The Alpha's Temptation

The spy bent over a little on the table and gave him a letter. Menkar opened the envelope’s seal and pulled the letter out with his long slender fingers. He read it twice as his eyes turned colder with every sentence. Keeping it aside, for a long time, he brushed his white beard as if pondering on something. His gaze went back to the letter as he whispered a spell. A small fire ignited on the end of his finger. He torched the letter with it.

It had been a few days since he had touched the soul stone. So, he drew it out of his robe. He held it against the dim light of the solitary oil lantern that was burning brightly in his study. A faint light pulsated inside it. He rubbed his thumb over it and fresh sparks of energy tingled all over his skin. Renewed with more energy, he let out a rough exhale. His lips curled up. He could feel more power in the stone. It was as if her soul was getting stronger. He looked at the spy and said, “What is the news about Tania?”

“Your Grace, she is in the kingdom of Pegasii. King Eltanin is camping on the borders of Pegasii along with Prince Rigel.”

A hard expression came on his face as Menkar clenched his jaw.

“Would you like me to deliver a letter to the queen?” the spy asked as if telling him to write a reply.

“No, that won’t be necessary,” Menkar replied, looking at the ashes of the letter. “Pretend that this letter never reached us.”

“Yes, Your Grace,” said the spy. Now he had to kill the messenger who brought this and was waiting outside for a reply.

“Should I get Tania back to Cetus Monastery in a few days?”

“No,” Menkar blew the ashes from his table with a silent spell. They flew in the air and disappeared. “I will order her retrieval when it is time.”

“Yes, Your Grace,” the spy bowed to his Master again and then turned to leave.

Sirrah was sitting in the carriage behind the royal carriage where she was supposed to sit and now Lusitania sat with her husband and King Eltanin. Though there was a place to sit inside that carriage, she was scared of Biham. By sitting in the second carriage, she conveyed that to the people easily.

Tania had suddenly stolen every bit of her life. As she heard the people shouting and cheering for their queen, she couldn’t help but feel jealous. She was hating every moment and she was planning every second. She promised herself that the way she had tossed Kinshra out of the kingdom, she was going to do the same to Lusitania. ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀ​ꪶ​

Sirrah didn’t want to join the procession, but she knew that if she didn’t join it, then each and every household of Pegasii would gossip about her jealousy towards her step daughter. And she was the Luna queen of Pegasii. How could she let them think so lowly about her? She just had to wait for the right time to throw Tania out of the kingdom.

Disregarding Prince Rigel’s glances at her and Balfour’s uneasiness, she watched the crowd on the outside. They all looked so happy and content. How was this possible that their faces lit up the moment they glanced at Lusitania? She could even feel how Balfour felt good. She couldn’t help but ask him, “Why Balfour? You look excited.”

Balfour smiled a little. He said, “I am, Your Highness. In the morning, when our king took princess Lusitania to the royal gardens, we all could feel a shift in the air after some time. I don’t know how to explain, but I was overwhelmed with a feeling of immense happiness. It was as if I felt that plenitude in my chest. At the same time, I could feel a very powerful aura. It was so powerful that it was almost terrifying. I felt like shifting and howling.” He pointed at the people who were happily cheering for Lusitania. “Look at them. Their excitement is palpable . There is a very strong aura in the air mingled with fear. This is the first time we are sensing such emotions! Honestly, I feel like submitting to my new princess.”

Sirrah was taken aback. Why didn’t she feel the same and why didn’t Morava feel the same? If Morava did feel it, she hid it well. Rage vibrated inside her chest like hot molten lava. Her gaze shifted to Prince Rigel who was sizing her up. Immediately, she schooled herself. “That is nice, General Balfour,” she said softly. “After all, the heir has returned.”

Balfour grinned. “Yes, Your Highness. We all are very happy. Princess Lusitania is the daughter of Kinshra who was a fae. And faes come from an ancient bloodline. One can only imagine what her powers are.” The way he said it, he almost pitied Morava. Sirrah could understand his unspoken words. She cast him a murderous look and then looked at the frenzied crowd. Soon, she was going to have to kill Lusitania. Soon, she would dash the hopes of these bastards like she did all those years back. Suddenly, she heard someone shouting, “Is she betrothed to King Eltanin?”

A lady squealed, “They would make such a handsome couple!”

Inside the royal carriage, Eltanin watched his mate waving at the people. He was sure that they loved her, but now he had to take away his mate back with him. He was forming his words carefully. He opened his mouth to speak to Biham, but Biham spoke first, “King Eltanin.”

Eltanin snapped his mouth shut. “Yes?”

Biham peered at his daughter with pride in his chest. His gaze drifted to Eltanin and he said, “I know that Morava had been a little temperamental when she was at the Draka Kingdom, but I have to thank my elder daughter for bringing my younger one back home. If you will give Morava another chance, she will surely prove her worth. Would it be okay to send her to Draka again? If not, I would totally understand your concern.”

Eltanin gritted his teeth. Biham had played ahead of him. He didn’t want Morava to come at all. He wanted Tania to come.

Biham added, “This time I will send my wife, Sirrah along with Morava, so that she doesn’t make mistakes. Meanwhile, I will be training Lusitania. Her training will start tomorrow.” There was apparent eagerness in his voice.

Tania swallowed saliva down her throat. She lowered her head as she bunched up her gown in her lap. The idea of Morava with Eltanin was repulsive. Why wasn’t Eltanin speaking anything? Her anger rose and she looked away.

Eltanin was not ready for this. He thought that Biham would never propose Morava’s hand in marriage to him after what happened, but the man was shameless and shrewd. Biham wanted to have his younger daughter for Pegasii, while marrying the elder one to him, thereby becoming one of the strongest kings. Eltanin had to nip it in the bud. He chuckled. “I am not interested in your elder daughter.”

Biham tensed.

Eltanin continued, “Rather, I would like to invite Princess Lusitania to the Draka kingdom for the fire festival in two days.”