His Forsaken Luna-Chapter 44: Guest Pavilion (1)

Eryx entered the building, and two guards I knew to be Southern Weres immediately closed the doors from the side. They remained on guard in their light leathers, bare-armed attire. I was told in battle that if they weren’t in their wolf form, the Southern Weres would wear nothing but plaited leather skirts and shin pads.

They didn’t wear the skirts now though. So, my source was questionable. Still, they were unmistakably Southern—not just from the difference in uniform but from the darker skin, hair, and eyes characteristic of those from the Kingdom of Sun and Fury.

They bowed their heads at Eryx and tried and failed at hiding their interest in me. With widened eyes, they stared after us. They didn’t glower but looked more curious. It was odd.

I curled further into Eryx, unsure how I felt using him as a shield. It was him I should be protected from the most! And now that we were inside, there was no need to be in his arms.

Besides, these quarters were warm. Incredibly so. It was much warmer than the main palace. I searched for the source of the heat but could not find any, excluding the small flames from the sconces on the walls.

To the left, a stone-slabbed staircase bent around the corner leads to the second floor, while the entry hall spreads out to a large unused floor that many would use to host parties. Instead, some guards lined the walls. A balcony overlooked the hall, bookcases against the walls on the second floor.

Chandeliers dazzled the warm and inviting space. Beneath the balcony across from us, there was another set of doors which I presumed would lead to parlours, studies, and other rooms I didn’t use in my own palace.

Faidon slipped away around a corner sneakily. From the slight flash in his eyes, it was possible Eryx had ordered him to do something. I wondered for a few moments, like I frequently did, what it was like to be in a mind link.

Those thoughts slipped away when someone caught my attention. A man marched forward, wearing the same armour as the other guards, but he wore a necklace with jagged spearheads on, and the sun emblem rested in the middle. Power thrummed from him, the air almost static with it, but it was nothing like Eryx’s aura. I stared at him as he frowned back at me and to his Alpha Prince.

He stopped before us and spoke directly to Eryx in Solfyran. I didn’t understand his words, but from the tone of voice and body language, I could see he was not pleased and seemed to be scolding the Alpha Prince. That cannot be right. I must have read that wrong.

Eryx answered, his tone smooth, casual and shrugging. The man tsked. While they had this discussion rudely in front of me, I observed the man more. The sides of his head were shaved close to the scalp, followed by two fading lines. The hair on top is dark brown; the soft curls still cut short so nothing falls into his smooth, angular face.

His honey-coloured eyes were sharp, always flicking to the sides while they spoke like his Prince might be in danger at any second. Both ears were pierced; his right ear bore a simple obsidian stud, while his left had multiple dangling earrings, all sharp blades.

Although he didn’t seem much older than me, he didn’t look like someone to cross. None of the Southern Weres I’d seen from afar looked like they should be messed with.

With a sigh, I made it known that their conversation had far exceeded any courteous manners. "Ah. Lia, this is Cohnal, my Beta," Eryx introduced us, and I blinked back at the casual tone.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. Was he being rude or trying to make me feel comfortable in front of this man? My distrust for him made me pause for longer than I should have.

Cohnal didn’t seem to mind as he glared at Eryx before speaking perfectly good Isa to me, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness. Sorry for the lack of decorum from Alpha Eryx and myself-"

"Sun God, you sound like a right twat." Another man of the same complexion and a broad grin strode forward, all arrogance and nonchalance. His hair was longer than the other Southern Weres, just past his ears in tight brown ropes, silver rings scattered around.

Two strands fall over his eyebrows, two diagonal shaved streaks through his thick brows, and two pierced studs above one side. His nose had a small ring pierced through it, and one more piercing was in the middle of his chin. He was tall and leaner than the others, with a bubble of energy I could tell already brightened any mood.

I didn’t know him, but I immediately liked him.

"Kharis," Cohnal tsks. "You are acting rude in front of the Princess." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

This new man, Kharis, assesses me with a tilt of his head. "Is there a story behind why our Alpha is naked, and his Princess is soaking wet?" His question is followed by a whistle. "Sounds hot."

"His Princess?" I glower up at Eryx, wondering what nonsense he’d told his men.

"Kharis!" Cohnal clipped, smacking him over the back of the head. I stared at them and their behaviour. It was similar to how Alaric and those in his close circle would act from time to time. It was oddly comforting.

What I don’t understand is why they were so relaxed before me. I was their enemy.

Eryx ignored Kharis and Cohnal and started turning away, taking me with him. "Erm, Eryx, you can put me down now."

Eryx frowned down at me and then growled at something Kharis said in Solfyran. It sounded mocking, and I couldn’t help the tug at my lips or an amused glance in Kharis’ direction. That only made Eryx’s chest vibrate more.

Cohnal gripped the back of Kharis’ neck or possibly his roped hair, and dragged him away, snapping expletives at him—I presumed he was swearing as it wasn’t in the Isa language—and he also scolded Eryx again, pointing at him.

His Beta? Seemed more like some sort of mother figure. Poor guy. I shook my head. These men were with Eryx, a thorn in my backside and someone who was renowned for being cruel. They followed that man to my kingdom. They were not good men.

Eryx reluctantly put me down. "Your Beta..." I ask, tugging the cloak tighter around me even though the heat of this building was already making the wet garments on me feel sticky and uncomfortable.

"What about him?" Eryx narrowed his eyes at me, but his voice still rumbled a little.

"Why is he here and not with your father, the Alpha King?"

Eryx frowned at me, and for a moment, I thought he wouldn’t answer. I was his enemy, after all. "

He’s the next Beta. The current Beta is by my father’s side," he explained. "Now, let me show you to the guest room-"

"The guest room?" I put my foot down after he tried to steer me with his hand pressed against my lower back. "Why would I be in the guest room when I have a palace?!"

"So defensive," he drawled with an amused smirk before adding, "A bath has been run and clothes laid out for you to change into."

"Oh," I breathed out, relieved, even though the warmth from his hand started to make me burn up.

Eryx leaned close to my ear then, just to add to the heat starting to coil in my lower stomach. "Why?" He whispered sensuously. "Did you think you were staying the night?" The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end at the sinful tone of his voice.

I shook my head, peering up at him and holding my breath at how close he was to me. Those beguiling eyes were locked on mine, and he inhaled deeply. My pheromones had been strangely at bay until now. I focused on his face and not his muscular chest, rock-hard abs, and anything further down that was beginning to make me feel thirsty.

"Be a good girl now and do as I say," he whispers, the pupils in his eyes dilating. I lean towards him, enchanted, flames licking along my skin, coiling tightly around my lower stomach until I register his words. They both aroused and irritated me.

Just like that, the spell had broken. With a glare shot at him, I turned around and stomped up the stairs, grinding my teeth at his loud laugh following me up the stairs and along my spine.