The Alpha's Temptation

Sirrah stared behind Fafnir incredulously. Eltanin was still in the cave? With whom? Or maybe he was into debauchery for the entire night.

They crossed the corridor and rounded a corner before entering the gardens that were in front of Eltanin's chamber. Fafnir said with sadness, "About two more rounds and a breezeway from here, Glenn's body was found. He was a soldier in Prince Rigel's army."

She became stiff because she knew that it was Morava who had ordered Glenn's murder. What was Fafnir up to?

They reached the orchards fifteen minutes later. It was still gray and the moon was slowly dipping under the horizon. The festivities must have stopped and she internally wished that Morava had returned.

"Over there," Fafnir pointed. He took her to the third row where she saw a small ground of soldiers, crowded. She could make out Alrakis and Rigel's silhouettes from afar. She gritted her teeth. Why were they so nosy? What was it to them about a body that wasn't even identified as of yet? She shoved her anger down and then thought in retrospect that it was actually better that they were there. She was going to blame them for it nicely and then clean her hands of it.

As they walked towards the crowd, she heard the murmurs of soldiers.

"She was so young."

"Really sad."

"Who could have murdered her?"

They were all wondering about it while she was in a hurry.

"Sirrah!" Alrakis called her as soon as he saw her coming. "I am really sad to inform you—"

Sirrah put her hand up to stop him. With the appearance of a heavy heart, she trudged forward. "Please let me identify the body before we claim that she is Princess Tania."

Alrakis narrowed his eyes, but he remained quiet. Sirrah went to stand beside the place in which the body was lying. She could see the cut on her throat. Her golden hair was spread nicely and the guard had mutilated her face so badly that it was impossible to identify her except for the physical appearance. She commended herself internally for such a job well done.

In order to show all of them, she sank on the damp ground and stared at the body. A moment later, her hands flung to her heart. A loud wail left her body and she shuddered. "That is Lusitania," she cried. "Calaman's horns!" Her shoulders wracked. "That is my daughter Princess Lusitania!" Tears rolled out of her eyes. "Who could have done this to my little girl? She had come here for festivities on the Draka king's invitation." She pointed at the body. "And she was murdered! What do I infer from this ghastly act? That you were unable to protect my daughter? Or that this murder was intentional?" She snapped her face to look at Alrakis with blame in her eyes. "The true heir of Pegasii lies dead here, and you let it happen in your kingdom. What will I tell Biham now?" She got up and clutched Alrakis's upper arms. Shaking him she cried loudly. "King Eltanin has plotted to kill Tania because he couldn't stand the fact that a slave girl from his kingdom had become a princess of a kingdom. I want to speak with the king now!" She turned back again. "And until he is here, this body will not be removed!"

"This isn't Princess Tania," came a soft voice.

Sirrah spun around. "What do you mean, Prince Rigel?" she said. "Am I speaking lies? I have just identified my daughter's body. That is Lusitania!"

"No, she isn't," he said firmly. He pointed at the left upper arm of the girl. "Look at her tattoo. It has black ink."

Sirrah jerked her head to see the tattoo. She hadn't noticed that and the worst part was that she failed to mention to the guard, who murdered her, to mutilate her upper arm.

Rigel's eyebrow arched in surprise. "Don't you know that your beloved daughter has golden wings in her tattoo and is not black?"

Sirrah gulped. She never expected this foolish loophole in her charade. She was so excited to shove the blame on them. She stared long and hard at the tattoo and immediately corrected herself, "Oh, thank the deities. This means that Lusitania is safe!"

"But a while back you were sure this is Tania," Alrakis growled. "And you blamed me for murdering her."

"I— I was overwhelmed, Alpha Alrakis," she stammered. "What do you expect from a mother?"

"You even blamed Eltanin for plotting the murder of your daughter!" Alrakis continued.

Seeing that Alrakis was extremely angered, she bowed to him and remained in that position. "I am very sorry, Alpha Alrakis. I really didn't expect it."

"So, now that it is cleared up that this is not Tania's body and that of a servant from Pegasii, can you tell me which of your servants is missing?" Alrakis growled.

Sirrah's face paled. She was thinking of shoving the blame on Alrakis and Eltanin because she was sure that now Morava would never become a part of Draka. So, they could go to hell. However, now she found herself neck deep in tricky waters. "I have no idea," she squeaked.

"None of your guards or servants will be allowed to leave until this matter is resolved." He stared into Sirrah's wide eyes. "You have just blamed my son for it. I am going to clear his name and a fresh hunt will be carried out for Princess Lusitania. As far as my information goes, no one has seen Princess Lusitania coming into the palace or going out for the festivities."

She opened her mouth and then closed it. She had to get out of this place as soon as possible. "I will have to leave and inform Biham about this. I need to go!" she insisted.

"That won't be necessary," said Alrakis. "I will send my messengers to inform him and he will be here by tomorrow." He strode away with Prince Rigel following behind him.

The noose around her neck tightened. "What are you saying, Alpha Alrakis?" she said, going after them. "In all probability, Lusitania is alive! This is an internal matter of Pegasii. You can't just go around calling my husband for something as trivial as a murder of a servant. For all I know it could be a love rivalry!"

Alrakis stopped. Slowly, he turned to her and in a very cold voice said, "Then prove it and we will allow you to leave."

"How can I prove it?" she said, looking at him with a disbelieving expression.

"Ask your guards or servants." Saying that he strode away from her, leaving a stunned Sirrah.

Sirrah was so badly trapped in her own web of lies that she didn't know how to get out of it, unless she gave the guard's name of who killed the servant to Alrakis. But that would be a huge risk. What if the guard spilled her name? She gnashed her teeth as she stared daggers at Alrakis.

---

The moon had dipped below the horizon and the first rays of sun fell onto her creamy skin. Tania was lying naked over him draped in pale orange light of embers. They had come back to the cave since the temperatures had dipped outside. He had taken her many times and had wanted to stay inside of her, but he was afraid that she would become sore. He licked his mark on her as she purred sleepily.