CHAPTER 3: CAPTAIN TRY HARD

"Is anyone around?! We need some help over here!! Alexis looked at Micah and they both sprinted towards the cliffside.

They knew that voice very well.It was Brian and he sounded panicked.

Something that was scarily unusual of the arrogant dragon prince.

"Brian!" Alexis yelled as she saw him looking down over the ledge.

"Lex.I can’t get to him.I can’t touch him.This damn aura is getting worse.I can’t even help him."

Brian shook his head bitterly as Micah charged over the hillside not even assessing the situation.

While Alexis ran up to Brian looking over the edge.She noticed a child laying on a rocky platform below unconscious.

"What happened?"

"He tried to force a shift...his damn father is being hard on him since he hasn’t shifted yet.He is only thirteen.Hardly even a late shifter."

Brian shook his head.

"I tried to grab him but as soon as I get close, he starts screaming in pain.This aura is getting worse Lex...People I used to be able to go near...Maybe one day you won’t even be able to go near me."

"As if your fire will ever be stronger than my ice.Arrogant dragon."

Alexis bumped her shoulder into him sending a wave of ice crystals over his hot body.

The sound of sizzling filled "Brian, I am coming back up with him,"

Micah yelled from the hillside.Alexis immediately grabbed onto Brian’s arm stopping him from leaving.

"It’s okay Brian.You don’t have to leave.I won't let you burn the child." owns this text.

As she spoke, she sent a misty snow shield surrounding Brian.

It was like putting a veil completely over him.

"Lex..."

"It will work.Trust me."

She looked in front of her and down over the hillside.

"Bring him up it’s okay."

Micah effortlessly climbed back up carrying the boy in his arms.He gently placed him on the ground and glanced up at Alexis.

"He has some cuts and I think a broken leg.I’m going to get your mother she will be able to heal him.His dragon isn’t strong enough to restore him."

He looked at the snowy veil over Brian and smiled.

"Nice Lex.I didn’t think something like that would work..."

Alexis walked over and knelt beside the boy.His brows were furrowed in pain but she could tell it wasn’t from Brian.His skin didn’t look like it was burning at all.

This was the first time she had ever tried a frost shield with Brian.

It was never an issue before.

But lately, his aura has been getting stronger and stronger.

Just like his father he was now burning people just by being close to them.

Not everyone but those who were lower-tiered and young dragons were especially susceptible though.She had tried it once with Titus and had success which is why she was confident that it would also work with Brian.

She looked up into his amber eyes that were filled with sadness.

"Brian." She called up to him with a smile.

"The boy will be just fine.It’s okay."

"It’s not okay.I should be able to help my people.What kind of curse is this?"

He growled out bitterly.

"I don’t think it is a curse at all.I think it is a type of natural protection." She looked at Brian with a reassuring smile.

The boy next to her slightly moved and let out a soft sound.

"Hey ...just hold still alright? We will get you patched up in no time."

The boy’s eyes widened as he stared at Alexis.His mouth gaped open and he began to fumble over his words.

"The princess...Leviathan’s daughter...you shouldn't...your father will...you should leave."

"Shh.Now just relax.You had a nasty fall.And what do you think you were doing trying to force a shift?! Young man, I better never hear of you pulling a stunt like this again.Do I need to explain to your father

the importance of not forcing a shift? "If he hears I failed at forcing a shift he will only be more disappointed in me."

The boy winced as he tried to move but Alexis immediately pushed down on his shoulders.

"Just wait.My mother is on her way."

She watched as her mother’s mate a lot of dragons gave them a wide berth.

They didn’t want to do anything to upset their deity.

"You know...there is no reason to be disappointed in you.For one it is still normal that you haven’t shifted."

"My father shifted at the age of twelve..."

The boy spat out in disgust with himself.

"As if when you can shift means anything...Who cares? Who cares if you can even shift? It isn’t everything in life.Your father is being too hard on you with his expectations."

"She is right.My cousin Anna didn’t shift until she was seventeen.And she is stronger than most of the dragons in the west dragon kingdom.You’ ll shift buddy.But you don’t want to force it and maybe end up injuring your dragon and yourself."

The boy closed his eyes and frowned.

In the corners of his eyes, you could see the liquid beginning to pool.

"I just wanted him to be proud of me."

He barely whispered out.

Alexis and Brian looked at each other.She was boiling inside that his father was making him feel like he had to shift in order to be proud of him.She wanted to give him a piece of her mind, but she could see the rage in Brian’s eyes.

This was something he already planned to handle.

"I’m here!"

Rhea called out as she ran over towards them.

Of course, in true fashion, her father Lee was right beside her.

The two were inseparable.

They had a bond that she dreamed of having one day.

There wasn’t a thing they wouldn’t do for the long.

They didn’t need anything else.

Just each other.

It was amazing.

Rhea bent down next to the boy and placed her hands over his body.

Within moments a light glow came from her hands as she began to heal the young dragon.Her mother was a fairy queen and had the power to heal.

Though it wasn’t as strong as her grandmother it was still enough for something like this.

Fairy magic didn’t always develop all at once and it continued to change as you got older.

Alexis wasn’t an experienced healer yet.

But it was something she should develop to some degree eventually.

"There...that should do the trick,"

Rhea said as she felt Lee’s hands on her pulling her back up to her feet and in his arms.

Alexis stood up and reached her hand down to the boy.

"Let's see how it feels now."

She grabbed onto his shaking hand and helped him to his feet.

"Does it feel alright?" The boy nodded shyly looking down at the ground.

He was clearly overwhelmed with the celebrities of the kingdom surrounding him.

"You don’t have to feel nervous around us."

Alexis tried to pry him out of his shell a little bit to no avail.

"Thank you.I am sorry for causing you all trouble." The boy said in a muffled voice.

"What is your name?" Brian asked trying to coax the boy

"It is Elwin."

"Elwin, remember that we must protect ourselves.Trying to force your shift could cause permanent damage and you don’t want that.You will know when you are ready.Your dragon’s heart will call to be set free.Until then just try to wait."

Brian watched the boy slowly nod his head.

This wouldn’t be the end of it.He planned to search out Elwin’s father and settle this issue.

"Thank you once again..."

Elwin whispered out as he slowly backed away.

Then quickly turning and sprinting off.

Alexis took down the snowy veil from Brian and grinned up at her parents.

"The shield worked perfectly."

"Brian...are you alright?"

Rhea asked looking at his slightly distressed face.

"Yeah, I am fine." He smiled unconvincingly and then shrugged with a frown.

"It’s getting stronger you know.Why is it still growing? I haven't even been crowned the king yet.It will get even stronger then.What if...what if it makes it so no one will be able to be near me.I don’t understand it."

"Like I said.Your fire will never be stronger than my ice." Alexis smiled and nodded over at her parents.

"And you'll never be able to burn my father either.But that isn’t what you are really worried about..." She said with a wry grin.

"You are afraid your mate won't be able to be near you."

"Well, it is a legitimate concern." Brian rubbed the back father’s aura.

"Something like that would never happen now.Not with me around.I can protect her if something like that is the case.You are making up a scenario.You haven’t even met your mate yet.Will you relax?"

Alexis walked up to him and sent a cooling layer of frost over his body.It instantly melted but there was relief in his eyes.

"Lex is right.You are borrowing trouble from tomorrow.Don’t overthink it.Grandpa Sage is looking into the strange phenomenon now.And your father has been searching for clues as well.They will figure out what is happening to you."

Rhea leaned into Lee who nodded his head slowly.

"I don’t remember this ever happening before.Not like it is with you.But I’m certain there is a reason for it.And I am still wondering if Alexis has something to do with it.Having her presence around you all the time may have been simmering your heat.And the Sage also agrees this may be a possibility.Your mate will be able to withstand your heat.Because she will be the one made just for you.Just how your father found Lila."

Lee rubbed Rhea’s shoulder delicately.It was also just like how Rhea was the one made just for him.

No one else could have ever been good enough.

Or perfect enough.She was everything he needed and more.

Your mate completed you and that was the way it was supposed to be.

"Yeah, you are right.Alright...time for some sparring."

Brian looked over at Alexis with a wide grin.

"I’ve got some new “

"Ugh...can’t we have an easy day today?"

"No way! You are the only one I can spar with full strength who doesn’t pummel me to the ground like Dad does.Come on ice princess let’s make it rain!"

Brian chuckled as he flexed his muscles.

"Okay dear, have fun.Micah, keep her in check.I better get back before Cody and Kelsie panic."

Rhea smiled knowing that Cody wouldn’t stay put for long.He was still just as protective over her as he has always been.

Even though she had a deity by her side watching over her always.

"Alexis, you be careful.Don’t strain yourself and-"

"Oh, Lee, she will be fine.Quit being overprotective.Let her spread her wings a little."

Rhea scolded playfully.

She grabbed onto his hand as they began to walk away.

"Give him hell." She winked back at her daughter before completely turning to leave.

The women in their family were in no way damsels in distress.

All of them had a lot of fight and spunk in them.

They have all been a handful on their mates.

Well except for her since her mate refused to come to her.

In a sense, she could relate to Brian’s worries.

His worry was if he would be able to be with his mate.She had the same worry.

Though he was afraid of burning his mate and she was afraid hers would keep hiding from her.

Most of the time when someone is hiding from you, they are secretly watching you from she could maybe use this to her advantage.

She needed to think of a plan.

It needed to be good because she wouldn’t get another chance at flushing her mate out.

"Alright, Lex! Battle stations." Brian cheered happily.

Of course, she would need to wait to think of a plan after sparring with captain try hard.

But no matter what...she had to meet Aken at least once.