Taming Her Beastly Mate

Chapter 8 Bargain

Brian stepped closer to Alexis and nodded his head over at her. “You want me to have s*x with your daughter?” He said in a terse tone, making Micah snort from behind them.

“What?” Brian looked at the shocked faces in front of him. “We can talk about this, right? After all, you are suggesting that I mate and mark your daughter. You are bringing it up so nonchalantly like we are discussing the dinner menu. So, let’s discuss this dinner menu.”

A low, dangerous growl came from the deity standing in front of him. Brian knew he may have taken things a bit far but he found how casually they spoke of mates infuriating. He watched as Rhea gripped onto Levi and with a small twitch of his lips he calmed down. Thank goodness for Rhea. However, he could see his father was at a boiling level. And he wasn’t sure if his mother would be enough to calm him down.

“You aren’t saying this as a suggestion. You are saying this as a matter of fact…” Alexis immediately put the attention on her. “What about Aken? What about my fated mate?!”

“He hasn’t shown himself to you. He doesn’t intend to take you as his mate.” Lee closed his eyes for a moment before redirecting them at his daughter. “This isn’t a decision your mother and I came to lightly. We have put a lot of thought into this.”

“Thanks for putting a lot of thought into my life and Brian’s. I feel privileged that the dragon deity decided to start playing matchmaker now.” Alexis clicked her tongue and folded her arms over her chest.

“Careful with that tone, Alexis.” Levi’s tone shifted into an authoritative parent.

“We aren’t exactly children. You can’t force this on us.” Alexis spat out as she felt Brian's shoulder against her. They were making a united front together.

“Lex, I see how strongly you feel about this. How about we make a deal then.” Rhea’s lips curled upwards as she tilted her head towards Alexis.

Titus and Lila both turned to look at Levi and Rhea curiously. This wasn’t something they had discussed with everyone else.

Alexis looked up at Brian and then back to her parents. “A deal?”

“You want Aken, am I right?” Rhea asked watching her daughter nod her head. “Okay then. You need to first meet him face to face. We are presenting you with an opportunity for that.”

“I’m listening.” Alexis raised her eyes up at her mother as she waited for her to continue.

“If Aken is around you need to lure him out. Can you think of a better way than for him to think you are going to take another mate? This is why Brian should mark you at the upcoming dragon party. If Aken is out there and he wants you, he will not allow for you to be marked. However, if he doesn’t show up, we know what that means. So this is what we propose. You agree to be Brian’s mate. If Aken shows up before the acceptance kiss, you get your fated mate. However, if he doesn’t show up, you allow for Brian to mark you. You move on with your life with Brian as your mate.”

“Consider this one last desperate attempt to attract Aken’s attention. If Aken wants you, this is his last chance to claim you. If he doesn’t show himself, then you can help out the West Dragon kingdom. Lex, without you…” Lee trailed off with his blue eyes focused on her.

Alexis stood there quietly. She knew what her father was trying to say there. Without her, Brian would end up alone. She didn’t want that for him. But she had Aken out there. The stubborn ass better show himself. It was the moment of truth. If by some chance he didn’t show up then it would mean he didn’t want her as his mate. If she couldn’t have Aken then she could at least do the right thing and remain by Brian’s side. This was also an issue their parents were not going to let go of.

“Now wait just a minute-” Brian growled, but Alexis grabbed his arm, stopping him.

“Fine.”

Brian looked at Alexis like she had grown an arm out of her forehead. “What do you mean fine?! Do you realize what this would mean? And what we would be expected to do?”

“The daughter of a deity not good enough for you?” A wry grin spread over Alexis' face.

“They aren’t asking us to just be roommates, Alexis. They will want you to produce an heir. And you recall how those are made, right?” Brian rubbed his temples and squinted at Alexis. “Not that you aren’t beautiful and amazing, but um I have always looked at you like you were family.”

“We aren’t saying you have to go straight into the intimate part of a relationship, son. Only to allow room for love to grow where it needs to. The only intimate moment we are pushing is the marking.” Titus sighed and shook his head. “Son, I know this isn’t ideal. But we need to think about the kingdom's future here. You will need an heir.”

“And if the Kraken does come for Alexis, then what?” Brian didn’t like where this was heading. No matter what the outcome was.

“Then we will continue to search for an answer.” Lila was hurting for her son. She wished she could take the curse upon herself.

“Then let's do that first. Let’s look for the alternative answer first. Let’s hunt down this Shiva. Or search for those who can tolerate my aura.”

“We can’t just pick anyone who can tolerate your aura. It has to be someone worthy of being the next queen. And we already explained about Shiva. The dragon party will be the perfect time to announce Alexis as your mate.” Titus watched his son scowl angrily.

“Okay, all things considered here, Brian and I need to talk. So if you don’t mind, we are going to take a walk.” Alexis eyed Micah. “Alone.”

Micah let out a low growl but nodded his head. After all, there would be times when he couldn’t follow Alexis. Like into her bedroom with her mate.

“I think talking about this seriously is a good first step. It may take time before you are ready to take the relationship to the next level. But you both have plenty of time for that.” Titus nodded his head, looking over at Levi.

“Plenty of time indeed. Alexis wasn’t supposed to be immortal but somehow fate, has given this to her. And dragons live a very long time. Just look at the Great Sage. He is over a thousand years old.” Levi looked into his daughter's eyes and motioned with his own eyes for her to go.

Alexis grabbed onto Brian’s arm and tugged him along. He followed her begrudgingly down the hall and up to the top floor of the castle. This was where Alexis stayed along with her parents. It was like a house of its own. When they reached the top Alexis dropped his arm and took a few steps away from him. She leaned her head on the wall and took in deep breaths.

“Lex.” Brian walked up to her, placing his hand on her shoulder. “We don’t have to do this Lex. Don’t feel pressured. There isn’t a rush. We can go and find this Shiva character. We can search for answers. We don’t have to rush into a mark right now. We can navigate this together.”

“He is watching Brian. I felt him earlier today. That was why I stayed still after I was hit. Yuki felt him. My mother is right. You marking me might be the best way to lure him out.” She turned her head to the side to look at him.

“So you agreed to go along with this just to lure out the Kraken? And what if it doesn’t work? What if he doesn’t come and I am forced to burn my mark on your neck? Lex, we can’t go that far. We can’t stop right before my lips reach your neck and say it’s all a big joke.” He shook his head. “It’s a gamble. Are you sure this is one you are okay with?”

“If he doesn’t come for me, then he doesn’t care, right? Or at least he is determined not to be with me. If I can’t have him…” She shrugged and gave Brian a crooked smile. “Want to be my consolation prize?”

“Oh? Do you want to find comfort in my arms? You’ve been crushing on me this whole time I knew it.” He chuckled and wrapped his arms around her, holding her back into his chest while his head rested on top of hers. “I don’t know how to look at you as more than my annoying sister.”

She leaned her head back into his chest and closed her eyes. “We have two weeks before the dragon party. We will try to think and brainstorm. Our parents aren’t going to let this go, Brian. On a positive note, I have an excuse to turn Jared down.”

“Damn, he is going to look at me like I stole you. He has had his eyes on you since last summer.”

“I don’t know why. I made it perfectly clear I was waiting for my mate.”

“Because Alexis, you are worth fighting for. Any guy would be lucky to have you.” He shook his head. “It would be different for us if this was planned from the beginning. I wouldn’t have put you in the family zone.”

“Brian.” Her lips curled upwards and she spun around to look at him. “I agreed to this. And if Aken doesn’t come you will just have to mark me.” She watched his mouth drop open and she giggled. He looked at her curiously before a smile spread over his lips as well.

“Alright, Lex. You take the lead on this one. Let me in on whatever it is you are scheming though.”

“Knock knock.” Micah’s voice sounded as the door opened and he held a hand up covering his eyes. “You two aren’t getting a headstart on procreating are you?” He chuckled and removed his hand. He wiggled his brows looking at Brian’s hands on Alexis' arms.

“Oh hush Micah. Can you believe all of this?” Alexis sighed as Brian’s hands dropped to his sides.

“You know Lex, if Brian marks you then the Erebus thing won’t be an issue anymore.” Micah shrugged. “Sorry, but I am on board with this idea. I don’t want to risk that monster finding you. I want to protect you no matter what it takes.”

Alexis' eyes widened and she clapped her hands together. “You are right. Because he already thinks Lucy is Aken’s mate. And if I have a mark on my neck I should escape his radar. And in this very public way of marking word will get out who I am marked to.” She started tapping her chin and pacing across the floor.

“Uhm, Lexi dear. If I mark you, it doesn’t exactly wash off with soap and water.” Brian watched the light in her eyes flicker and a smile spread across her lips.

“Oh no… I don’t like that look. Man, why do I have to get the hard fairy princess? You are going to cause me to lose my appetite, I know it.” Micah growled, staring at Alexis.

“This is the perfect event to lure Aken out. And if the ass doesn’t come, then I need to be publicly marked. The acceptance kiss announcing the next dragon queen will spread across the globe. It will put me off the radar of a certain crazy deity.”

“Why would you need my mark on your neck now? What are you planning?” Brian glanced over at Micah, who was now studying Alexis with concern.

“Nothing. I think Aken will come and put a stop to it anyways. I don’t think we have to worry about Brian going through with the acceptance kiss. But if he did, at least I wouldn’t have a crazy deity after me anymore.”

“I need an antiacid plus a pain killer.” Micah held his stomach and walked over towards the kitchen. He knew Alexis well enough to know there was a lot more going on in her brain than she was letting out. Whatever it was, was likely to cause him a headache in the future.