The Alpha's Temptation

Ileus sat back in his chair and tilted his head. He picked up the river stone in his hand and whirled it on the table as Biham watched him with anticipation. Ileus said, "Has Lusitania ever told you about the soul stone that she is wearing around her neck?"

Biham's body froze with shock. "Wh-- what soul stone?" The hair on his nape rose as goosebumps pebbled his skin. What Ileus was referring to was very dark magic. And his daughter was its victim? His heart missed a beat. His gaze darted between Rolfe and Ileus as if his whole world was about to crash.

"Lusitania wears a chain around her neck which has a tangerine soul stone," Ileus said. "And I saw it even though she tried to hide it well. No normal wolf is going to wear a soul stone unless--"

"Unless what?" Biham gripped the armrest of his chair so tightly that his knuckles became white.

"Unless a piece of their soul is stolen. Unless they are not completely free. Unless they still are a slave to someone's whims."

Biham's face color leached. His teeth chattered so hard that he clenched them until they hurt. His only heir's soul was stolen? "I don't-- I can't believe it!" he said as if hoping what Ileus said was not true. Too many thoughts bounced across his mind and the foremost was that he couldn't take care of his daughter that well.

Ileus continued. "Lusitania was a slave in Cetus Monastery. I hope you know that."

"I do know that," he replied in a hoarse voice. "But how do you know about it? You've just met her. Did Eltanin tell you about her?"

Ileus chuckled. "I don't need people to tell me about themselves. Every person in this world, except my wife, is like an open book to me. I don't read their minds unless I want to."

Biham lowered his head. "I know..." He stabbed his fingers in his hair as dread skittered down his spine. Why didn't Tania ever tell him about her soul stone? It hurt him, but then he realized that she might have been waiting for the right time. Still, he was going to ask her, chide her and then hug her. He was going to fight the man who-- "Why didn't she tell me?" he murmured.

"When Lusitania was five years, she was sold to the High Priest of Cetus Monastery, Menkar, by her grandmother, who wasn't her grandmother, for a few coins. Menkar practiced black magic and pinched a piece of her soul on the five-year-old making her his slave for the life."

"Calaman's horns!" Biham's shock flared in his eyes. "You mean Menkar has--" Bile rose in his throat and he couldn't speak because of pain. Emotions burned inside and tears stung his eyes.

Ileus nodded. "Yes, Menkar pinched a piece. He couldn't take the full soul because he knows dark magic, but he doesn't have inherent magic. And his knowledge of dark magic only allowed him to pluck a piece of it. However, that is also very dangerous. Lusitania will never be free from the clutches of Menkar."

Biham got up and paced to the window. His chest felt so constricted that he couldn't breathe. He opened the window and allowed the cool air to gush in. He inhaled deeply, but nothing calmed his nerves. In fact, he only became all the more worried. He held the ledge of the window and his mind started going back to all the events in the past. "I am extremely sure that--"

"Wait!" Rolfe warned him. He flicked his wrist. The window snapped shut and the magic around them restored. They became sound proof again. "Continue."

Biham strode back to his table. He sat back on his cushioned chair and leaned forward. He supported his arm on the table and said, "I am extremely sure that Menkar knows what has happened to Lusitania. He must have the information that she is now the princess of Pegasii."

"Of course," Ileus remarked. "It would be foolish of him not to keep an eye on her."

"But do you know--" Biham almost bit his tongue before he revealed that Eltanin and Lusitania were mates.

Rolfe's lips curled up. "We know that Eltanin and Lusitania are mates, and that they are married and also that the two are mates."

Biham's face flushed. "The information is still a secret."

"It should remain a secret," Rolfe voiced.

"But I am wondering as to why hasn't Menkar come as yet to claim that Lusitania is his slave. Is he scared that his act would be revealed if he came out in the open about it?" Biham said.

"We must speak with Eltanin about this, King Biham," said Ileus. He scratched his chin and narrowed his eyes. "He must be having some plan for all of it. After all, Lusitania is his mate."

Biham nodded. Even though Eltanin was supposed to stay away from his daughter, the wolf of Draka found a way to get in her chambers. He had sent a healer to heal his daughter, but Eltanin had returned the healer because he wanted to take care of her. Biham couldn't suppress his smile at Eltanin's shenanigans. In fact, now after Ileus revealed about Menkar, he admired Eltanin greatly for protecting his daughter. He recalled when he had brought his army and camped outside the borders of Pegasii. It wasn't about his bruised ego. The king of Draka had come for his mate. Biham rubbed his chest as a warm feeling suffused him. "I don't think they are awake at the moment. How about we continue this meeting tomorrow?"

"That would be okay, but we both will leave soon!" Ileus replied.

"I was wondering if it would be wise to attack Menkar and snatch the soul stone from him?" Rolfe mused.

"That would not be right, King Rolfe," Biham cautioned him. "If only Menkar was the man I was going to attack, it wouldn't have been an issue. The Cetus Monastery is the religious seat of Araniea. Not only Menkar, many others out there must be knowing dark magic. Though dark magic was banned a long time ago, I am sure that they perform it in the Cetus Monastery. I have heard of those tales time and again. However, there is no proof and people are too afraid to go against the scholars and priests in the monastery. We have to think of a plan to take out Menkar. Or maybe ask his price to give the soul stone back."

"Do you think that Menkar would need your treasures for the soul stone?" Ileus scoffed.

Biham's brows furrowed.

"He would have come to claim Lusitania if he needed gold or other treasure. He wants something else!"

"You mean he wants Pegasii Kingdom in exchange for the soul stone?" asked Biham. Suddenly the situation became grimmer. Sweat beads formed on his brows and his breath became ragged.

"No..." Ileus's voice drawled. "Something bigger. If he wanted Pegasii, he would have been in talks with you already."

Biham gulped down his fear but he began shaking as thought flitted across his mind. "Does he know that Lusitania is a half fae?"