Taming Her Beastly Mate
Chapter 80

Back at Elysium that same day…

Brian had luckily arrived right before Levi left. Thankfully he caught him first. Because there was an important matter that needed his urgent attention.

Levi had briefed them over what had happened. Including how Erebus had gotten Raine. When Raine walked into the room sensing her mate, Ryker immediately reacted pulling her flush against his chest. He held Raine’s body as tight as he could without smashing her. His cheek rested on her head while he squeezed her against his chest.

“Mmmpphhh.” Raine muffled out as she squirmed her head to the side. “Ryker, I am fine. I wasn’t hurt. It’s Alexis we have to worry about right now.”

“Shh, just let me Raine.” Ryker said in a quiet voice. His beast raged against him angrily at the very thought of what could have happened to his mate and unborn child.

“I do have an important matter to tend to.” Levi looked at Brian who looked around the room.

“Is this room soundproof?” Brian asked and watched as Rhea nodded her head.

“We just need to shut the door…” Rhea stared at him. “Why what is it?”

“Brian! You are back.” Titus said with a relieved smile. “I saw you landing a few minutes ago. Why didn’t you come replace me?” He reached out to Brian who rolled his shoulder out of the way taking a step back.

“Ryker… shut the door.” Brian commanded. He watched as he immediately obeyed tugging Raine with him. He shut the door and leaned up against it nodding at Brian.

Brian reached behind him and pulled out a handheld mirror. It was an oval mirror that had a soft glow over the metal handle. The metal was silver, but it looked a bit tarnished, like an old coin with wear. He held it up and looked over at Levi.

“Gramps gave me this. Have a look.” Brian held it in the direction of Levi and watched it carefully as his face reflected in it. He let out a sigh and then looked over at his father suspiciously.

“This has a strange power coming from it.” Rhea stood up on her tiptoes to look in the reflection of the mirror. “But it is very pretty.”

Brian glanced at Rhea’s reflection before turning to look at his father. “Dad, would you look into the mirror?”

“I’m not going to get trapped inside or something am I?” Titus laughed as he took a curious step forward. Brian was acting differently with him. And he was curious what was going on that was so secretive. Not to mention the strange mirror. He watched as his son studied the mirror as if his life depended on it. Titus looked at himself and then lifted his hand to tidy up his hair. He winked at his son with a chuckle. “Alright so what is with this ominous mirror from gramps?”

“Ryker.” Brian turned his head to the side. “I need to check Raine too. Just as a precaution.” He watched as Ryker slowly brought his mate forward while keeping her wedged in his side. Brian held the mirror out and after he was satisfied let out a sigh. “Well at least we know everyone in this room is alright… for now.” He looked up at Ryker. “We are going to need to act fast. We can’t risk anything happening behind our backs.”

“Brian!” Levi said with slight agitation. “I need to hear what is going on.”

Brian nodded his head. “Ryker and I were thinking about the demons and their involvement with the dragons. And we reached a very disturbing conclusion. The nembrant glass. They could insert the glass in the dragon royals in order to control the dragons. By doing this they could change the allegiance of the dragons.” He lifted up the mirror and waved it slightly. “This mirror will glow red if the person who looks into it has a piece of the glass in their eyes.”

Levi’s eyes widened as he looked up at Titus. This could potentially be really bad. He couldn’t leave yet. They had to make sure all the royals were clear. But then what? They couldn’t stay in Elysium forever.

“Brian, don’t forget about this.” Ryker held out a small tin container.

“Right.” Brian grabbed it and extended it out to Rhea. “Gramps took one of these to protect himself from the glass. There are a couple of handfuls left. He said to distribute some of them and then see if Lilly can create more. If we are right, we are all going to need this in mass production. Without it…” He shook his head in agitation. “We have to get rid of the nycrops. The ability to keep making nembrant glass is too dangerous.”

“Damn…” Titus looked up at Levi who was studying the box Rhea had in her hand. “If we don’t have enough to give to everyone… it has to be everyone…all allies.” He shook his head. Anyone could be an enemy. They couldn’t live like that. They needed something to protect everyone from the affects of the nembrant glass. He stared at the box. Whatever was in the tin was their hope.

Rhea tilted her head as she looked at the box slowly lifting the lid. She stared at the contents quietly and then glanced up to Levi. “Grandpa Sage… wants us to make more of… these…” She watched as Levi grabbed one with his hand and lifted it up to his eyes to study it. His lips curled down slightly as he looked down at Rhea. “I don’t… I don’t think my mother is the one who can create more of these.”

Titus looked at Rhea with concern. “Who can create more? And what are they?”

Rhea plucked a few silver flakes out of the box. She distributed one to Titus, Brian, Bella, and Ryker. She then went to hand one to Lee who shook his head.

“You take it. I don’t need it. There isn’t anyone who can create a nembrant glass powerful enough to control me… You take it.” Levi brushed his fingers over her shoulder.

“What about Raine?” Ryker asked with a small frown.

“We only have a small amount. We need to make sure the royals are protected right now. They will be the main targets.” Raine spoke up smiling up at Ryker who frowned hearing this. She grabbed the flake from his hand and pushed it into his mouth. He would need it being Brian’s right hand man. And she did have some level of protection being in Elysium.

Brian studied the flake for a moment before he placed it on his mouth. There was a warm tingling sensation as it disintegrated on his tongue. “Gramps said that the effects are permanent. But what exactly is it?”

“I can just sense the magic used…” Rhea said quietly. “But I am unsure what was done to create it. Or exactly what it does.”

“First we need to check on the other royals and make sure they are clear.” Titus watched as Rhea reached out and grabbed the mirror from Brian.

Rhea tilted the mirror around and nodded her head slowly. “I’ll talk to my mother. I think we may be able to create something more effective to detect the nembrant glass. We will use this mirror as a guide.”

“Perfect. First, we will go over the royals and make sure none of them have the nembrant glass. We will need Levi here to be able to quickly subdue them if they do. Once everyone is checked over, we need to look into getting more of those flakes. Who do we need to see?” Titus watched as a small smile crept over Rhea’s lips.

“We will need to go see the Merrow Queen, Olga.”

Small bursts of steam constantly rose in the air, black tar boiled, and small pools of lava glowed red in the dark. The strong stench of sulfur was heavy in the air. Black marbled walls swirled as if they were alive. In front of those walls were faceless heads, nothing but black blurs with long black robes. Their bodies were like tar that had a slight black smoke emitted from them. The creatures were as still as statues as they stood at attention.

In the center of the room was a large throne made of various skulls. Creatures of all kinds that had been infused into the structure. And sitting upon the skull throne was a man that was colossal in size. The man sat there with a smug look on his face as he stared out in front of him. His eyes were on another man who walked in looking slightly agitated.

“Now what seems to be the problem?” The Demon King, Marcus, asked with slight annoyance.

“I don’t understand you. What are you doing?”

Marcus arched a brow and straightened up in his seat. “Are you questioning me Taric? Do you think this seat should be yours?” A smirk rose on his face. “Well then by all means… take it. That is if you can.”

Taric’s jaw tightened and he clenched his teeth together. “No father. That’s not what I am saying. I’m saying with your power why are you humoring Erebus? Why are you tolerating the nycrops?”

Marcus snorted as he leaned back into the skull seat. “No matter how much power anyone has no one can do it all. It is part of the way nature balances itself out. The only creature that can create the nembrant glass is the nycrops. The nembrant glass already has my essence and your essence in it. But what doesn’t it have? A god’s essence. Erebus is still considered a deity. Adding his essence to the glass helped make it more powerful. But by infusing Erebus with the glass, we have created a living nembrant glass.” He looked at his son and sneered down at him. “Erebus is going to die. One way or another. And when he does, he will become part of the glass. That power will flow through our army.”

“But he will control the army!” Taric growled and watched as his father narrowed his eyes at him.

“Id.iot. I will control the army. They will be bonded by my essence. Erebus will be able to take control of only one body. But even then, he will be bound to me in a bond that he won’t be able to break. It is like guaranteeing a loyal guard dog. Don’t insult me son. I haven’t gotten to this position by making rash decisions. This has been in the works for hundreds of years. Very careful planning.” Marcus watched as his son slowly nodded but still seemed to be in thought. “What now?”

“What are your plans for the nycrops?”

“The nycrops?” Marcus shrugged with a laugh. “It doesn’t matter. If Erebus does his job, she will become just another minion in my army. And if he doesn’t…” He rose his shoulders again. “She is hardly a threat. I can look at her and turn her to ashes. But she has her uses.”

“You shouldn’t trust her.”

Marcus laughed loudly. “Of course, I don’t trust her. You don’t get to my position by trusting people.”

Taric looked to the side and took in a slow breath as he gathered his courage to say what was really on his mind. “Is all of this really necessary? If your plan fails, it will put a target on all of us. Things are fine the way they are now.” He looked up to see his father glowering down at him. A heavy aura reached out and gripped around his body threatening to crush him where he stood.

“And this is your problem. Content. You are content to be just who you are. No desire for more. No desire for power. You disgust me. A pathetic excuse for the demon king’s son. Where is your drive?!”

“I have drive.” Taric said indignant on his behalf. “It just isn’t the same as yours. I don’t see the benefit. What do you want with this take over?” He paused as he eyed his father. “You aren’t telling me everything…” His voice trailed off in a quiet hurt tone.

Marcus laughed and grinned widely. “Of course not. Trust no one. That includes you. You don’t need to know everything. You just need to do what I tell you to.”

“You…really don’t trust me?” Taric didn’t mean for his voice to sound so wounded but it did. It was a vulnerability that his father would pounce on.

“You’re not going to cry, are you?” Marcus smirked as he watched his son straighten his shoulders. “Listen to me. This is my kingdom. I know you are called the prince, but I have no plans to EVER give you or anyone the crown.”

“Did I ever give you the impression that I wanted it?” Taric snapped.

Marcus stood up and took a couple intimidating steps towards his son. “Don’t get your panties in a twist. These emotions are unbecoming for a son of mine. Of course you want it. Because you would be a complete disappointment if you didn’t. But the difference is knowing you can’t have it because you’ll never be strong enough to take it from me. Understand?!”

Taric balled his hand into a fist as he averted his gaze from his father. “I understand.”

“Good…” Marcus scowled as he looked at Taric. “Such a disappointment…” He sighed as he turned around to go back to his throne. “Leave… you are spoiling my mood.”

Taric’s head shook before he turned and silently walked away. He knew his father was never the affection type. But he thought there was a level of trust and respect between them. Had he not proven himself? He had done everything his father had asked him to do. He always showed his loyalty to him. He couldn’t help it… it hurt to hear his father didn’t trust him.

Taric walked through the dark corridor slowly. What was his father not saying? For him to keep it a secret it must be something he is afraid could be used against him. Is there some power his father is after? A power that could be a threat to him in the wrong hands? Yes… this must be it. But what was it?

The day was quiet as the sun was creeping over the horizon. The sky was red, and the ground was painted in orange and yellow. The color of the sky matched the rage that was currently building up inside of Aken. Micah and Aken had been searching tirelessly for Alexis. And while Micah was able to pick up some signals, they hadn’t been able to pinpoint the location.

Aken watched as Micah walked around quietly. He was trying to see which direction the pull was in. Which was infuriating that Aken couldn’t even sense his soul mate. He just wanted her back. She belonged in his arms. He let out a deep sigh as his anger started to boil over. His fists clenched, his breathing became heavy, and his eyes narrowed. “I’m going to kill that fuc.king god.” He breathed out through gritted teeth. All the time he spent searching for Alexis, all of his worry, his pain, and his anger… he was going to make Erebus pay for it.

“Not if I kill him first.” Micah snarled as he turned his head to look at Aken. He had learned that he was powerful enough to stand toe-to-toe with the deities. He just needed to embrace his power fully. Which he now could. He wasn’t afraid of himself anymore. All of his concerns were on Alexis.

The more Micah concentrated on Alexis the more a strong primal power began to emerge. The darkness inside of him was being absorbed into something else. Almost becoming part of his body instead of a separate existence. The bloodlust wasn’t taking over anymore.

“I hope she is alright…” Aken whispered out quietly looking up at the sunrise. He knew he needed to replace Micah back then, but he regretted leaving Alexis side. Had he stayed with her this wouldn’t have happened. Erebus knew him far too well. Wherever he had taken Alexis he knew how to keep her hidden from him.

Micah closed his eyes concentrating on Alexis. He focused on his thoughts of needing to replace her. Of having to be by her side. As he did, he could feel himself being pulled. It was like a gentle tug, but it was enough. He opened his eyes and looked at Aken.

“That direction. She is in that direction.” Micah pointed his finger in the distance as Aken walked up to him. Aken gripped his shoulder and the next second they were being transported again. Each time they were getting a little bit closer to replaceing her and killing Erebus.

Alexis looked out the window as she watched the sun rising over the ocean waves. She was trying to formulate a plan in her head on how to get Erebus to talk. The topic of Aken seemed to provoke emotions out of him. There was a good chance that Erebus would talk more if he was upset. She would plan to start asking questions about Ivory and take it from there. No matter what she needed to replace out what he knew about the demons.

She turned and looked behind her as she heard her door creaking open. She watched as Erebus stepped inside and his eyes immediately found her.

“Oh, good you’re up… Good morning princess. Time for breakfast.”