Desire for you - ALPHA ILAY

DELILAH

I had been at Prince Nael's house for a week now.

My father came to check on me every day, and each time he gave me a sermon about how naïve and stupid I was to mourn Zamiel.

Each time I said nothing and kept quiet.

I had put on a pair of knitted trousers and a matching top and sat on the windowsill. I stared into the distance and sighed quietly to myself.

This life was anything but what I had wished for. It was as if everything inside me had been destroyed and the only reason to live was buried underground.

My eyes wandered all over the yard when I saw a car. It was a black limousine, followed by five other limousines. Several people got out and one of the chauffeurs opened a door.

A man got out, he was wearing a black coat and a damn expensive suit underneath.

I tried to focus my gaze on the man and had to swallow hard.

Was that Ilay? No... it couldn't possibly be Ilay! I hadn't wanted to know anything more about Ilay since the incident in the courtroom.

I stood at the window and watched as several men followed him.

The longer I watched him, the stranger everything seemed to me. It wasn't Ilay... It had to be Nael, his brother. They looked so much alike.

His eyes suddenly fixed on me and he stood rooted to the spot.

I was overcome by an inner panic attack and a tight feeling in my chest, which is why I immediately moved away from the window with my head down and sat back down on the bed.

The room was very elegantly furnished. In contrast to Ilay, who favoured red and cream tones, Nael's was rather dark. Everything was in grey and white and the floor was made of expensive grey granite. A large bed filled the centre of the room and had a bedside table to the right and left. The wardrobe was also impressive, as it was huge and filled with lots of expensive clothes in my size.

I should have been the happiest girl in the world, and yet I felt empty.

Suddenly the door opened and I jumped in shock.

Every sound reminded me of the shot from the gun and made my hair stand on end.

Startled, I looked up at the door and saw my father standing there, clearing his throat to apologise for what he had done.

"I'm sorry for scaring you like that... Next time I'll knock," he said, coming towards me.

I crossed my arms in front of my chest and pulled my legs towards me.

"Listen Delilah... It's important that you come with me from now on. It's the only way the prince can protect you from his brother. Do you understand what's at stake here? In this house, your status as my daughter is valued... You could do a job befitting your status and not have to be a servant. Say something, Delilah..." my father whispered, reaching for my hand.

I flinched and pulled my hand away from him.

"There isn't a night I don't dream about..." I whispered softly as tears involuntarily welled up in my eyes.

"Every night I wake up in a cold sweat just because I hear Ilay counting and his gun firing... and in every dream I see Zamiel's open brown eyes staring at me, begging for forgiveness..." I sobbed quietly and wiped the tears from my eyes.

"Every time, Ilay stands behind me and orders me how to shoot Zamiel... Every time I shoot two, even if I resist. You can't imagine how much strength that takes out of me, father."

I look him in the eye and see his desperate self. After a week, he's already at the end of his tether as far as I'm concerned.

My words hurt him, the pain in his eyes was indescribable and yet his mouth said different words each time: "It had to be done, Delilah, we all know that," he said and put on his serious face again.

I snorted angrily and shook my head, "I don't know how mum put up with you.... If only she was here..." I whispered quietly and wiped another tear from my cheek.

My father fell silent and said nothing for a moment. "Prince Nael wants to see you, that's an order, not a request," he said in a military tone.

I had to swallow and shook my head "I can't..." I whispered quietly, biting my lower lip too hard.

My father rolled his eyes and grabbed me by the arm: "Listen to me very carefully now. Things didn't quite go to plan in the courtroom, but you have to pull yourself together, Delilah! It can't go on like this and I won't let you drag our name through the mud. Do we understand each other?" His look and tone were venomous.

I had the feeling again that my heart was about to stop and I just nodded in fear.

"Good, then everything's clear," he muttered to himself and let go of me. Hurry up, we don't want to upset the prince," he said, whereupon I got up and followed my father.

At that moment, I regretted my choice of clothes. I wasn't wearing any make-up and there was nothing else positive about me.

I had only washed my teeth and face in the morning. I had only combed my hair and left it loose. It had grown even longer and I had probably missed the opportunity to go to the hairdresser and have it cut.

I followed my father through the long corridors and kept looking around.

This palace was very big and if I didn't know any better, I would get lost here. My short-term memory was anything but good. My thoughts only centred on what was happening in the courtroom.

Zamiel's last words and how he closed his eyes for that moment and waited for his longed-for death made my blood run cold every time.

"Keep running, Delilah," my father urged me and I realised that I had stopped in my tracks.

I followed him, hoping not to upset him or the prince.

Finally, my father knocked on a large wooden door and entered.

I ran after him and stood next to him.

"Nael, may I introduce you to my daughter Delilah?" my father said as I curtsied out of politeness and looked down. I hardly dared to look up, I was so uncomfortable with the situation.

Strangely enough, Nael also stood still and looked at me for a moment.

"Nice to meet you, Delilah," he said in his deep, masculine voice, which sent goose bumps down my spine.

"Likewise, Prince Nael," my voice was barely intelligible and I felt very uncomfortable. Sometimes I had the feeling that my father was also living out his role as an officer in our private lives and couldn't just be the father who provided comfort and security.

"Chris told me that you have a degree in finance and could support me..." I looked at Nael and nodded slightly. Nael had a reputation for being generous and kind - as long as he wasn't led around by the nose. I'd also heard other stories about him that said he was anything but pleasant.

Things were already over with Ilay, so messing things up with another Edevane brother was really not in my line of thinking.

"Good, I'll expect you here in my office tomorrow at seven," Nael finally said, looking at my father.

"Tell Sascha to assign her an office. With all this paperwork, she needs one, preferably here. It's hard for her to forge the signatures," Nael instructed my father, who nodded.

"All right, will do, Nael." My father nodded towards the door. We disappeared through the door and I felt Nael's steady gaze pierce me.

NAEL

I had an early morning meeting and was on my way home with my team.

I was walking along the stone path towards the front door when I saw a woman standing at the window.

Waiting? Was that Ilay's partner? I realised how I stopped for a moment and then continued on my way. I didn't want to look weird because it seemed like she was watching me too, as quickly as she had turned away from the window.

I ran into the house and thought about what Achira had said. Slowly, a light actually dawned on me...

Now I realised what Ilay must have seen in Delilah... She was Chris's daughter and looked like Catherine.

That must be why Ilay told Chris that she was his. He must have meant it... He wanted Delilah back.

My alarm bells were ringing and I knew I had to do something as soon as possible if I didn't want Ilay back here in front of my mat.

If I could keep her busy, there was nothing Ilay could do about it. I could present this to my dad as my only ace up my sleeve.

"Chris, I need you to bring your daughter to my office today, preferably right away," I said with a serious look and he nodded.

There was a big question mark on his forehead. We had talked about drug dealing earlier, and now we were talking about his daughter.

What Chris didn't know was the history Ilay had.

Fuck Ilay... Every time someone has to take the fall for your shit.

Actually, I couldn't have cared less. The only reason I cared was because of Chris. He'd been my loyal friend for centuries, and if there was anything I could do to help him, I always would.

I walked into my office and dropped my briefcase on the table.

Less than a minute later, Chris was standing in my office with Delilah.

"Nael, I'd like you to meet my daughter Delilah," Chris said to me. I looked at Delilah unobtrusively and nodded at the same time. In my opinion, Delilah looked anything but recovered and was trying to play strong at that moment.

"Nice to meet you, Delilah," I said to her, my expression changing to a slight smile.

"Likewise, Prince Nael," she replied in her soft voice, her eyes more on the ground than on me.

"Chris told me that you have a degree in finance and could support me..."

Delilah's gaze lifted and she looked straight at me. Her blue eyes shone and there was something magical about them.

We all knew that Ilay had a weakness for women.

But that he would find a doppelganger of his mate and take her with him... I thought that was pretty strange.

"Right, I'll expect you here in my office tomorrow at seven o'clock. Tell Sascha to assign her an office. With all this paperwork, she needs one, preferably here. It's hard for her to forge the signatures," I instructed Chris, who nodded and disappeared through the door with Delilah.

I reached for the phone and sighed softly. I dialled my father's number and waited for him to answer.

"I've found a marvellous solution to your problem."