The Alpha's Temptation

Eltanin was getting overprotective about Tania. He didn't want anyone to see that he had found his mate. He was worried that if he left her alone even for a minute, she might end up in harm's way. Even though Tania was a half fae, her magic was only just now showing. What happened with Morava may not happen again? His possessiveness was at an all-time high. After finally finding his mate after centuries of denial, how could he take the chance? There was danger lurking in every corner of the palace. The threat of the High Priest of Cetus needed to be dealt with.

Glancing at her chain, the pendant of which was safely tucked inside her gown, he said, "Can you tell me what all the messages were you sent to Menkar?" He was taking her back to his father's room where they had planned a private celebration. Alrakis was pretty enthusiastic and wanted to know everything about his daughter-in-law.

Tania whipped her head in his direction. "How did you—?"

Eltanin pursed his lips at the slip of his tongue. "I am sorry, I didn't tell you earlier…" he muttered.

Tania stopped in her tracks. "You can tell me now."

He shifted in his place and looked at the empty passageway in front of them. He had long entered here to go to his father's room, instead of taking the corridor to avoid attention. "I will let you know about it once we reach father's room. Is that okay?"

Tania frowned and then gave him a tight nod. When they reached Alrakis' room, Eltanin took her to the balcony rather than revealing it in front of his father. "I knew that Menkar had sent you as a spy," he said as he held the edges of the rail and looked at the well-manicured garden.

Tania narrowed her eyes as she waited for more.

Eltanin continued, "It was not hard to foresee that Menkar would use the first opportunity to infiltrate a spy in my palace." He turned his face and looked at her. "But I was surprised that he sent you—a scribe with no experience as a spy. I have no idea why he chose you, but you certainly didn't fit the criteria of spying on me. Or maybe, you just fit the right criteria." He twisted to see her and then rested his hips against the edge of the rail. "I have no idea what his endgame is, Tania. When you said that he has a part of your soul, I was actually petrified." He stepped towards her and pulled the soul stone out. He stared at it and a tremble passed through his body when a flicker of light pulsated in it. "Does he have more slaves other than you whose souls he has stolen?"

"I don't know…" she replied. "But I am his personal slave. He uses my services for himself. And he is pretty ferocious about sharing me." Anger permeated inside her. "Why didn't you tell me this earlier?"

Eltanin scrunched his nose sheepishly. "If I had said anything, you would have run away." He cupped her cheeks. "And that was the last thing I wanted."

"Did you know that I was sending messages through a special way?" she asked, appearing peeved.

His lips curled up and he couldn't help but press a kiss to her pouty ones. "You mean that owl?" he asked, and then pressed another kiss.

She jerked her head back, but with a rumble he pulled her back to him and kissed her more. Without any regrets, he said, "I killed it. It wasn't required." He grinned.

"And that was why for two days in a row, I couldn't find him?"

"That's right," he was still grinning. "I tracked you to the orchards that night knowing full well that you couldn't send that message."

She swatted his arm as a blush rose to her cheeks. "King Eltanin, you've been unfair to me!"

"Not at all, love. All is fair in love and war."

She giggled. How ridiculous she must have looked? He knew all about her while she was playing her stupid spy games. It ended pretty well though. She lifted herself on her toes and kissed him on his lips. "And now you are being cocky."

"But you like my cockiness."

"I like everything about you, especially the cockiness."

He lifted her as his chest vibrated with a rumble and plunged his tongue inside her mouth. When he pulled away, they were both breathless. He slid her down his body ensuring that she felt his swollen erection. Suddenly, he frowned and said, "If Menkar doesn't like sharing you, then why did he send you here? It doesn't make sense. And why hasn't he sent anyone to look for you?"

"This was the second time he had sent me here. He knows that I value my freedom. He said that if I needed my freedom, then this was my last chance. I had to spy on you."

Eltanin released her. There was something else beneath all of this, something he wasn't able to pinpoint. He stared at the Eslam forests beyond the palace wall, deep in thought, as numerous scenarios bounced around in his head.

"Should we go inside?" Tania said softly. "Your father must be waiting."

Pulling him out of his reverie, Eltanin walked inside with her. Alrakis and Rigel were both waiting. There was a large selection of food and wine.

"It is not everyday that my son finds a mate!" said Alrakis as he offered her a flute of red wine.

For an hour, they talked. Alrakis shared many of Eltanin's childhood memories and then asked Tania about hers. At the end of it all, Alrakis felt that this was perhaps one of the best days, he couldn't remember in how long.

"You should start for the Jade Sea as soon as possible, Eltanin," said Alrakis. "The weather is good and you don't  want a rough stormy night with Tania on the ship."

"Ship?" Tania asked curiously.

"Yes, we need a ship to reach the kingdom where Taiyi rules," Alrakis informed.

"But isn't it at the bottom of the sea?" she asked, astonished.

He chuckled. "It's better you experience it."

They started in the afternoon and reached the tightly woven town that was built beside the Jade Sea late into the evening.

Tania glanced at the tangled mess of a small bay. The mess was that of almost every sailing vessel on the Jade Sea that had come crashing together, making it look like a floating city. There were numerous ships, some rising to three stories, anchored and swaying proudly over the water. There were bridges criss crossed that hung around here and there for the citizens to reach their destinations. Even at this hour, she saw vendors under the awnings of the boat, selling trinkets from all over Araniea, while the shop owners on the land shouted, trying to compete with their prices. Numerous boats snaked up and down the small rivulets that entered the land and caves on the left.

Everyone was awed when they saw the king's caravan. People parted ways for the royal carriage to pass. Eltanin made sure that Tania wore a veil before she stepped out of the carriage with him. He could have made her step out with the servants, but he didn't trust his servants at this point of time. So, veil and lavender oil it was..