, he found himself frozen in awe. Her beauty was unparalleled, and it caused his heart to race with a primal urge to claim her. This desire burned through his veins, overwhelming him with a feral need. She was his mate! How? Why? She was young ... only sixteen years old. He forced himself to rein in his instincts, fighting against the wild urge to possess her completely. Why couldn’t she sense him, though? Their destined bond should have pulled her toward him.
A flicker of doubt crossed his mind. What if they weren’t mutual mates? Who was responsible for testing him in this way? The frustration and confusion threatened to overwhelm him, but he knew he must remain in control for her sake.
His eyes softened. He couldn’t help but notice the sadness that lurked behind her deep blue eyes. The sunlight danced off her silver locks, illuminating them like a halo around her head. But it was her eyes that captivated him, pulling him in like a powerful tide. Their depths were like an endless ocean, and he found himself longing to explore every inch of them. If her eyes were a sea, he would willingly dive in and never resurface. Who had caused such heartache for this woman?
He gingerly pressed his hand against his chest, feeling a sharp pain blossom within him. It was an ache he had never experienced before, like a burning fire in his heart. His usually calm eyes now glowed with a fierce anger, and he was determined to protect her at all costs. No one would dare lay a hand on her while he was around.
“Who’s there?” She stood up and turned in his direction.
Slowly, he stepped out of the brush. Waiting ... waiting ...please recognize the bond.
“Who are you?” Her confused blue eyes looked at him.
“I am Leviathan. I am here to become your summon. I will gift you the element of water.” He stepped toward her. Toward the pull. Toward the one who screamed to his heart. He was her prisoner, and she didn’t even know she’d captured him. His fragile strength was shattered under her gaze. With one word, she could control him. Maybe it was a good thing she couldn’t feel the pull. There was no way this would be okay with the council. In fact, it was forbidden. But for her ... he would defy them.
“You’re my summon? Like Seraphina is for my mother?”
“Not quite the same. I will be with you always. I am a tier-one deity and am much stronger than the phoenix. My presence will always be with you.” He moved to stand just in front of her. He could feel the tingling from their close proximity. The truth was, he wasn’t supposed to always be with her, but she was his mate. This gave him the perfect excuse to always be around her.
“You showed up at the perfect time. I was ... I was having a bad day, but I’m really excited now.” Her heart hummed like a hummingbird’s wings as she looked at this delicious man in front of her.Hello hormones!Damn, he was hot. Not just hot ... he was a volcano full of magma. He could incinerate her any day.Damn, I want him.
