The Alpha's Temptation

Taiyi narrowed her eyes at the soldier who was standing in front of her and volunteered to stay on this side of the border just so that she didn't travel at night. This kind of a thing was unheard of.

All said and done, she was feeling that there was something that was different with him. Either he was an odd Nyxer or he didn't conform to his king's beliefs. Either way she decided that any Nyxer was a bad Nyxer. "I don't have the time, soldier," she repeated. "Please don't worry about me and I will be fine. We can travel back in the night."

Felis was not convinced. Though his mother had introduced herself just as 'Taiyi' and not as the Queen of Draka, he wasn't sure how many Nyxers were already suspecting. At the same time, Felis also knew that this would be perhaps the only chance he would have to talk to his mother. And there were so many things that he wanted to talk about.

Taiyi scanned the soldiers around her and knew that she was surrounded. "I know that you have ambushed us. Order your soldiers to leave, else you will face the consequences. I am warning you now."

A ragged breath left his lips. He knew that his mother was a sea goddess. It won't be difficult for her to take down his people but she would also get injured by fighting with them. All at once his General, Alphard, opened his mind link with him and said, "She is not alone. My spies have just given me the information that there are about five hundred soldiers that are backing her up. If you don't allow her to go, they will attack us."

Now Felis was even more jittery. He was unable to think of more ideas to stop his mother. He had thought that he would capture the fae girl who would come as told by Menkar, but this was his mother. He had no intentions of capturing her because--

Felis was left with only one option now. If that didn't work to stop his mother, nothing would. And he was ready to take the risk. "Taiyi, it is very unsafe to travel at this point of time in the night. However, I, King Felis of Hydra Kingdom, born of Ukdah and..." He stopped as his throat bobbed with emotions to see if there was any reaction from his mother.

Pure panic bloomed in Taiyi's chest as her eyes became wide. Her skin lined with goosebumps and her stomach twisted in a thousand knots. She didn't want to, but bile rose in her throat and tears stung the back of her eyes. This was her son. Her older son. Her lips parted as a shaky breath left her. She froze as if the world around her faded. She had left Felis when he was barely a few days old. And now here was standing before her.

She had thought that he was just a soldier. He wasn't revealing her identity. Why? Her hands clenched into tight fists as she grabbed the sides of her cloak.

Felis took out his metal helmet and tucked it on the side for his mother to see him, whatever remained of his features and was still not covered by the tattoos. He just hoped that his mother didn't reject him because of the ugliness that was not in his control.

When he saw how Taiyi was staring at him, he continued, "I will request you to stay for the night even if you want to stay on this side of the border. Let me accompany you because--"

Before he could say another word, Taiyi interjected, "I will stay... for the night." Her lips were quivering and it was impossible for her to contain her emotions. This was the first time meeting her son. He was so tall and had broad shoulders. There were so many tattoos running around his face that she felt sad. He looked quite like Ukdah but had her eyes and her chin. She wanted to go and hug him, but she stopped herself.

She realized why he was insisting that she stay back and not travel through the night. He must have recognized her and she was pleased to notice that instead of revealing her identity, he risked revealing his identity.

Taiyi opened her mind link with Alrakis. "I am standing in front of Felis."

"Calaman's horns! I am coming now!" He sounded so panicky that Taiyi's heart squeezed.

"No, Alrakis, don't come. He knows that my men are here, yet he risked to reveal his identity and that was only to talk with me at length. It is the first time I am meeting him. I have decided to stay for the night and spend time with him."

"But Taiyi, that man is dangerous!" Alrakis was anxious. "Do you want me to come?"

"I am as dangerous, Alrakis," Taiyi tried to allay his fears. "And no, you don't come. This is a meeting between a mother and her son and not soldiers. I will come back in the morning. If I don't, attack them."

Felis was... amazed. He wasn't expecting his mother to stay back, but she did. In order for her to feel more comfortable, he said, "If you want, I can send all my soldiers and only I will stay back."

Taiyi's lips lifted in a soft smile. "That won't be necessary, soldier," she stated. "But to be fair, you should have only fifty soldiers around you, so that there is a balance. And we will stay on this side of the border."

Felis dipped his head as if in pure respect. His soldiers were astonished as to how their king was behaving, but as soon as they received the silent command from him, other than the top fifty soldiers, all others left. Alphard was also asked to come by Felis.

Soon, the soldiers started to build camps. Since the Draka army hadn't come with the tents, it was the Hydra army who built tents for them too. A very excited Felis quietly waited.

The first one was quickly made for their king. He asked his mother to come inside the tent.