The Alpha's Temptation

Tania gasped as the tall man, who emerged from the flash of light, strode towards them followed by a girl. He was as fast as a strike of lightning. A blazing trail was left in his wake when he went to stand right in front of them. Dressed in all gold, he was like a thick shadow.

"Father!" Taiyi got up and bowed to him, along with Eltanin and Tania.

The sky above them glittered brighter. Small sparks of lights broke free and showered down onto the palace, as if welcoming their king.

Izo's eyes met with that of Tania's, as she raised her head and his lips curled up. A shiver of unease prickled the nape of her neck when their gazes locked.

Izo was the most stunning man she had ever seen, even more stunning than her husband. His features were segued so perfectly, so sensually, that she couldn't believe that such men could even exist. With a glowing golden-brown skin, she wondered if this man had ever seen the sunlight. His features included high cheekbones, straight nose and bow shaped lips. He had the face that artists would want to sculpt and painters would want to draw. Yet, despite all those beautiful features, there was coldness in his expression. It was as if they were always calculating something. As if he had been created perfectly, but that whomever had created him, forgot to add the warmth of humanity.

Tania couldn't help notice that he had incredibly golden eyes that swirled with a thousand sparkles. Wispy tendrils of eather pulsated around his eyes and Tania had this overwhelming urge to submit to him, but she restrained herself. And she was restraining herself  a lot.

Sweat broke out onto her forehead and her neck strained. It was as if someone was purposefully wrenching her soul to bend down to her knees and submit to him. It was an internal warning that she was in the vicinity of the one of the most dangerous predators on the face of Araniea. Even Menkar was nothing compared to him. He looked very young, not fit to be Taiyi's father, but just old enough to be Eltanin's father.

Thick, curly golden hair fell against his forehead and cheeks as he dipped his head to stare at Tania. It was as if they were tied in a contest of dominance.

Tania's throat tightened and she clenched her jaw, as she was on the verge of screaming. She wanted to wrench herself free of him, to remove herself from his trance, and was having great difficulty. She closed her fists tight and focused on the gift that she had within her. She let it swirl in her chest and then it exploded. It traveled all the way from her chest to her hands. Blue wisps of her gift rippled out and lashed at him. Izo stepped back, shocked and the connection between them severed.

Tania felt… free. She closed her eyes as she sucked in a sharp breath in her lungs.

"That was some introduction, grandfather," Eltanin snarled.

A wide grin appeared  on Izo's face. "It was needed," he replied. "Welcome to the family, Lusitania," he said. "You are truly half fae."

Lusitania gritted her teeth. Was this a test? If it was, she didn't like it one bit. The girl standing behind him watched her with a stoic expression, as if she was expecting it. "Thank you," she said politely.

Izo glanced at Eltanin and then said, "Come here, grumpy child!"

Eltanin chuckled and he walked over to his grandfather and they embraced each other—tall men with broad shoulders and powerful arms. They looked stunning. Taiyi smiled after them. "You always have to make an entry, father," she jabbed at him.

"I am a God," replied Izo. "What do you expect?"

Taiyi rolled her eyes. Narcissism ran in the family line, all the way down to Eltanin.

Without looking around, Izo announced, "The court is closed. You all are dismissed." Saying that he flicked his wrist and all of them were now inside the dining room of the palace.

Tania reeled under the effects of being teleported like this. She swayed a little, but Eltanin was right there behind her, and steadied her. Things were happening so fast, that she was trying to decipher the meaning of all of it. She had just arrived into a mesmerizing world, attended a court and then whirled into facing a God, who wanted to dominate her?

"Don't mind the old man," Eltanin said as he wrapped his arm over her shoulders. "He is… impulsive."

Tania gave him a tight smile as once again the hair on the nape of her neck bristled. Was it a warning of something… ominous? She was sitting next to Eltanin.

"Come and sit down next to me," Izo pointed to the chair on his left. On the right Taiyi sat followed by the girl who had arrived  with him and hadn't yet been introduced.

Tania hesitated, but then she walked over to sit where Izo had asked. She glanced around her nervously. The servants started running around them as if they had caught fire. It was not always that the king of the Jade Sea came for a visit to Stourin.

As soon as Tania sat on the chair, Izo pointed with his chin to the girl he had arrived with and said, "She is Nerina, granddaughter of the kingdom of Murel."

Tania dipped her chin with a smile to Nerina and Nerina returned the greeting with the same stony expression. Gods above! Attractive features ran in the family. Nerina was a beautiful girl with thick sandy brown hair. She had azure eyes and creamy skin. Everything about her was sensuous.

Soon the table was full of exquisite cuisine. There were king crabs in wine, lobster tail, scallops, roasted prawns, ginger and mushroom salmon, filet mignon and a variety of wine and freshly baked breads.

They all started having their dinner as Izo conversed casually with Eltanin. It was as if Izo was leading the whole series of events. "When did you meet Lusitania?" Izo asked.

"Only a month back," Eltanin replied as he scooped flesh out of an oyster.

Izo's gaze fell on Tania's marks. They were still fresh. "It appears you have marked her already."

Tania blushed heavily as Eltanin raised his eyebrow at his grandfather. He knew where this conversation was going.

"When do you plan on having a babe?" Izo asked directly.

Eltanin chewed slowly upon his food as Tania's blush deepened to her neck. Eltanin kept up with Izo's embarrassing questions. This was the only way to deal with him. Head on. "We have just mated, so not for a day or two." He sipped wine and relaxed back.

Izo stopped eating. He, too, relaxed on his chair. He cut to the chase immediately. "I can't  wait for another year, Eltanin," he said in an ominous voice. If not Lusitania, Nerina will do her work."

"Father!" Taiyi snapped.

Tania whipped her head in Izo's direction, with wide eyes, while Eltanin still sat relaxed.

"Nerina is practically one of my cousin sisters," he said nonchalantly without even looking at Nerina.

"So what?" Izo shrugged. "I want a royal heir." He leaned forward. "After our last conversation, Eltanin, you leave me with no choice. You can have your mate in the kingdom of Araniea, but in the kingdom of Stourin, you will be with Nerina!"

An air of strained and stunned silence hung between them. Shock blasted through Tania.