The Alpha's Temptation

Eltanin took a ragged breath. He nodded once. Lord Krail pointed him to come out of the room. He glanced at Kinshra and followed him out.

"What is it that you would want to discuss, Lord Krail?" Eltanin asked, unable to remove the picture of Biham's corpse lying on the floor over the rug. Biham had gone with him to Vilinski and together they had brought Kinshra back. Who knew that they would meet this fate.

Lord Krail looked extremely tired. He had purple circles below his eyes. His tone was laced with sadness when he said, "I am planning to take Kinshra back to Vilinski after Biham's funeral. But—" his body shuddered. "She will most probably not leave Pegasii. Her health is deteriorating."

"I don't think she will leave," Eltanin agreed as he leaned his hand on a tower, supporting his body.

"That is why I have a request," Lord Krail's voice became serious.

Eltanin's brows bunched up.

Lord Krail came straight to the point, "I think it would be best that the kingdoms of Draka and Pegasii merge."

Eltanin jerked his head back, surprise blasting through his chest. His heartbeat increased just at the thought. "Merge Pegasii and Draka?" he squeaked. "The people of Pegasii are going to revolt!"

"I don't think they are in a position to do that. They are going to be battling with destruction throughout the kingdom and so they won't have time to deal with the politics. Also the fact that you are Lusitania's husband will work in your favor. Moreover, I am afraid now that the king is no more and Lusitania doesn't show her immediate presence, the hawks in the court may take advantage of the situation."

Eltanin was not new to the politics that took place in the kingdoms. He knew that without a ruler, the kingdom would plunge into utter chaos. Right now, the Pegasii people must be looking up at Lusitania to be their next queen. He raked his fingers through his hair, anxiety running down his spine. But the merger of two kingdoms? He never thought of this. What would Tania say about it? This was a huge thing.

Lord Krail continued, "When I was here last time, I came to hear the rumor that King Biham will be giving Pegasii in dowry to his daughter, Princess Tania if he failed to produce an heir. If the rumor is true then you will become the king of the two kingdoms."

Eltanin chuckled but the humor didn't reach his eyes. "Rumors are just that… rumors. There is no way that King Biham would do that. However, I am going to take your advice in consideration and ask Tania's viewpoint. I will not do anything that she wouldn't want to do."

Lord Krail nodded. "That is true. You have to take Lusitania's permission. After all, this kingdom belongs to her now. She has to make a choice to be with you and be the queen of the merged kingdom or she rules it separately. But if she chooses the former—" he cautioned, "There would be repercussions. People will feel that there is dissent in your marriage. Would you like to project that kind of image?"

"I want to stay with Tania, Lord Krail. I can't leave her alone, especially now that she is pregnant with a baby. However, if she chooses to stay here and look after Pegasii on her own, I won't stop her."

Lord Krail opened his mouth to say something, but he snapped it shut. He knew that his granddaughter was just as stubborn as he was. "Well then, let us go inside and see Kinshra. I hope she talks today and eats as well. Her health is… failing."

They went inside the room and found Kinshra still lying beside Biham, muttering words in fae language.

Lord Krail whispered to Eltanin, "We must keep his body in the court hall for the citizens to pay their last tributes before the funeral."

A shiver passed through Eltanin. He didn't say a word in reply as he continued to gaze at Kinshra.

An hour later he came back to his bedchamber. Tania had taken a bath and she was dressed in a black dress that fell to her ankles. Her hair was pinned up in a tight bun. He walked to her and hugged her tightly.

Wiping the tears from her face, she asked, "How is mother?"

"She is not fine, Tania," he said. "I am afraid that her health is failing. She is lying beside your father and…" he couldn't speak, his emotions choking his throat.

"I want to see her. Now!" she said, her eyes darting to his face.

Eltanin could see so much pain in them. "Yes, love," he said, cupping her face. "You must." After he had ordered soldiers around Tania in the whole palace, he was feeling much better. "Did Lerna come to meet you?"

"She did, Elty, but…" Tania buried her face in his chest and inhaled his scent to calm her mind. "But I couldn't meet her. I can't. I just killed her brother. I know that she hated him, but I can't get the feeling out of my system that I killed her brother."

"Well, I am also her brother in that sense, Tania. You should meet her. She is equally disturbed." He wrapped his arms around her. She was so vulnerable that it was not the right time to talk to her about mergers and kingdoms or politics.

"I will," she snuggled into him. "I just need time."

"Take your time, love." He kissed the crown of her head. "I hope that you are feeling alright. How is my pup inside you? Did he trouble you?"

She kissed him on his chest. "We are both fine. When the spirit of Pegasii entered me, he ensured that our baby was safe. He covered him in his protective layer of magic."

"Oh thank goddess!" Eltanin let out a ragged breath. The relief was so immense that he realized that he was this worried.

"Shall we go to visit my mother?" she asked. She knew that she didn't need his permission for that, but she also knew that outside this bedchamber, the palace was not safe. She had the responsibility of keeping his pup safe in her womb.

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