The Alpha's Temptation

Ileus Volkov's wife was a fae and he wondered if she knew Kinshra. His skin pebbled with goosebumps the moment he thought about Kinshra. Sadness followed his excitement. If only she were alive... Moreover, if Ileus and Rolfe were here, did they open the portals of this realm all over again?

He didn't find it odd when his gaze went to his son-in-law who had eyes only for his daughter, Lusitania. And what was the book that he was clutching to his chest? The way he dismounted the horse in one swift motion and reached for Lusitania--it was as if he was seeing her for the first time. Biham narrowed his eyes when he saw that he leaned over her ear and whispered something that brought a deep blush to her face. He could almost feel the smoke of fury through his nostrils. The king of Draka needed to be reminded that their marriage wasn't public as yet.

Biham's gaze traveled to Rigel who was helping a girl dismount her horse and who looked like she didn't need his help. She too was blushing upon his touch. What was going on?

Ileus and Rolfe had come very close to him. "It's an honor to have you in the kingdom of Pegasii," Biham said. "I would really like to hear how this wonder happened." He wanted to ask if he could take his daughter to the kingdom of Vilinski and introduce her to her mother's kins. His heart raced at the thought. He guided them all inside.

Eltanin was unable to hide his excitement. The moment he jumped off the horse, he rushed to Lusitania. He was about to crash into her, hug her and pick her up, when she glared at him. Obviously, she hadn't forgotten the concubine remark. So, he stopped himself. He leaned over her and whispered, "I missed you so much that I will end up spending my time in between your thighs for the night. Brace yourself for my bite over there." He clutched his book to his chest tightly as a rumble vibrated through him imagining the scenario of the night.

She blushed heavily and asked, "Where were you all this while?" She had missed him more than she could imagine. Though she was angry with him, her anger turned into misery when he didn't come back last night and for the whole day. He was absent for over a day and she had almost cried her heart out in her chamber in secret, chiding herself for being so harsh on him. However, the moment she saw him, her anger returned. She was going to scold him for not telling her where he went without telling her.

"Did you miss me?" he asked with his lopsided smile.

She missed him terribly, but she wouldn't admit it. "Who is that girl with Rigel?"

"That is Lerna. But did you miss me?" he asked smugly.

"King Eltanin!" Biham growled at him.

Eltanin pursed his lips. The old man was such a dampener in his spirits. He said to his wife. "That girl is Lerna and she is Rigel's mate." Tania's eyes flew wide open. "Shhh..." he placed his finger on his lips. "Don't reveal this to anyone yet. Even the soldiers who went with us, don't know who she is except that she is from the Hydra Kingdom."

"H--Hydra?" Tania's shock was apparent at her gaping mouth.

"That's right. She is Princess Lerna, Felis's sister. And she is Rigel's mate. This is a very delicate situation. Everyone hates Felis. I am sure that in no time the gossip is going to spread that we have rescued a girl from Hydra Kingdom. And people across Araniea hate Felis."

"Other than that, there would be Nyxers on her hunt! She is a target even before she knows she is a target!" Tania rasped. "Gods above!"

"King Eltanin!" Biham called him again.

Eltanin clenched his jaws. He walked to Biham reluctantly. They reached inside the palace and Biham ordered his servants to prepare the rooms for his guests. Even Eltanin was supposed to stay in the guest wings of Pegasus Palace. They all sat down on the sofas of the main hall for receiving guests in which everyone talked generally, knowing that even the walls had ears.

Biham introduced Lusitania to Ileus and Rolfe. And as soon as he introduced, Ileus said with a smile, "You are half fae."

Her lips parted as she stared into his mesmerizing golden eyes. "My mother was a fae," she breathed.

"I could sense that." Then he peered behind her as if to see her wings. "Where are your wings?" he asked directly.

Lusitania gulped. "I--I don't have..." Something inside her stirred at the sadness of the words that came out of her mouth and her back became itchy. Eltanin was standing right next to her. He wanted to reach out and touch her for he too could feel her misery.

"Why?" Ileus asked. "That is... strange..." My eldest son is already showing signs of wings on his back and he is half fae." The fae genes were pretty strong. Usually, they were dominant.

She clutched her gown on the sides and lowered her eyes. How could she say that maybe it was because a part of her soul was with the High Priest of Cetus Monastery? "I-- I don't know..."

Ileus chuckled. "That's fine. Don't worry about it. I have given a book to Eltanin. Hope he shares it with you."

"Wolf!" Rolfe slapped his upper arm. "Have you no shame?" He was really embarrassed about Ileus's openness.

"What, demon!" Ileus massaged his arm as Eltanin flushed to the root of his hair.

"What book?" Rigel asked with interest.

"It's nothing!" Eltanin's jaw clenched all over again.

"It would be a pleasure to see you all in the meeting chambers in an hour," King Biham intervened. "After that please join us for dinner." He really wanted to talk to all of them in private.

Ileus knew that Biham would have a hundred questions for him. He nodded once with a smile. "We will be there." But first he needed a long bath.

The guests were shown their rooms. Rigel insisted that Lerna will stay in a room adjacent to his. He wasn't letting her out of his sight even for a minute. He had seen how many enemies were there for Lusitania who constantly planned on killing her or ousting her. He wasn't going to take chances for his mate. And Lerna was the Princess of Hydra Kingdom. She was going to be hated by all of Araniea. He had to keep her safe by his side. He didn't know how he was going to inform his parents about it, but he had to. Especially his father. He placed his hand on the small of her back when they walked to the guest wings, much to Eltanin's jealousy. Even he wanted to be with his wife. The irony was not wasted upon him. He was married to his mate according to all the laws, and Rigel wasn't. He had claimed his mate and Rigel hadn't. Yet, Rigel was walking with her authoritatively, and he was hiding Lusitania.

Eltanin sighed. He turned his head over his shoulder to glance at Tania and found her looking at him. His chest squeezed. He waited for the night.