His Forsaken Luna-Chapter 90: Ancient Beings (3)

The soft glow of the afternoon light seeped through the high arched windows of the Guest Pavilion. The faint scent of lavender lingered in the air, meant to soothe, but it did little for my nerves. My boots clicked against the polished stone floor as I approached Faidon’s chambers, the weight of my purpose pressing heavily on my chest.

I pushed open the door without knocking. Faidon was propped up on the bed, his usually commanding presence diminished by the pallor of his skin. His neck wound was tightly bandaged, and his breath came slow but steady. Beside him, Eryx was already lounging in a chair as if he owned the place, one leg draped lazily over the armrest. Kharis stood by the window, his sharp eyes scanning the grounds outside.

"Idalia," Eryx purred, his lips curving into a smirk as he leaned forward. "If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you missed me."

It had only been an hour since we parted. An hour to have lunch with my brother. We had little to say about the announcement between Eryx and myself and instead leaned towards the two attacks. The food tasted like ash in my mouth and I found I ate very little. My thoughts still reeled with what Eryx and Cohnal confirmed.

High Fae and Blood Wraiths, both mostly unknown and mysterious creatures that wrecked havoc in mere hours and minutes. Their presence alone would now shake our existence. Life as we knew it, well, the Weres knew it would undoubtedly be changed.

Eryx arched an eyebrow and I realised I’d stopped and was staring back at the Alpha Prince, unblinking, lost to my own thoughts. The curl of his smirking lips goaded me. It was like he thought I couldn’t help but stare at his exquisite features.

Exquisite indeed but his arrogance irked me.

"Go to hell," I hissed, stepping to the side to avoid him and move closer to Faidon. His smirk widened as if my irritation was fuel for his amusement.

"Is this how your mateship is going to be?" Kharis whistled from his post by the window. He didn’t even glance at us, his focus unwavering as he kept watch. "Because if it is, I might stick around for the entertainment."

"What mateship?" I snapped, crossing my arms as I turned to face Eryx. "I do not plan to continue this façade."

Eryx stood then, his movement slow and deliberate, his eyes never leaving mine. "You are a means of peace," he said, his voice low but firm.

"And if I die?" I shot back, cutting him off before he could finish whatever pre-prepared speech he had. "That peace treaty is gone."

His jaw tightened for a moment, but his composure didn’t falter. "We won’t let that happen."

"Deyanira might," I countered, stepping closer to him. My voice was steady, but my heart was pounding. "She opposes this, I know it. Maybe she wishes for Alaric to remain in power or something. She has already tried to assassinate me.

"She has not attempted to kill me before. Yet now... When it is clear negotiations are in place and the Princess of Ice and Claws and the Prince of Sun and Fury..." I trailed off, letting them piece the rest together.

A tense silence followed my words. Kharis finally turned his head, his brows furrowed in thought. Eryx’s expression darkened, the lightness in his demeanour evaporating in an instant.

"Deyanira is... ambitious," Eryx admitted after a moment, choosing his words carefully.

"Ambitious?" I scoffed. "She’s already proven she’ll do whatever it takes to get her way. You really think she’ll just stand by and let this treaty succeed? Let me live now?"

"But she has never liked you," Cohnal spoke from behind me, standing at the door, still acting as my guard. "She has made your life miserable. Would she dare take the risk again? Especially after the two attacks last night?"

I stare back at him, a little flabbergasted by the Beta’s words. "My apologies." Cohnal bowed his head. "I did not mean for any offence. We discussed it further after the attack in the woods."

The attack in the woods where Soren threw daggers at my head. I hide the shiver that licked down my spine at the reminder. It was only hours ago I ran into him and this Beta overheard our discussion and took me away from him. I remained guarded against him but it kept flailing as I met those eyes that genuinely appeared to worry and want to protect me.

"Well," I sigh and take Eryx’s seat as though the energy has been drained out of me. "I will be having tea with her tomorrow before her departure."

Deyanira has not yet sent word but if Soren was to be trusted, she will send word in the morning, last minute so I would have to cancel any plans I might have and give me less time to prepare to see her.

"No," a bark ripped from Eryx, a command of rippling ire. "You are not."

We stared at each other as the room grew silent to our wills. I didn’t bother to stand again as I made my point. "Who are you again?" I tilt my head, staring at him like he is a stranger. "Do you control me?"

Eryx stepped closer, a growl rippling along the ground, eyes shimmering.

"Do not tell me what to do," I bare my teeth at him, staring him down.

Eryx took another step towards me, his chest vibrating. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Kharis and Cohnal exchange a look. "She could kill you there..." Kharis stated, leaning against the wall as his twinkling eyes rested on Eryx, provoking him further.

Eryx’s hands balled into fists.

"In her own home?" I finally rest my gaze on the warrior. "No. Deyanira is smart." My nose wrinkled at the compliment but I continued. "That wouldn’t be a smart move. I will be perfectly safe in her quarters."

"Perfectly?" Eryx hissed, dragging my attention back to him.

I huffed a breath. "Okay, not completely. But I will not die."

"You will not be going period-"

"Perhaps..." Faidon’s weak voice reaches us and we instantly pause, swivelling our heads to the poor Were who’d been subjected to our argument while trying to recover. "Cohnal or Kharis can go with as extra precaution."

His words were raspy, swept away easily like smoke in the wind. "I’m sorry." My anger softened at the sight of his weary face. "You should be resting."

"You make a good point, Faidon." Eryx’s tone is also much softer, like he too, felt guilty about our little spat. "Kharis will go with Lia tomorrow."

I did not object. It would be like any other day. But this time, Soren would see the Were who has replaced him. "She might stir up trouble with Kharis..." My words and thoughts trailed off. No. Would Deyanira cause such a problem before leaving?

I’d heard how she tried to shorten her punishment and to halt it entirely. She would not jeopardise that. She probably didn’t think Alaric was serious in the first place.

Eryx and I turned our gazes towards each other, both quiet then looked away. Heat filled my cheeks from his stare and how we’d been acting—like argumentative children.

Kharis broke the tension with a low chuckle. "You two are going to make quite the pair."

"There is no pair," I said sharply, not looking up. "This is politics, nothing more."

"Politics have a way of becoming personal," Kharis replied, his tone teasing but his eyes serious as they met mine. "You might want to prepare for that."

I ignored him, focusing instead on Faidon. "Do you need anything?" 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

He shook his head slightly, his eyes closing as if the effort of speaking had drained him. "Just... don’t make this harder than it needs to be. This alliance is bigger than you. Bigger than all of us."

I bit back a retort, knowing he wasn’t entirely wrong. But that didn’t mean I had to like it.

I clenched my fists, the urge to argue rising again, but I swallowed it down. For his sake. He was right, and with the rising threat that could return at any point, there were more important things to worry about than my alleged mateship with Eryx.

Eryx’s voice broke the silence. "Idalia, whether you like it or not, you’re part of this now. And we’re not your enemies."