The Alpha's Temptation

The dinner with the courtiers went very smoothly. All of them watched and followed the movements of Tania. She was getting very anxious for being under so much scrutiny. Having lived a life of a slave, protected, sheltered and abused, she was not used to so much exposure and attention. Biham stayed right next to her and introduced her to the guests while Eltanin watched her from a distance. He was standing with Rigel. He was suppressing his desire to be with her and soothe her nerves. At one point of time, he wanted to pluck her from the gathering and take her away somewhere far and hide her. There were several courtiers who were vying for his attention, but Fafnir and two other courtiers from his court kept them all at bay.

Ever since Tania met the spirit of the kingdom, she was feeling different. It was as if she belonged to this land, as if she was tethered to Pegasii. Every now and then she would look at her tattoo on the upper arm and she thought she imagined when the wings of the horse flapped. Unsure of her new feelings, it was after coronation that something inside her stirred violently. It was as if an invisible force bound her with the people of Pegasii. Was she getting delusional? She shook the feeling but it lingered somewhere in her soul. As such her soul stone was also heating up every now and then. She had gone to the bathroom to put it in water and was shocked to see that the water hissed the moment the stone touched it. And right now, the stone was warming again.

Sirrah was also attending the dinner and she hovered around Biham, but didn't dare to come near him. However, it was Biham who called her over. Sirrah had first seen Tania in the dungeon and after that Biham had been so overprotective about her that he didn't introduce her to Sirrah formally.

"This is your mother, Lusitania," said Biham as Sirrah looked at her with a warm smile.

Tania bowed to her but couldn't help feeling completely awkward in the presence of her new father and mother. There was a strained silence until Biham spoke, "You will be going to the kingdom of Draka and Sirrah will be accompanying you."

Something thick gathered in her throat as she met her gaze with Sirrah. Tania already knew that she was going to Draka, but with Sirrah?

Biham continued, "I will be sending a unit of my soldiers to ensure your safe passage into the lands of Draka, even though I know that there is no potential threat. Sirrah is going to teach you how to conduct in the royal court."

"That is very generous of you, King Biham," Tania replied, her tone quivering. She was not really sure of the woman standing in front of her and giving her a warm smile.

"Call me Father, Lusitania…" Biham said with affection that Tania wasn't used to. "It is high time…"

Her blue eyes stared into his hazel ones for some time as she tried to understand the weight of his request. She let out a shaky breath and lowered her eyes. The word 'Father' had a different meaning for her. Only images of Arthur flashed in her mind as her father. His memories were too sharp in her mind.

Sirrah could feel her discomfort. She added, "And call me Mother," to add to her unease. Only if Lusitania would be discomforted, her plans would work.

Those words were like a strike to her chest. They were spoken so genuinely but why was it that they sounded false. She stared at Sirrah, half in disbelief. Sirrah was Morava's mother. Tania didn't expect her to speak so warmly with her, especially after how Morava was plotting ways to murder her. Sirrah's expression softened all the more.

"You will be leaving tomorrow morning for Draka, at first light of the dawn," Biham said, interrupting her thoughts.

"No," a voice behind sounded, stunning them into silence.

King Eltanin. He was standing with Prince Rigel.

"We will be starting tonight after the dinner," Eltanin said.

Shocked, Biham hissed. "What? That is not possible! I have to take Lusitania to the temple of our deities. And besides, we haven't prepared so fast!" King Eltanin was really pushing his limits and he wasn't liking it. Why was he in such a hurry?

Eltanin sipped his wine from the goblet and said, "There is no time left to wait. What is the point of waiting when you have already declared her the crown princess? I will wait for you to take her to the temple and then we will have to start."

"But Your Highness," Sirrah interrupted with a chuckle, "We need to prepare for the journey and the festival. Surely you can't let women go without their usual trousseau?"

Eltanin gave her a cold glare and then his gaze drifted to Biham. "I don't have time. As soon as Tania visits the temple, we will start our journey. Surely you want her to be relieved of her blood oath as soon as possible, don't you?" He wanted to show that he still had an upper hand.

Biham's throat bobbed. He gritted his teeth. He wanted that as soon as possible. He inhaled deeply to calm down his temper and said, "Okay, you have to wait until midnight."

Sirrah stared at Eltanin in wide-eyed shock, really wishing that she should have thought this through. The wolf was too quick for her and she was a woman ten steps ahead. A scowl appeared on her face when Eltanin gave her a smile. She veiled her fleeting temper as fast as possible and said, "No worries, Your Highness," she supported her husband. Then she added with tone wavering towards sarcasm, "I will prepare Lusitania's trousseau before mine. She is the new princess of Pegasii and she is one who would be making more appearances than me in Draka."

Eltanin tipped his wine goblet towards her and said, "You are pretty right on that part." Saying that he bowed to her and left.

Tania couldn't help the blush that rose to her cheeks. As she watched him leave, she couldn't help but notice how women gave him flirtatious glances. Jealousy stabbed her. She wanted to gouge the eyes of all those who were looking at him.

It was Rigel who was grinning at all those ladies and dipping his chin every now and then in courtesy. "What is this blood oath thing that I am missing?" Rigel asked as they walked to a group of courtiers who were trying their best to talk to the most powerful king of Araniea only to boast later of their acquaintances. "As far as I know Tania is not under any blood—"

"Nothing much, and seal your lips!" Eltanin growled.

Rigel grinned. He had never seen Eltanin going to the lengths of fooling kings to this level and that too for a woman. He was doing everything—lying, flexing his power, fooling others, putting his life in danger to meet her at every opportunity, getting an army to camp outside Pegasii for her and God knows what else, just to remain close to her, despite all the danger signs. Rigel shook his head. Mates surely made a sane man insane. No. Completely insane!