Page 107 of The Dragon's Gambit

Dex’s eyes bulged out, and his jaw dropped. “Damn …” He nodded his head as the puzzle pieces came together. “Well, I guess it makes sense. I mean, I knew you were too good for Xander. Of course you would be Leviathan’s mate. You are prime-cut meat, and that lucky bastard knows it. Are you his mate mate? Or did he just take you as his mate?”

“I am Lee’s mate. He’s known since I was sixteen.”

“He’s known you since you were sixteen?” Dex’s gaze shifted between Xander and Reiya. How was Leviathan, their deity, connected to the fairy princess?

Reiya could almost read his mind. She twirled her fingers, and water spun around and danced in the air. “You see, Lee is my summon.”

“Well, holy shit. Our deity is at your beck and call? So, what’s with the secrecy?” Dex watched as Xander placed a hand on Reiya’s shoulder.

“Deities can’t take non-deities as mates. Lee is working on trying to fix that now. So, no one can know she’s his mate until then.” Xander watched Dex as he looked between him and Reiya.

“So … what’s the story with you two then? This seems to be more than just pretending. The two of you seem close.” Dex was also protective of his sister and didn’t want Xander skirting around on her.

“My wolf is sort of trapped inside me at the moment. I don’t know what my connection is to Xander, except that he feels like family to me.” Reiya didn’t know why, but that was how she felt.

“Same with me. She’s someone I feel close to.” Xander smiled and shrugged. “It isn’t in a mate way, though. Especially now that I know how it feels. It isn’t like that at all.” Xander chuckled a bit and sighed.

“Leviathan was going to let you mark his mate tonight?” Dex raised his eyes as this realization hit.

Reiya smiled. “It isn’t like he wanted him to. We were just trying to maintain this layer of protection.” Reiya looked at the floor as she tried to think what to do next.

“The charade with me and Xander is over. So, I’m not sure how to respond about the mark on my neck now, especially since your purple raisin friend won’t leave it alone.”

Xander growled. “Clovis better not come near you, or I’ll claw him in half.”

“Clovis is giving her problems?!” Dex snarled angrily. “I can keep you by my side, Reiya. No one would dare do anything to instigate a fight with me. I don’t mind claiming you as my mate,” he said with a small wink.

“I think the jig is up with that. I can’t go floating between kings as their mate. I guess I can say I’m not ready to say who it is yet.” Reiya couldn’t think of any other graceful way out of it.

“Xander covering for you as a mate makes sense for protecting you. It would be the easiest way to protect you. I’m sure this is a reason most people will understand. Yes, they will be curious as to who actually marked you. But the hype of Mason claiming Ruby, and … Xander claiming Lila might help drown that out.” Dex sighed and looked at Xander. “That’s my precious baby sister, so you better treat her well …”

“I will, Dex. As long as she’ll still have me.” Xander smiled and nodded to him.

“I think we need to speak with Mason and Weston. We’re going to need their support and added protection for Reiya.” Dex was thinking logically about the situation. If she was still being protected by the four kingdoms, she would still be safe.

“I’ll ask Reese to bring them here,” Xander said quietly.

“Tell him to bring Lila here as well. I think the two of you need to talk.” Dex watched as Xander looked a bit nervous but nodded in agreement.

Lila could sense it immediately. She could sense that her mate was in this forgotten part of the castle. As soon as she rounded the corner, she saw him. It was Xander. But that didn’t make sense. How was Xander her mate? She watched him looking at her with a small smile. He walked past the others and up to her, gently taking her hand. “We have a lot to talk about,” he said quietly. She allowed him to lead her away and through another set of doors. She didn’t know what was going on, but she wanted answers.

“Wait, wait, wait…. what’s going on here?” Weston pointed to the door where Xander and Lila had disappeared. “Reiya, are you okay with this?”

Reiya smiled and nodded. “Lila is Xander's mate.” She watched the confused faces in front of her.

Ruby stormed up to her and squeezed her arms around Reiya. “That bastard! He did force himself on you, didn’t he? I’ll kill him. I’ll choke him and burn him alive.”

Reiya giggled. “It isn’t like that at all. Xander was protecting me.”

Ruby pulled back and frowned. “Who marked you then, Reiya?”

Dex put his hand on Reiya’s shoulder and looked out at the others.

“This is something that has to stay a secret for now. I know that you all can be trusted, and Reiya trusts you too.” He smiled down at her and she nodded her head, looking at them.

“Oh, for goodness’ sake, just tell me who I need to kill,” Ruby said angrily. Whoever touched her angel was dead.

“Ruby, no one forced themselves on her. This person is indeed her mate. The man who branded her is Leviathan.”