Post-Apocalypse: Mated To Alphas Of Orion-Chapter 86: Alnitak Can’t Get The Hint

(Amaia)

"And I am not a damsel nor do I need a constant bodyguard," I tell him firmly before moving away from all of them and heading towards the dining hall to get some lunch. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

While others give me space and understand that I don’t want to discuss this subject further, Alnitak doesn’t seem to get the hint. Like a golden retriever, he follows me around, minus the tail. I am sure his wolf is wagging it.

I don’t see Rigel anywhere which is a relief because I can’t deal with another fight breaking out involving me.

"Did you know him from before?" Alnitak asks as he slips into a chair beside me, his plate of food in hand.

I can’t tell him about my meeting in the dungeon. The confusion has clouded my brain because I can’t even differentiate what’s real and what’s an illusion anymore.

Now I am debating what I saw in that dungeon and can’t understand if any of it was even real. At least Rigel is no longer bound in those chains and those blood-curdling screams I heard.

They can’t be fake. Right?

"No, I don’t know him." Picking up an apple slice, I begin to eat, and Alnitak sighs.

The rest of the lunch passes in silence.

The rest of my guildmates have their "Offensive and Defensive Magic" session while I have a private session with Alnilam.

Alnitak insists on walking me to his brother’s office and I can’t even be mad at him. Like a possessive lover, he is already acting jealous of a potential rival. And Alnitak doesn’t even know I am his mate. It makes me wonder how he would act if he knew the truth.

"Go, I am fine." I shake my head at him with a smile and he winks before striding away.

With a deep breath, I knock on Alnilam’s door. This is a moment of truth. If he had placed Rigel as part of some sick test in that dungeon, then he would surely bring that up, and I have failed the test miserably. He will brand me as a whore again and warn his brothers against me. That little progress I have made with him will be going down the gutter.

"Enter!" His heavy voice seeps into my heart making it thud louder. Pushing open the door I enter and find him seated at his desk, buried in some papers. His scent clings to every air particle in his study and it makes me dizzy.

He doesn’t glance at me, instead pushes the button to open the bookshelves to his secret room.

"Go inside, I will be right there with you," he says calmly, his face an ever mask of indifference.

I do as he has said and quietly take the seat, glancing around the treasures he has gathered over the years. Quite a collector he is, it offers me insight into his personality. He likes gathering things from the old world, especially stationery, maps, books and diaries.

An impressive collection of pens and pencils he has and I just watch them in awe. Even some plastic flashy stackable pencils which are no longer produced. Tiny globes, small animals and stars hang from them.

It’s like watching a child’s innermost desires made into reality.

His scent permeates my senses yet again and my body stiffens. Alnilam enters and closes the partition behind us. He takes up his place on the sofa in front of me while his eyes find me, focused and holding questions.

"You were distracted in the training today. That’s very unlike you. Why?" He asks, dead point. Alnilam doesn’t hold back; he speaks his mind and sometimes he is too direct.

"I am sorry I guess I didn’t get proper sleep," I awkwardly answer, hoping he won’t dwell on this topic further.

My heart starts pounding and my hands and feet turn cold at the thought of him mentioning Rigel.

But his mind doesn’t even seem to go in that direction. Maybe he is going to test me even more by bringing him closer to me. Or it can be a ploy to keep me away from his brothers.

"I know yesterday was tough but at least all of you got to open up to the others. Let’s get back to your training." He gestures to me to stand up and I obey.

"There are Shungite crystals in the corners." Alnilam points, and I observe the triangle-shaped matte ebony crystals on stands in all the corners. "They will help keep the magic contained. So let’s begin."

I am sure he doesn’t want any other Enforcer or Dread Army knowing about me and my unregistered magic.

I nod at him, drawing in a deep breath.

"Remove your necklace," he says quietly but there is a hint of curiosity in his words. My eyes find him and he watches me with such keenness.

With a gulp, I reach around my neck and pull off the necklace that has a cylindrical amethyst wrapped in silver attached to it. The crystal has the exact colour as his gorgeous eyes. Purple is such a mysterious colour and it has always fascinated me.

Slowly and carefully, I remove it, and my appearance instantly changes. With a rhythm, the magic hums in my blood, happy to be set free.

My hair elongates even further, and the black disappears, only to be replaced by silverish-gold. I know my eyes have changed colour too, and my ears have become pointed.

He watches me with a measure of awe, like exerting a subdued fascination. His pupils dilate as they take all of me in.

Fae were known for their beauty and charms but never had I thought Alnilam would show interest.

Moving forward I place the necklace on the table beside him. It settles with a small clinking sound on the table.

"I am ready," I announce and that seems to bring him out of his staring. It feels strange to have Alnilam stare at me and hold expressions of wonder when all he does is usually sulk.

"Right...! So I was thinking we should begin with element air. It’s readily available everywhere and it’s the easiest of the elements to master due to its availability and property to yield easily. A tiny push of your energy can cause ripples, and once mastered you can brew storms far beyond anyone’s imagination. So, let’s begin, Amaia."