The Alpha's Temptation

Rolfe collected the Yunabi arcana and closed it. "In that case we are going to resume it in Sgiáth Bio!" He took it and placed it back in the bookshelf. "So when do we start?" he asked eagerly.

"You must go there as soon as possible," said Alrakis. He was impatient for Lusitania to learn Yunabi because he wanted his son to claim her when she was brimming with her full powers and magic. He glanced at Rigel and his mate Lerna and added, "It is important that Lusitania gains her magic fast!"

Eltanin had already apprised him of how they rescued Lerna. Alrakis was sure that once the spell broke and Morava's original face was revealed, all hell would break loose. Felis was going to come after them and probably in his bid to recover Lerna, he wouldn't hesitate to create pandemonium. Apart from all this Felis was always after Eltanin's beast.

The fate of Araniea depended on Lusitania.

"We can start by the evening," Eltanin said. There was a lot to do before leaving his kingdom again in the hands of his father.

"That would be fine," Ileus commented. "Anastasia and I need rest. We have traveled a long way and could get some sleep!"

Anastasia's cheeks heated. She remained quiet at her husband's hidden meanings.

Rolfe, Anastasia and Ileus were escorted to the guest wings while Rigel was called by Eltanin to his official chambers. Lusitania took Lerna with her to the orchards where they were surrounded by four guards at all times.

As soon as Rigel sat on the chair, he said, "I am constantly worried about her, Eltanin! It's like her safety plagues my every waking thought."

Eltanin's lips curled up. "Welcome to my world." He started laughing for all the time Rigel used to mock him.

Rigel shook his head. "There is not a single moment when I don't want to be with her or--" he pursed his lips, his face flushed. Or when he doesn't want to be inside her.

Eltanin understood. "Have you marked her yet?"

"Marked her?" Rigel raised his hands up in the air exasperatedly. "I think she is testing my patience. I want to mark her like now, but apart from the kisses, we haven't gone further. She is so scared of the word 'sex' that she shies away from it. I have no idea how to make her shed her inhibitions!" He lowered his head in his hands. "My wolf is impatient to mark her. What should I do? Every man near her is like a threat to me. I feel like I would kill them all even if they try to glance at her!"

"That's a tricky situation!" Eltanin said.

"Fuck!" Rigel got up and paced to the window.

"The reason why I called you here was that I wanted to tell you one thing," Eltanin said as he watched Rigel looking out the window.

"What?" he asked, still looking out. The morning was bright and sunny despite all the snow that had accumulated in various places. Winters were setting in. Fast. He wondered how long it would take for Felis to attack his kingdom. That worry ate him on the inside.

Eltanin told him about how along with Rolfe, he tricked Morava into looking like Lerna and how he took advantage of the battle near Aquila and Pegasii to send her to Nyxers.

Rigel was wide eyed at the end of it. "What the hell?" He rushed back to the table as his skin lined with goosebumps. He stared at Eltanin for a long time, trying to think of words for him and then... they both burst into a fit of laughter. There were no thank yous. Just pure joy and mischievous laughter. It was after a long time that the two friends shared a genuine laugh.

Rigel wiped the tears of joy from his eyes. "So how long will this illusion work?" he asked as he settled. He loved how his friend deflected Felis. Just one trick was enough to stop the war between Aquila and Pegasii and also gain time.

"It would last a week," Eltanin replied. "And I hope that in that one week, Morava is claimed twelve times. It would be interesting to see twelve bite marks on her neck."

Rigel cringed. "That would be too much!" But then he shuddered when he realized that it could have been Lerna with twelve bite marks. "These Hydranians are fucked up!"

"Felis is fucked up," Eltanin rolled his eyes. He got and walked to the long table on the side. He lifted a crystal bottle and poured amber liquid in two flutes. Giving one of them to Rigel, he said, "Since the illusion will last only a week, Felis would come to know what happened to him. He is going to be madder than ever and he will launch a fresh hunt for his sister. So, as a precaution, why don't you come to Vilinski for a while."

Rigel sipped his wine quietly. He gazed at the amber liquid and after a long moment of silence said, "I have been running away for too long, Eltanin. My father is quiet over this issue. With Lerna as my mate, I know that I have jeopardized the safety of my kingdom. At the same time, I am afraid that my father is going to ask me to reject Lerna. I have to face it." He gulped his wine as a feeling of panic settled in his chest.

Eltanin couldn't sympathize more with his friend. Rigel was at the crossroads. He needed to claim his mate before his father pressure him to reject her. "Remind your father that a mate's child is the legal heir to the kingdom!"

Rigel gave a humorless laugh. "He hasn't as yet asked me to reject her, Eltanin."

"Look," Eltanin said. "Just come to Vilinski with us for now. It would be a great distraction for you and who knows that with time and change of environment, Lerna may yield to the mate attraction?" Eltanin was mainly concerned about Rigel's safety. With his father not allowing him to enter Orion along with Lerna, Rigel was vulnerable. Suddenly, Eltanin realized how lucky he was to have a father like Alrakis. His father had his back at all times. A warm feeling suffused his heart.

Rigel took a deep breath in. "I don't want to go uninvited. I mean--" he stabbed his fingers in his hair. "I don't want to force myself into a mission that doesn't concern me."

Eltanin pursed his lips tightly. It was not difficult to figure out Rigel's predicament. "In that case, you have to promise me one thing."

Rigel jerked his head back and frowned. "Promise you what?" he shook his flute for Eltanin to refill it.

Eltanin took it from him and poured more wine. He gave it to Rigel and told him what he wanted. Rigel chuckled and promised him.

By evening everyone was ready to depart. Rolfe declared, "After this venture is over, I am heading to Galahar!" He sounded impatient.

Anastasia giggled. The demon king was always in a hurry to be with his wife. They had all gone to the orchards. The guards were sent off on a different mission by Alrakis so that no one knew what was going on. She closed her eyes and when she opened them, they were violet. She flung her right hand forward. Air rippled and charged and a portal to Sgiáth Bio opened.