The Alpha's Temptation

Whatever Haftr said was true, yet Biham didn’t want to give up on Kinshra. He was hoping that there was a thread that was still between them and that it was what kept them craving for each other for so long. If Kinshra wanted to marry, she could have married long back, but she waited so long without knowing that he would ever come for her. Surely, there was something in her heart for him.

Biham waited for what Haftr had to say to him and he realized that his breath was lodged in his throat.

Haftr pursed his lips and nodded lightly as if trying to convince himself about what he was about to say. He let out a rough breath and then said, “I am going to leave tonight. I will let Kinshra decide on what she wants to do. If she wants to stay here, I will make sure that I marry her soon. However, if she decides to go back with you, I will not say a word. In her absence I will convince myself that I got to spend some of the most beautiful years of my life with her. She deserves what is best for her. With you she will be the queen of Pegasii, but with me she will be Lady Haftr. Like Eltanin said, there are many lords under him. I am one like them. As far as riches and titles are concerned, I am no match for you. Other than that Kinshra has to decide.”

Biham looked away from Haftr as he breathed a sigh of relief. With Haftr in the house, he knew he would always hesitate but with him gone, he would be able to speak with Kinshra with his heart.

p Haftr said, “I hope what I am doing is right because I don’t want to force myself on Kinshra. If I do that, she may continue to live her life with resentment. And I want Kinshra with an open heart in which she doesn’t have any place for you. I want her to make the right decision, and that can only be done if I leave her free.” The back of his throat burned and then he rose to his feet. “I will take my leave King Biham. May the best happen.” He bowed to Biham and then slowly walked out of the room. He stopped at the door and looked over his shoulder. “If Kinshra chooses to stay here, I will marry her and I assure you that I will bring her to Pegasii with me to visit Lusitania.” Saying that he drew his shoulders wide and strode out with a heavy heart.

Biham sagged in his chair. He didn’t realize that he was sitting ramrod straight all this while. He didn’t know for how long, but he mulled over the situation. He decided that he was going to try his best to take Kinshra with him to Araniea. He had one chance that would last only a few days as against the ten years of Haftr, and he was going to do his best to get Kinshra back.

—

Tania came back to the guestroom where Eltanin was sitting and reading a book. As soon as he saw her, he said, “How did it go?” He placed the book on the side table and tilted his head to see her. He contemplated whether he should tell her about the conversation that occurred between Biham and Haftr, but he went against it. He didn’t want Tania to be involved in something like this. Her parents were not the ideal type nor were her current circumstances. She was under the pressure of learning Yunabi and also meeting her mother for the first time.

Tania huffed and sat on the edge of the bed. “It was this and that.”

“And what do you mean by that?” he asked with a smile playing on his lips.

“It means that I made a big mistake!” She lifted her eyes to peek in his raven black ones. She willed that she should sit on his lap and suddenly she found herself sitting on his lap.

“Whoa!” Eltanin rasped as he wrapped his arms around her to balance both of them.

Surprised, she said, “This is happening!”

“You’ve made drastic progress, Tania!” Eltanin remarked, his eyes wide. “Yunabi is… dark!”

“This is not Yunabi, Eltanin!” She looked around and thought she was dreaming. So she slapped his arm.

“Ouch!”

“Oh, so I am not dreaming!”

“Nice way of assessing that, huh?”

She blinked her eyes and wished she was on the bed. The next moment, she was on the bed. “Damnnnn!” She became so excited.

“Then what is it?” he said as he lunged at her to catch her, but the next moment she was on the chair, giggling at him.

Four or five chances later, she felt… drained. Even if she willed to move with magic, she couldn’t. Angry, he growled at her and grabbed her by her waist. He carried her back to the bed and pinned her beneath him. “Then what is it?” he asked, unhappy that she was tricking him.

She giggled and cupped his beautiful face. She placed a k**s on her Alpha’s lips and that immediately calmed him. Tania narrated what her mother did with her. “It was amazing. Mother has so much power. She is trying to unlock my natural magic which she believes is locked. She disentangled that. Rather she is in the process of disentangling it.”

Eltanin was impressed. “Why couldn’t Rolfe do it?”

Tania shrugged. “I don’t know. But I feel so energized and I feel I can do everything. It’s like I have so much power in my hands.”

He rested his forehead on hers and said, “That’s wonderful Tania.” He placed a k**s on her nose, her cheeks, her eyes and then her lips. “Someone has said that power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” He lifted his head as he placed both his elbows beside her face. Tracing the outline of her cheeks, very softly he said, “I know that you are very excited with the new power you have in hand, but you have to learn to use it correctly and wisely. Otherwise–“

Tania slanted her head on the pillow. “Otherwise?”

“Otherwise, what will be the difference between you and Sirrah?”

Tania’s brows furrowed deeply as she pouted. “How can you compare me with Sirrah?”

“Don’t feel bad darling,” he kissed her lips. She was so adorable. “Sirrah is just an example of viciousness. All I am saying is that I am always going to be with you. You will never find me going against you especially when we are in public. That’s why you should be more responsible.”

She blew a strand of her hair from her face. “Okay Father!” She glared at him and then when she saw that he was feeling bad, she burst into laughter. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him towards her. When their lips were only a breath away, she said, “I will never do anything against you Elty. But now I won’t bear the bullies.”

“And I will not allow you to do that,” he said and crashed his lips on hers. With his tongue, he forced her lips open and delved inside.