The Alpha's Temptation

Eltanin was already feeling pretty embarrassed. Princess Eri was openly saying that he looked more handsome than before. There were wolves in his kingdoms, and the walls had ears. He didn’t want people to talk behind his back that he was flirting with the princess. So, he said, “I will be very busy, but I am going to assign you a maid who will take you through the gardens.”

Princess Eri was shocked. “A maid?” she murmured. “Are you trying to demean my position, King Eltanin?”

Eltanin gulped. “No. If you like I can send a noble with you or the man who is in charge of the orchards.”

Princess Eri took a step closer and, in a husky voice said, “I would rather like you to show it to me.”

Eltanin pursed his lips. He looked away. Growing restless, he said, “I have some very important work for the day. But please don’t worry, your wishes will be taken care of.” If it would have been any other day, he would have dismissed Eri, but it was a day when he sought alliances. He had to deal with it carefully. Rather than going to his bedchamber, he turned towards the throne hall.

Lusitania, who was hiding behind the pillar, became angry. She strode back to the bedchamber and sat on the dresser chair with a gruff expression.

Flora studied her for a moment and said, “What is it, m’lady?”

Tania sucked in a sharp breath of hair and then blew out a strand of hair from her cheek. “Why is it that the princesses like to throw themselves over my husband?” After three days of staying in the bed and minimal movement, she was feeling better. Though it was going to take a long time to get used to her fae features, she was getting their slowly.

Flora stayed quiet for a moment and then she chortled. “It is very common. All the princes and princesses are attracted to the most powerful person around them. It is basically about how to form alliances with the strongest.”

“But why my husband? Don’t they know he is mated and married?”

Flora lifted a gold tiara to put it in her hair. “They know, but you should also know that it is an accepted fact that kings can marry more than once. Didn’t you see how Morava was dying to marry the king? So, what you need is not anger, you need to keep the flies at bay and for that—” she placed the tiara over Tania and adjusted it. “For that you have to show that you are the best amongst all!”

“How?” Tania whined.

Though Flora knew that Tania was the best amongst them, it was about the greed of the princesses. “Focus on your inner beauty and stay alert. Okay?”

Tania’s lips downturned. “Okay…” she drawled.

Tania had to go and have breakfast with all the queens and the princesses and princes. Taiyi, Kinshra and Jiada were supposed to be with her. They came to her room and together they went for breakfast to the gardens that overlooked Taiyi’s room.

When they reached over there, the garden was already buzzing with activity. Tania’s eyes went to the princess who was talking with her husband. Her anger flared. She took deep breaths to calm herself. She saw that Princess Eri was gazing at her only.

They all greeted Taiyi and Tania and then they all sat down at the table that was brimming with a variety of food.

All of a sudden, Tania’s gaze went to a girl who was making her way towards her in the only unoccupied chair next to Kinshra. “Princess Petra!” she exclaimed.

Petra let out a small smile as she too sat down. “How are you, Your Highness?” she said in a polite voice.

“I am good,” Tania replied cheerfully. In the sea of unknown faces, at least there was one who she knew. “How are you?” Tania remembered her chance meeting with Petra and how she helped her to meet Eltanin.

Everyone else became quiet as they heard the conversation between Tania and Petra. Jealousy was rife in the air.

“I am well,” Petra replied with a slight dip of her head, showing respect.

The servants started serving them breakfast.

“You look stunning from what I saw you last time,” said Petra. She was extremely envious of Tania. All the time she chided herself that she was the one who sent her to the king of Draka. But she kept that envy down because she knew that others would see it clearly.

Tania’s lips lifted up. “Thank you,” she said as a pale blush formed on her cheeks.

“How do you know each other?” Eri asked, lifting a flute of red wine and crossing her legs. “This should be interesting to know!”

Before Tania could speak, Petra said in a cutting voice, “In case you didn’t notice, last time when we were invited to the ball in Draka in the honor of Prince Rigel, Queen Lusitania was present there.”

Eri’s face paled. She stopped drinking.

“But how would you notice?” Petra added with a sigh. “You were busy with a lot of other things.”

Eri poked her tongue in her cheek. She knew what Petra was hinting at. She gave a warning glance to Petra and sipped her wine.

The awkwardness that hung in the air was broken by Taiyi. “I heard that you all would like to see our orchards,” she said. “We have organized a tour for all of you in the orchards this afternoon. And I expect all of you to be there with us.”

Princess Eri’s face fell to the floor. Eltanin had slyly given this duty to his mother. But she was smarter. She was going to stay back and see Eltanin while the rest of them would spend the afternoon in the orchards. She smiled inwardly and sipped her wine as all other queens and princesses showed their excitement to visit the orchards.