His Forsaken Luna-Chapter 79: Aftermath (4)
Silence followed Eryx’s words as everyone in the hall was frozen. My mouth worked, trying to form words and coax my mind to come up with some plan to take back what Eryx said.
What part of his plan involved me becoming his actual mate? I wanted to push him away, slap him in the face at his audacity! But his grip on my waist, his Alpha aura vibrated down my spine in comforting licks.
I couldn’t go against him. Something in me just wouldn’t. But to claim we have chosen each other as mates? How can we ever go back from that? I want to crack open Eryx’s skull and take a peek into his mind. What an infuriating brute of a man!
I was only his cover; that was what we agreed upon. Even Kharis spoke like they were leaving in one week, two at the latest. Eryx must know how serious this is to make such a bold claim!
"You have done what?" Alaric’s deep growl snapped me out of my spiralling thoughts. My eyes flick to Alaric, but he pinches the bridge of his nose, eyes flickering between a bright blue, pupils dilating as his claws sharpen, almost piercing the skin on his nose.
"Idalia," his Alpha voice snaps me to attention, but it does little else but roll off me like slime. It never did work on me. "You agreed to be Eryx’s chosen mate?"
His Alpha command demanded me tell the truth so everyone could hear Eryx’s lie. It wouldn’t get him hurt, but the nobles would trust the Alpha Prince less—if there was any ounce of trust in the first place.
I could feel his demand for the truth swirling in my blood, but it did little. "Yes," I say before I can stop myself. Shock almost transformed my features at how quickly I confirmed it. But I reeled it in, especially once I felt Eryx’s pleased rumbling purr behind me, his hand stroking small circles on my hipbone.
It reminded me of a dream I had... That wasn’t important right now, though.
Alaric stepped in our direction, looking between us and assessing how close we were and our reactions to each other. It only made the power in him roar to life more, radiating from him in waves, causing those around us to swallow down their commentary about the latest juicy gossip. They were frozen, witnessing their Alpha King coming to terms with his sister and their enemy not only courting but now agreeing to become mates.
"Al," a soft, feminine voice purred, and from the side, Liva, dressed in yellow finery, sauntered forward, reaching for the Alpha King. He didn’t notice her approach while I was still mulling over last night, Eryx announcing we would be mates, my own treacherous confirmation from some inner voice most likely thrilled to have found an unmated male, a Prince at that, and flicking back to the intruder and their magick.
Liva’s hand slides over Alaric’s hand, fingers intertwining with his claws, unflinching at the prick and the blood now trickling from her fingers. My brother instantly notices the small cut he inflicted on Liva, and his claws retract. She stares up at him with those wide brown eyes, smiling softly. "We should listen to them first, no?" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦
Alaric frowns, but the rumbling in his chest and the invisible hackles reduce as he looks from his mistress to us. "Explain," he says gruffly.
Eryx tugs me even closer and gazes down at me lovingly. The bastard was such a good actor. "We were toasting the decision before our celebrations became too much for my fair Princess here." The act was followed by a nonchalant shrug like there was nothing else to explain.
Murmurs from nobles rose as they discussed our relationship outright.
"That cannot be true!" Lord Alf bursts forward like his son, the same age as myself, had been trying to hold him back from embarrassment.
"Deyanira promised me her hand!" He points at me, his chest heaving.
Those around the older Lord stared at him in shock. Not only was he arrogant enough to disrupt a conversation between royals and two Alphas at that time, but he also spoke Deyanira’s name without her title. Friend or not, this was court, and he could be punished for it.
Lord Alf also had a reputation amongst the nobility, and because of this, not only was our age differences a concern to my brother, especially when I was barely fifteen the first time Deyanira suggested him as a suitor, but he’d had two mates already and a mistress who mysteriously died.
Maybe he was a Were Kharis, and the other Southerners expected all Northerners to be like. Lord Alf was known to be cruel to his lovers, but because of the coin backing Deyanira, he was well protected and resided in Vargrfjell Fjord.
With greying blonde hair, a chubby stomach, yet a stern, hard gaze, his son was the complete opposite with darker features of his late mate. Years of drink kept a rosiness to his cheeks, the only deception that could disarm others into believing he was a happy, kind man until they dealt with him.
"The Queen Mother," Alaric warned, bristling in Lord Alf’s direction. It was only Liva’s calming presence that halted the Alpha King from doing anything else to the man, like ripping him to ribbons after trying to claim his baby sister.
My brother was already dealing with the Alpha Prince by my side, someone who could be an acceptable suitor compared to the old Lord.
Eryx turned me slightly, shielding me from Lord Alf’s glare. "The Queen Mother’s, not MY mate’s choice," he says, voice sharp like the edge of a blade, as those green eyes gleam back at the Lord like he might be his next prey.
A shiver danced down my spine. I don’t know if it’s because of the danger lurking beneath the surface of the Alpha Prince and the promise of death his voice seems to drip or because I would enjoy the hunt beside him. I blink back in surprise at my own thoughts. What was that?
Eryx stroked my lower back, aware of my shiver, most likely believing I was cold. His attention turns back to my brother, though, as guards have taken him away. None of us pay him or the words he spouts any attention.
"Will this not suffice? It would resolve our differences. Having Lia by my side-"
"Lia?!" Alaric snaps at the nickname.
"- Concretes the peace treaty," Eryx finishes, not at all ruffled by the attention in the room or my brother’s wrath.
"You will use my sister as a pawn?" Alaric growls, his Alpha blood rippling through the room.
His fists clench at his sides, his gaze sharp and unwavering on Eryx. The room goes silent, save for the faint whispers of tension humming through the nobles.
