Page 69 of A Luna’s Dynasty (Celestial #1)

L ita and Kristen stood behind the men as they all battled it out in the arcade, each one trying to win the largest prize to claim victory.

The arcade owners would be happy with the exorbitant amount of money the men were spending.

Lita turned and looked in the distance at a ring-toss game.

One of the prizes was an all-black wolf that was as big as her.

“OOHHH Kristen look! I want that.” Lita pointed at the wolf at the other stand. The men turned around and eyed what Lita was pointing at.

“Hey Leetle,” Caden said with a smirk. “How about you have to ride the Ferris wheel alone with whoever wins that for you?” He shot an evil glint at Asher.

“Sounds good to me. May the best man win.” Lita looked over at Asher, who she knew would be desperate to win.

“Looks like I’m going to have a Ferris wheel date with the princess,” Grayson said as he cracked his neck.

“I’ll win it for you, Lita, but if it’s all the same to you, I’ll pass on the ride. I’d rather take my girl.” Garrett winked at Kristen, whose cheeks heated red. It didn’t matter how long they’d been together. They were still very much in love.

The guys tossed rings like crazy, wanting to claim victory.

“Well, that’s one way to get what you want,” Kristen teased.

“You feeling better now, Krissy?” Lita watched Kristen nod happily.

“I guess I felt really creeped out, and I can’t explain why.

I feel better now, and sort of dumb for how I reacted.

” Kristen shrugged her shoulders and smiled.

She did feel silly, now that she thought about it.

He didn’t even touch her. He just made her feel uncomfortable by being too close. And then there was the weird comment.

“It’s understandable. Don’t worry about it. I’m just glad you’re feeling back to normal again. This is our day to have fun.” Lita looked back over at their crazy, competitive group of guys. She loved her family so much, tempers and all.

Grayson beamed victoriously as he held the big black wolf in his hands. “Looks like I get the princess all to myself for a ride.” He grinned at the very frustrated wolf.

“Cheer up, Alpha. If you promise to behave yourself, I’ll let you take me on the Ferris wheel with you,” Caden said as he batted his eyes at Asher. “I mean it, though, don’t get fresh with me. I’m saving myself for my mate.”

“Ride with Caspian. I’m not riding it. I’ll wait for you guys at the bottom.” Asher scowled in disappointment.

Lita walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You might not have won, but you still have me at the end of the day.” Lita tiptoed up and pressed her lips into his. She felt him wrap his arms around her waist, pulling her deeper into him.

“I’ll be waiting for you at the bottom,” Asher whispered into her lips. He looked at the group. “Let’s get this ride over with.” He escorted Lita all the way until she boarded with Grayson and then stood off to the side. He could share her for a ride, even though his child-like self didn’t want to.

Lita looked out the window as the wheel slowly began to spin. She took in the sights of the park and watched the people running around below. She caught sight of Asher and smiled at her pouting mate.

“You going to tell me what they did to you?” Grayson asked tersely, looking out the window.

“Grayson, I said not to worry about it.” Lita sighed in irritation.

“Well, I am worrying about it. What happened?” He turned, eyes locked on her green orbs.

“Grayson, you’re my guardian, but not everything about my life needs you to act as a buffer.

I can handle myself too, you know? I know you’re just concerned, and I appreciate it.

I really do. But this is nothing for you to worry about.

I handled it. So, please … drop it before I get angry.

” Lita's green eyes flashed with warning.

Grayson chuckled, unfazed by her glare. “Lita, I told you before. If I’m happy, it’s for you.

If I’m sad, If I’m hurt, if I’m angry … it’s for you.

I can’t help how my emotions are connected with yours.

I can’t help how protective I am over you.

I’m much more than your guardian, your protector.

I’m your friend, Lita. I’m your family. I’m the one who will never abandon you.

When I know there’s something bothering you, I can’t just let it go. I’m sorry.”

Lita listened to him quietly. She understood what he was saying, but he wasn’t factoring her in.

He wasn’t understanding her. There were some things that she needed to handle on her own.

She wasn’t the damsel in distress. She wasn’t the girl who needed to cry to a guy to fix her problems. She was a fighter.

This wasn't a demon issue; it was personal, finished, and she'd already be hearing enough from Asher once their mate link returned.

“I understand what you’re saying. Now hear what I’m saying.

There are some things that I can take care of by myself, that I don’t need you to know about or interfere in.

This is one of those things.” Lita’s voice was quiet, and she calmly got the main point out.

All she was asking for was for him to understand that she could take care of some things on her own.

"Lita, just tell me what happened," Grayson said, jaw clenched.

Lita turned to the window. "I'm on the verge of getting angry. Let it go." All he wanted were answers, not understanding, so they were getting nowhere.

"Fine, get angry. I'm protecting you whether you like it or not," Grayson growled, his voice rising. "Now tell me what happened!"

"Now I'm worth protecting? Where were you for twenty years when I needed a friend?" Lita's eyes flashed as she watched Kristen and Garrett exit their cart. Theirs was next.

“Lita, I wanted to be there with you. I explained all of that before. All I ever wanted was to be near you. I just want to protect you. Please, I’m trying to protect you.

” Grayson’s eyes softened. He didn’t want to fight with her.

All he wanted was to keep her safe and happy.

She was the only fairy princess and couldn’t be replaced.

She had to understand her importance, not only to the fairy kingdom, but to him, too.

“And I’m trying to live my life, Grayson, and I haven’t been living it.

I’ve been blocked out, locked up. I’ve missed out on so much and in so many different aspects.

So what if I had to tell a couple of guys to take a hike?

That isn’t public business. It’s just a part of life.

I can handle it, so let me handle it. If there was a serious threat, I would have told you.

” Lita felt the rock of the bucket as it stopped to let them off.

Grayson’s eyes darkened as he stared back at Lita. “Did they try something on you?”

That was all he heard? After her whole rant, he still didn’t listen.

“Dammit, Grayson. Just give me space.” Lita hopped out and stormed away from him.

She had so much to say, and he couldn’t take his blinders off to see her pouring her heart out.

She wasn’t able to conceal the anger on her face.

Not that Grayson’s dark glare was helping keep things discreet.

The group looked between them. It was obvious they were fighting.

“Lita? Everything okay?” Asher placed his arm around her before looking back at Grayson.

“Just tired of not being listened to.” Lita’s voice was flat and dry as she spoke.

Caspian looked up at Grayson. “What the hell did you do?”

Grayson snorted and folded his arms. “Just looking for answers.”

Lita balled her fists as she flashed her gaze back to Grayson.

“No, you’re just looking for an excuse to get into a fight.

I gave you answers. You just didn’t care to listen.

I can handle some things on my own, so let me!

I don’t need you to be my white knight. You don’t have to jump in front of every sword that’s pointed in my direction. ”

“You’re downplaying your importance. You don’t get it.

You’re it. It’s just you. You can’t be replaced.

You have a whole kingdom that’s depending solely on you.

It’s my job to make sure nothing, and I mean nothing, happens to you.

But you want to get mad at me for being a bit overprotective?

No, I’m not being protective enough! You want me to neglect my role just so you can satisfy this need to take care of yourself?

Forget it. You’re the one being irresponsible,” Grayson snapped.

If something happened to her, it would fall back on him.

Why didn’t he do his job and protect her?

Because she said she could take care of herself. Yeah, that wouldn’t work.

“Nice, so disregard what I’m saying entirely? Who cares what I think or what I have to say about anything? It doesn’t matter, because you have a job to do. No more thought to it than, ‘Sorry you feel this way, Lita, it’s just a damn shame … oh well, when’s lunch?’” Lita’s voice mocked Grayson’s.

“Whoa whoa whoa you two … where the heck is all this coming from?” Asher squeezed Lita’s shoulder and looked into his mate’s hurt eyes.

“I just need some space,” Lita said quietly.

“Want to walk with me to the washroom, Toots?” Kristen extended her arm toward Lita, who took it with a sad smile.

Asher watched the two girls walk away before turning his dark gaze toward Grayson. “What the hell was that about?”