The Alpha's Temptation

Tania picked up the tea to drink when Flora said, "Wait a little, Your Highness."

"Why?" she asked, frowning.

Flora took the tea from her and smelled it. "The aroma of this chamomile tea is a little off." She smelled it again. "I do feel that it contains wolfsbane."

Wolfsbane was a poisonous plant that was found in the wilds of the kingdoms of Pegasii and Eridanus and also in the southern parts of the Black Fang Mountains. It was used to kill wolf prisoners. It was usually mixed with food. It resulted in slowing of the heart which could be fatal and even a small quantity was enough to upset the stomach. The werewolf would vomit a lot and eventually start vomiting blood.

Tania gasped. She looked at the door where Nora had already disappeared. "Why would she do this to me?" Tania asked, bewildered. "This is just my first day after coronation."

Flora narrowed her eyes. "It is possible that the cook of the palace did this. We have to ask all those who are involved in making it. You must also smell it and commit to your memory as to how wolfsbane smells."

Tania brought her nose to the cup and sniffed it. It had a bitter aroma. She felt repulsed by it immediately. "Gods above!" she rasped. "Throw it."

"But why don't we ask Nora to drink it?" Flora countered. "I am sure she would be hesitant."

"No," Tania replied. "Just throw it."

Flora took the cup from her, got up and then went to the bathroom and threw the tea in the sink.

"Don't talk about it to anyone," Tania said when Flora came back.

"Why?" Flora was surprised.

"I want to see her reaction when she sees me." Tania's fists clenched on her sides.

"See you? But she has gone to the servants' hall. You are too tired to walk till there," Flora protested.

"I may be tired, Flora, but this is very important. If my head maid is trying to poison me, then she must be doing it on someone's instructions. If we catch her now, chances are that we will never be able to find the real culprit!"

Flora looked away, feeling worried. "So would you like to go there now?"

"Yes!" Tania said and jumped off the bed. She was already dressed for dinner. She was wearing a deep green gown that had golden embroidery over it. The round neckline was studded with diamonds. She chose to tie her hair in a low bun before wearing the crown. Flora made her wear her silk sandals that matched the gown.

They reached the servants' hall surrounded by four guards. Tania saw that all the servants were rounded up by Eltanin. Ileus was also standing with him.

When Eltanin saw Tania coming over, he was surprised. "Tania, why have you come, love? This is just a routine checkup."

Tania whispered to him. "Why would a king want to do a routine checkup? From what I heard, the servants of the Draka Kingdom were one of the most well-kept werewolves." Her gaze roved over the line of servants who were standing in front of them. Ileus was sweeping his golden eyes all over them one by one.

Tania saw that Nora was standing right in the front, her head lowered just like the others, in submission to their king. As soon as Nora lifted her head, her eyes met with Tania's and a hint of surprise flickered in them. Tania would have missed the emotion had she not paid attention.

Eltanin knew that his wife was pretty sharp. She had stayed amongst these people and after the last incident in which Morava tried to harm her, Tania learnt her lesson. "There is something that we are investigating," he replied to her in a whisper. Then he opened his mind link with her. 'I want you to go back, love. Don't be so worried about it.'

Tania was happy that now they could easily talk via mind link. She replied, 'Nora, the head maid, tried to poison me.'

'What the fuck!' Eltanin whipped his head to look at Nora as his chest vibrated with a ferocious rumble and his face twisted into a murderous expression. 'I am going to kill her!'

'Calm down, please,' Tania said as she touched his chest. Her touch seemed to soothe him a little but he continued to glare at Nora. 'I could have asked you to send her to dungeons, but I am pretty sure that she is not alone. There is someone with her who is giving her instructions.'

'It may not be easy to reach that person, Tania!' Eltanin said. 'Let me punish her to show that person what it is to mess with my queen. I am going to rip her limb by limb.'

"Elty,' she said and dug her fingers in his chest. 'We have to take a chance. We already know that she has committed a crime and I am sure that she is also suspecting that we know about it. Let her make a mistake and we will catch the person who is with her.'

Ileus was still sweeping the cells of the servants. His gaze stopped at Nora. He was about to lift his hand and point it at her, when Tania stopped him. She whispered, "We know."

Ileus's smile became crooked. He looked at Nora and then pointed at the person who was standing behind her. Eltanin was... shocked. They were thinking that it was Nora, but Ileus pointed at someone else. What was going on?

"I want all of you to resume their duties, except--" There was a long silence in which every servant began to perspire out of anticipation. "Except Morgan."

They all gasped audibly and started looking at Morgan. A soft murmur spread amongst them. Eltanin growled and all of them became quiet. "Morgan, step out!"

Morgan began trembling. "I haven't done anything!" he rasped. "Please, Your Highness. This is a big mistake."

"Quiet!" Eltanin growled so loud that he sank on his knees.