The Alpha's Temptation

When they were out of the private meeting chambers, Anastasia said to Tania, "You must use this opportunity to be close to your mother. She is the key to Yunabi arcana. She is a powerful fae but she keeps her powers under check. There are many things that she might be knowing as to what happened to her at Pegasii, but from what I have heard, she hasn't revealed them to anyone. She chooses to suffer in silence."

Tania felt a twinge of pain for her mother. She wanted to meet her as soon as possible. She walked after Lord Krail who was leading them to the north side where the portal was that led to Kral. Her father and Eltanin followed him closely. There were four guards who had to accompany them to Kral by king's orders.

When they reached near it, Anastasia stopped. She held Tania's hands and said, "I will wait for three more days for you after which I will have to leave. I am hoping that you come back with your mother." Saying that she hugged Tania and patted her back. The girl had come so far and it would be sad if she didn't meet her mother. That was the reason why the king ordered Lord Krail. Anastasia didn't know what would happen after this, but everyone deserves one chance. As for Biham, Anastasia didn't want to think about his fate.

They all stepped into the portal and came out in Kral, Lord Krail's fiefdom.

Kral was… covered with snow. The place was nothing but lots of rolling hills that were covered with layers of snow. Atop each hill was an opulent home that was surrounded by smaller homes. Soft flurries of snow greeted them.

In front of them four carriages were standing, the horses of which were tall, beautiful animals with glistening manes and powerful legs. As soon as the group came near them, they neighed slightly as they tried to look at Tania. It was as if they had sensed something inside her.

"These horses can sense your beast," Lord Krail warned, seeing their behavior.

The horses were spooked by Eltanin and Biham, sensing their wolves.

"You can sit in that carriage," he said, pointing to the one standing behind him. His guards followed him on the horses around the carriage.

The three walked to that carriage and it was an indication that they weren't welcome, otherwise Krail would have made them sit with him.

The four fae guards came in a carriage after that.

As the carriages rolled on the road to the main castle, Tania noticed that the whole place was very quiet. There was hardly any activity on the roads. Surrounded by more fields of snow, there were lanterns at regular intervals. They lit the road and the snow in their bright yellow lights. Pines and firs dotted the fields. Snow was clumped on all of them. Soft cold winds blew sometimes, making the leaves shiver.

Through a meandering path they reached the main castle. It was a tall building of gray stones with four towers on each corner. Built on the highest hill, it overlooked every other home in the fiefdom. Thousands of torches burned along all the sides imparting glow to the walls. From the main building fluttered the flag with its insignia – a unicorn.

The portcullis opened and they all entered the castle. They stopped at the rise of stairs in the front where a flurry of servants and a lady clad in a long gray cloak with a tiara in her hair, greeted them. She had long platinum blond hair and a very kind face. Lord Krail smiled at his wife and said, "How are you, Jiada?" She was looking curiously at his guests. However, the moment her gaze landed on Biham, her mood dipped.

"Very well, my lord," she said as he kissed the crown of her head. Then he looked at his guests. "They are here to see Kinshra."

The coldness in his demeanor was cutting through Tania's heart. He was as cold as the place he lived in. She wanted to hold him and shake him so badly that he shed his coldness. But she managed to take in a deep breath to shake her emotions instead.

Jiada walked to Tania and said with kindness, "How are you little one?" There was a glint of joy in her eyes, but she had not let that happiness show on her face. She masked it with her kindness.

"I am well," Tania replied, her face flushing. Her eyes darted behind her as if to see her mother, but there was no one.

"Come," said Jiada and led them inside the castle. Krail had already disappeared behind the doors.

The insides were nice and warm. There was a large stone hearth in the center of the main hall with a chimney above it. Fire burned in it, keeping the hall warm. All around there were golden vases with small firs in them. Two spiral staircases went to the first floor where there were rooms.

Jiada took them to the guest rooms and after that she left them with a dozen servants to attend them.

As soon as Eltanin closed the door of their room, he leaned against it and blurted, "I am yet to see more frigid people! Calaman's horns! I want to go back to Draka!" The man was so used to love and affection between his parents that this looked like hell to him.

Tania wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. "I am feeling bad for my father. I just hope that he is able to close this chapter of his life on a good note. Mother—" her throat burned with pain. "Mother didn't even come out to greet us. Is it so bad?"

Eltanin curled his arms around her and pressed her against him. He seriously couldn't understand the dynamics of rejected mates, but he also couldn't comprehend the frostiness of Kinshra. All he wanted was Tania to feel good. He stroked her hair and said, "I am sure she would want to meet you."

Tania's tears rolled out as her body wrecked with a shudder. One of her wings lifted in reflex and cocooned them. However, it was accompanied by so much pain in her pectorals that it dropped immediately.

A knock on the door sounded.

"Who is it?" Eltanin asked, as Tania bobbed her head to the side to peer.

"Lady Kinshra wants to meet Princess Tania and King Eltanin," a soft voice from the other side came.

Tania's eyes widened as she snapped her head to Eltanin. She left him and rushed to the door. She was breathless by the time she opened it. "Wh— where?"

The servant bowed to her and said, "Her room is in the west tower. She is waiting for you over there."

Excited as hell, Tania squealed. "Let us go, Elty!"

Eltanin let out a soft laughter of relief and nodded. He grabbed Tania's extended hand and they followed the servant. They met Biham on their way.

"Where are you both going?" Biham asked.

"To meet mother! She called us," Tania said.

Biham's mouth dropped to the floor. He had been pacing in his room to think of a way to meet her.