The Alpha's Temptation

Lerna stepped forward. "I know that Felis has a huge army, Your Highness, but both Tania and I will be of immense help." She really wanted to fight against Felis. She wanted revenge for all that he had done to her and then some more. "You don't know what drives me for it. A man like Felis shouldn't exist. Our father was a demon and my brother turned out to be a demon. He could have taken a different way and chosen to give me and other women a better life in his kingdom, but he chose the same path as my father!

"You both are too precious—"

"I detest him!" Lerna said loudly. "I want to fight against him and if the goddess allows it, I will kill him." Her chest was heaving and her voice had become hoarse because of emotions that burned at the back. "He has scarred me for life! Do you even know that he was preparing me to mate with twelve Alphas in order to get the right heir for his kingdom?"

A shudder passed through Biham. He was at a loss of words. Tania came to hug Lerna's shoulders feeling bad for her. Biham shook his head and then after a few tense moments he said, "Lerna, I understand that you were a victim of his ambitions, but now you are Rigel's wife. He is the king of Orion. I wouldn't have insisted if you were just his wife, but you are his mate and that is a big thing. He is going to follow you anywhere you go and I hope you know what I mean by that. Surely—"

Kinshra cut him off. "Biham, the girls won't stay back, but—" she looked at both of them. "You will be staying in the palace and keeping an eye on the activities here. Okay?" She gave them a wonderful suggestion so that they felt a part of it and at the same time, she had to keep Biham's feelings. He was very protective towards his daughter and Lerna.

Biham looked at Kinshra and nodded. This was a better deal. The girls would feel a part of it and yet stay protected. "I am fine with that, but don't step out of the palace. Is that clear?" The two nodded, feeling happy and satisfied.

Kinshra went along with Biham to fight against the king of Hydra. She was already informed that faes led by her father have started entering through the portals. She was excited to join them and show Felis that he had chosen the wrong kingdom to attack. As they walked to the armory hall where Biham was supposed to be dressed, Kinshra said, "I suspect that it was Felis who used dark magic on the two faes."

Biham snapped his head at her. "How would he do that unless he was at Cetus?" The two faes had gone to talk to the monks at Cetus.

Kinshra shrugged. "Then who would do it? Kaitos? Only the monks know dark magic other than Felis."

Kinshra's words sowed a seed of doubt in his head. As they continued to walk, he conjectured a few things and the most prominent was that Felis could have made his way to Cetus a few days back and assembled the monks. But why did monks choose to work with him even though Kaitos had pledged that he was never going to get into wars? He took a deep breath in. Only Kaitos could shed some light on this mystery. Suddenly, he remembered that Balfour had informed him that Nyxers had attacked a village in the south that was nearest to Cetus.

"I think this could be a possibility!" Biham said to Kinshra. "Felis could have gone to Cetus but how the hell did he manage it?"

They had reached the armory room by then. "Get ready first, my lord," Kinshra said with a sense of urgency. "We are going to analyze it after we have won the war!"

Biham chuckled. He loved the way his mate talked. She was always concise. The servants helped them dress. Biham felt like shifting into his wolf seeing Kinshra also dress up and be with her to protect her, but she was going to fly and be with her father for the war. "I want you to stay above me at all times, Kinshra," he said.

Kinshra looked at him with a smile. "Yes, I will." She was going to protect him just the way he wanted to protect her.

They both walked along with General Balfour and a dozen courtiers along the length of the corridors and halls dressed in armor. Everyone they met in the way bowed to their king and queen. They looked so regal and natural together that it was really a treat to their eyes. Their earlier queen, Sirrah, was never into battles. So they were awestruck seeing Kinshra in armor and walking alongside her husband for the battle.

The chariot for Biham was ready. Biham kissed his mate on her temple and said, "If we come back after winning this war, I would like to marry you and make you the queen of my people and my heart. Will you do the honors, Kinshra?"

She smiled at her mate. "Yes, Biham. I don't want to wait now."

With that assurance of a bright future ahead, Biham climbed his chariot. As soon he "hupped" the horses to move, Kinshra shot to the air.

---

Felis was riding along with the monks. He needed to enter the palace somehow. He didn't see Biham and Kinshra on the battlefield nor did he hear about them, so he was sure that they were in the palace. He had to kill Biham and Kinshra in order to take over the palace.

While he could fight with Biham for he was a werewolf like him, fighting with Kinshra was going to be a challenge. He needed Kaitos and other monks for them to use dark magic on her.

"Come fast!" he growled at Kaitos. Gamon was with him and he was leading, rather prodding the monks like cattle. Felis remembered the path to the palace from the map that he had with him. He wanted to get inside the palace through the back entrance. He knew there would be guards but they would be less in number.