Dr. Luna
The Fairy’s Forbidden Mate Chapter 72

Rhea walked on ahead of Lee and into the great room. Lee had told her that Titus had sent Dex there to wait for her. She saw him waiting in the room leaning against a pillar. His eyes lit up when he saw her, and he flashed her a bright smile. He didn't miss the promising glare of the deity in the background as he walked up and took her arm.

"Titus is about to make the announcement soon. You'll stay close to me. I was going to say I'll protect you but I may need you to protect me from your mate later. Make sure you put in a good word for me." Dex chuckled and walked her slowly back out to the party. "He knows you are a good man. Otherwise, he wouldn't allow you to watch over me." Rhea smiled and watched Dex look at her. "Really? He thinks I'm a good guy?" Dex said happily.

Rhea giggled. "What you don't think you are?"

Dex laughed. "It isn't that. I just... never thought he noticed me."

"Well... he does." Rhea grinned up to Dex who smiled softly.

"What is he like? I mean...I don't really know him, you know? He is always just quietly observing. He talks with the Great Sage and Titus frequently but for the most part doesn't engage with everyone else."

"He's... he's everything. He is fun, kind, endearing, possessive, strict, protective, gentle... he is a bit of everything." Rhea scrunched her nose up knowing she sounded like a lovesick girl.

"Good." He smiled at Rhea. "I'm glad he makes you happy. It is obvious that you really care about him."

"I do... I love him." Rhea said shyly.

"So, is he your mate too then?" Dex asked casually.

"I don't know... but it doesn't matter. I am choosing Lee. Honestly, I feel like he has to be my mate because of how strongly I feel about him. But regardless he is my person. I... I need him." Rhea looked ahead as they approached the tented area. The white tent had the covers drawn to the sides and you could see inside. She could see everyone sitting at the head table where Dex was leading her back to.

"Titus filled us in on what is going on. You are safe with me. The Great Sage is already working on the barrier to make sure something like that won't happen again." Dex watched her nod slowly as she continued to look at the table they were approaching. "Is it still okay for me to sit here? I mean because it is supposed to be for the royal kingdoms..." Rhea asked quietly.

Dex laughed. "Yes. For one, you belong at this table just as much as any of us especially given your mate. And two, you are my date for the evening and as such you are to sit at my side."

"Oh? I'm your date? Let me go tell Lee that." Rhea teased.

"Unofficial date." Dex coughed out quickly and then grinned at Rhea. "You are the person who I will be protecting tonight so it will be easier to have you as my fake date."

Rhea giggled. "Don't get so tense. You act like he will s*******r you instantly."

"Rhea... us dragons aren't that tame. And that deity of yours... well he has the scariest temper out of us all. His temper isn't the only scary thing about him though. He has the skills to back it up. He is only tame around you." He lowered his voice quietly as they approached the table.

Rhea smiled and shook her head. Lee had to be like that because of his position but it wasn't who he was. He was someone he liked to have fun too. She was determined to help transition him in some. He could have friends and still be their deity. She wanted them to see just how great Lee was without constantly fearing him.

"Rhea... you look much better now." Ruby said as Rhea scooted into her seat. She was now seated between Weston and Dex. Beside Dex were two empty seats where another one had been placed for Lila.

"Perfect timing. Titus is about to make his announcement and then he will lead off with the acceptance kiss." Grayson nodded in the direction where Titus had just walked up from.

Curious eyes were on him as he walked to the front with Lila laced in his arms. Lee took his position in the front of the area near the far front of the tent. He was present but out of the way.

"I know there is some confusion here. There is a reason for my actions is all that you need to know. I claimed the fairy princess as my mate in order to keep her safe. However, tonight..." He turned his head and smiled down at Lila. "Tonight I have met my real mate. I am here to formally introduce her to you and accept her in front of you all to witness." Titus turned to Lila and smiled. This wouldn't be tastefully done. It didn't have to be. She was his and he was going to indulge himself with her.

Weston chuckled as he watched Titus partake of his mate. "What's the matter Dex? You not watching the show?"

"No thanks." Dex said as he had his eyes averted in the other direction.

Rhea folded her arms and sighed. "Silliness. Pure silliness. This is really a ridiculous tradition you have going on here. You are just letting the men make a spectacle of their new mate." Rhea clicked her tongue in agitation.

"Yeah, but you plan to mark your mate too so you'll be making a spectacle of him as well, right?" Weston grinned and flashed his eyes to her.

"It is important though Rhea. Yeah, there might be a bit of fun involved, but it is an important part of the acceptance. Though... when it comes to my sister it is not one I wish to watch." Dex said with a small frown. "How about you? You going to watch Grayson here feast on Ruby?"

Weston frowned. "Thanks for souring the mood Dex."

"Anytime champ." Dex flashed a wide grin at him.

"Well... showtime." Grayson said as he helped Ruby to her feet.

"Weston... just so you know... Grayson is helping himself to Ruby just as enthusiastically as Titus did with Lila." Rhea smirked knowing this would give him the mental image in his head. "Rhea, you are evil. Just evil." Weston closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead.

Rhea...

Rhea turned her head as she searched around for the voice. Her eyes landed in the distance away from the tents.

Cody... what did you find? She could tell by his posture that he seemed anxious. Where is Kelsie?

Kelsie is fine. I sent her to deliver a message to our parents.

When Rhea heard this, she stood up from her seat. Whatever Cody had found it warranted him sending Kelsie away. Dex stood up beside her. "I need to speak with my brother." "What a coincidence... I do too." Dex smirked and tilted his head down to her.

"Yeah, me too." Weston said as he stood up from the table.

They were not about to let her out of their sight. They walked with her out of the tented area. Lee was in the front with Titus and Grayson. He was getting ready to publicly approve of the mates. His side eye was watching Rhea leave with Weston and Dex. He clenched his jaw and took in a deep breath. He then turned and continued on with his blessing.

"Cody... what is it?" Rhea walked up and took her brother's hands.

"Rhea... I'm not sure what we should do. I don't feel like you are safe here." His voice was hushed as his eyes glanced up to Dex and Weston.

"Of course, she is safe. We would never let anything happen to her." Weston snorted out insulted.

Cody ignored him and looked into Rhea's eyes. "Kelsie and I traveled outside of the borders. We went lower towards the bottom. The scent of licorice is covered over the area. The stench of rotting wolves is also there. However... the scent of dragons was there too. I could only pick up the general dragon scent and couldn't pinpoint it to anyone in particular. The scent of wind and smoke was all I could make out. The generic dragon scent. How many dragons here are on the side of the demons?"

Rhea listened to him and nodded her head. They had already suspected there were dragons aiding Abaddon especially since the i***t already implied it. She smiled and looked into Cody's eyes.

"Do you think I am the kind to run away Cody?" She tilted her head down and looked up at him.

"Ugh, Rhea." Cody growled and furrowed his brows at her.

"Cody... This is my home now. I'm not being driven from my home again. The demons already did that to me once. I'll be damned if they do it again." It was the demon's fault she had to leave the Diamond pack. She finally had a home again and it was with the man she loved. She wasn't going to lose what she had just gained. "Besides... you haven't gotten to stretch those muscles of yours in a while. I bet you are just aching to c***k some skulls."

Cody sighed and leaned his head into Rhea's. "The day is going to come when we would face them anyways huh? Might as well start taking chunks of them down before the big showdown." Cody smirked as Rhea's eyes lit up happily. "But I mean it Rhea. You stay close and no wandering off on your own."

"Deal!" Rhea jumped up and kissed Cody on the cheek. He wasn't going to make her leave. He was agreeing to stay and fight if they had to. She was sure Lee and Titus wouldn't allow her to fight but at least Cody wasn't making her leave.

Dex and Weston stood by smiling at the two. It was obvious that they were very close with each other. What touched them was that they could tell that Rhea wanted her brother's approval. She wanted him to tell her it was okay to stay. Even though she was independent she still didn't want to cause problems for her brother.

"Just so you guys know... we know we have a few dragons that have betrayed us. We are working on figuring out who all is involved. We are keeping a watchful eye out." Weston said looking at Cody.

"We are all working to make sure your sister is safe." Dex smiled and nodded to Cody. It was no longer just Titus and Leviathan watching out for his sister.

"Thank you, she is a bit of a troublemaker, but I've grown attached to her." Cody squeezed Rhea's shoulders and grinned down at her.

"Troublemaker... I prefer the term spirited." Rhea smiled and looked up to Cody as he shook his head with a crooked smile.

"Man did I choose the short end of the stick. I should have chosen Wyatt and then I'd be living the cushy life and let Jason chase after you." Cody teased and poked at Rhea's side.

"Who are you kidding? You know you love that I am keeping your life interesting." Rhea stuck her tongue out at him, and he shook his head and chuckled.

"Like I said. As much as I love a paper cut."

The sound of footsteps approaching made them turn their heads. Titus, Grayson and Lee were walking towards them.

"Is everything okay?" Titus asked. Lee remained focused on Rhea but kept his distance in the public eye.

Cody sighed and filled them in on what he had found. "Honestly, I wanted to take Rhea back to Elysium." He looked down at her. "But she reminded me that this is her home now. We already had to leave our home once because of demons. So, we aren't going to let that happen again."

"Cody could you show the area to Reese? I'd like him to look the area over as well." Titus looked at Cody and watched his eyes flicker nervously down to his sister. "She will be glued to Dex's side. Even if he has to follow her in the ladies room." Titus teased and heard a low grumble escape Lee's lips.

"I would never. Lila or Ruby would follow her in there." Dex held up his hands and looked at Lee shaking his head.

"I'll have my eyes on her at all times tonight." Lee was staring directly at Rhea as he spoke to Cody. "So, go ahead and show Reese the area."

"Okay." Cody nodded and looked at Rhea. "Behave." He pointed at her in the face.

"I don't know why people say that to me so much." Rhea looked around as all the eyes looked at her in disbelief. Then the sound of guys chuckling sounded around her. She furrowed her brows and folded her arms.

She shot them a smile and then shrugged her shoulder. "What I mean is... I don't know why it is said to me so much... it is not like I heed it anyways." She tilted her head to Cody and stuck her tongue out at him. Then she walked away from him. As she walked past Lee, she winked at him and gave him a crooked smile. These men could tell the water to flow in a different direction, but it is not like it would listen. Just a waste of breath.

"It's a good thing she is Levi's mate. I think it is going to take a deity to keep her safe." Titus laughed and rubbed the back of his neck. The other men chuckled and nodded. Lee smiled and watched her as she walked back to the party. Even the littlest things she did had a way of making him burn for her.