The Alpha's Temptation

Eltanin glowered at Sirrah as the guards picked her up and dragged her outside.

"You can't do this to me!" She shouted. "I will make sure that the Nyxers get Lusitania next time. She will become their whoreeeee!" Her voice boomed in the entire corridor.

Eltanin growled as he leapt to attack her, but Alrakis stopped him. "She is of no consequence now, Eltanin. She can't do a thing now, let alone go to Nyxers."

Lusitania was shaking by the end of it. She watched Sirrah leaving the room with disbelief in her eyes. If this was what the game of thrones was like, then she didn't want to be a part of it. Her eyes welled up seeing the pathetic situation of her father. He had said that he hadn't  known how he rejected Kinshra. Did that mean that he was under someone's influence when it happened? Why would a man reject his pregnant mate?

Biham was under the impression that Kinshra was dead. But Tania had seen in her dreams that her mother had gone back to her realm. Why didn't Biham know this? She thought she should give this piece of information to him after the rejection, since she was sure he was definitely suffering from pain. She pitied her father. He rejected his mates twice. She couldn't even imagine the pain that he must have endured.

"Lusitania?" Eltanin called to her and she jerked her head up. "Don't be sad, love…" He walked over to her and stood in front of her. He held her hand in his. "I know this has been hard for you, but…"

"I know this was necessary…" She completed his sentence.

He cupped her face and softly stroked her cheeks with his thumb. She was so beautiful that every time he looked at her, he forgot to breathe. The blue eather in his eyes pulsated and streaked to the sides in a slant. He could feel her gift under his fingertips, teasing him.

A cough from the side broke his trance. "What are we going to do next?" Rigel asked.

Eltanin bent and kissed his mate on her head. "I don't know. Ask Father."

Alrakis couldn't help smiling. "Why don't you and Tania go and meet your mother, Taiyi? She is waiting for you eagerly. She had tried to come here, but I stopped her." Alrakis stopped Taiyi from coming to meet him. It would have brought unnecessary attention to Tania and he wanted to keep her well-hidden.

There was a shine in Tania's eyes at the prospect of meeting mermaids. She had seen so many swimming around her that she wanted to swim with them, at least once, in the sea and experience it.

"When do you plan on announcing her, Eltanin?" Rigel asked with seriousness in his eyes. Now that they had dealt with his worst enemy, in the form of Sirrah, he didn't understand Eltanin's reluctance in telling everyone about Lusitania.

He let out a rough exhale. "Not now!" Worry etched on his face. How could he announce it with the looming threat of the High Priest of Cetus?

Rigel didn't ask questions because he understood that it was not his place to probe into their personal lives.

Alrakis sat on the opposite side and looked at Tania affectionately. "I am so happy that my son has finally found his mate. I was getting worried about him." He chuckled. "I am also happy that he had insisted that he not  marry Morava. It would have been quite the disaster!"

A blush rose on Tania's cheeks. "We are not yet married…" she pointed softly. "Perhaps, king Biham would like a say in it."

"Ah!" Alrakis sighed. "I hope he doesn't prove to be a problem! He wants you back in Pegasii as soon as possible!"

Tania pursed her lips as her eyes moved to Eltanin. She didn't want to leave him and she wasn't sure how he would convince her father.

Alrakis continued, "I am sure Taiyi would be very happy to see you again, Tania."

"Again?" Tania asked amusedly. When did Taiyi see her?

Alrakis chuckled. "She sneaked up upon you. How could she stay back without seeing who Eltanin had kept in his private room?"

Tania blushed to the roots of her hair. She lowered her eyes feeling very shy. Did Alrakis already know that she was Eltanin's mate?

Alrakis quelled her doubts. "Taiyi didn't know that you were his mate. But she is a mother, and she couldn't help herself. She didn't say anything to me, you know?"

Lusitania giggled. "I would love to meet her."

"Oh yes!" Alrakis said boisterously. "We can start the journey tomorrow!"

Eltanin rolled his eyes. His father was more excited than he was about his mate.

"I heard that you are a scribe and that you translated several arcana," Alrakis asked.

Tania's eyes became wide. "I— I—" she stammered. No one was supposed to know about it. She looked over at Eltanin for help, but he shrugged as if saying he was helpless.

"Taiyi told me about it, Tania, in case you are wondering," Alrakis informed.

Tania rubbed the back of her neck. Of course, she must have told him. "I have," she replied.

"Have you translated Yunabi?"

So, Alrakis knew that they had retrieved Yunabi arcana? "Not as of yet. It is difficult," she said bewildered.

"Hmm." He crossed his arms. "I know someone who can help you with that." If Lusitania translated Yunabi, she would imbibe its magic. And that would be the most important part in his son's marriage. He would have to claim and mark Tania again after she translated Yunabi. Then he would gain his maximum strength and would be able to face Felis. Until then, Tania would face constant threats. If they exposed her, she would be vulnerable to his enemies. She was too young and too naïve to face her adversaries. Alrakis felt protective about her.

"Who?" she asked with curiosity.

"Rolfe Aramaer, the demon king of Galahar."

Everyone in the room became quiet. Alrakis continued, "Yunabi is a very ancient arcana. It is not easy to translate, but if you read that arcana, you will have to do it under strict guidance. Rolfe Aramaer, is a demon who knows ancient magic. He can help you or someone from the fae world can. I highly doubt that someone from Vilinski would come here after the way your mother was treated. They have closed all their portals that lead to Araniea. But Rolfe can come. He is the man for the job."

"How do we contact him?" Eltanin asked.

"We will have to scout for a portal that is still open. If we find a small opening, we can send him a message," Alrakis informed.

"There's not a single portal open to that realm," Rigel said defeatedly. He knew why Alrakis was eager for Tania to read Yunabi. "The faes were very angry after Kinshra's situation occurred and they closed all of them! They didn't want to have any connection with us. They were so angry that they had sealed the damn portals of every other realm with their magic." Rigel threw his hands up. "Faes are extremely powerful. Sometimes, I am really jealous of Ileus. His mate is a pure blooded fae."

"I think I know a place where there might be a small opening, but I am not completely sure," Tania said softly.

The three men, a king, father of a king, and a prince, who knew everything about portals, jerked their heads back.