Chapter 31: Familiar Stranger

My eyes widened as he called me that. Trouble. A very familiar nickname… from a stranger.

“You…” I whispered.  “You're that stranger…”

His head tilted.  Alfonso's eyes were filled with confusion.  “My dear, I know I'm a stranger to you.”

I stopped myself from saying anything else as his eyes continued to show me the same confusion he had.  It was easy to fake facial expressions…

But the eyes could never lie.  Ever.

I shook my head.  “No, nothing… Please release me from your magic, Your Highness…”

He chuckled before turning his back at me.  “And what if I don't? I don't appreciate you thinking of somebody else while I am right here in front of you, Hestia Locke…”

“You simply reminded me of someone.  You two shared a lot of similarities that it was hard for me to ignore.”

He flopped back on his seat, lazily resting his chin as he studied me once more. As if discerning if I was telling the truth or if he would cut his losses.

“Is this certain someone… a dashing man as well?”

I didn't know how to answer that correctly.  After all, if I answer either way, there's a consequence I'll need to face.

I'm not dense.  And I certainly do know that him spending this lavishly and offering a peace treaty for two months was just a way to get something from me.

But what is it that he wanted?

“Why don't we go directly to the point, Your Highness?” I asked.  “What is it that you truly want from me? I believe that you won't be spending this lavishly just for a simple meal.”

He didn't answer.  Instead, Alfonso reached for his wine glass and gently lifted the end of his mask, partially revealing to me his lips.

He downed the wine in a very slow pace, as if teasing me to peek through.  And I'd be a hypocrite to say that I wasn't tempted.

This strange feeling gnawed on my chest, as if telling me…

Fluke whimpered as we slowly came down to the ground.  My knees almost buckled as my feet touched the ground, as if I almost forgot how to even stand.  I immediately fell on the ground, like a damsel in distress.

Alfonso slowly walked towards me, his golden eyes still fixated on mine.  I maintained his gaze until he was close enough to make me feel breathless.

He knelt and lifted my chin further.  “Are you aware of my kin's culture, Hestia? Unlike you Lycans, we do not mate.  We keep numerous lovers, producing a number of children for our line to continue.  I, for one, have twelve brothers and eight sisters.  Impressive, isn't it?”

“Your point being?”

His face slowly lowered, crossing the remaining distance between us.  When he was close enough that I could almost feel the heat coming from his body, he stopped.

His eyes slowly fell towards my lips, then to my breasts that almost fell out of the fabric…

“I'm different from my kin.  Having a fated mate…. it's something I envy from you Lycans.  You bond and mate until the end of your life, despite having the freedom to break it when you wanted to…”

I scoffed as I was reminded of my past with Augustus.  I avoided his gaze. “Your Highness, not everything you see and hear is the truth for all people.”

Alfonso pulled my chin once again, making me stare back at him.  “And do you know that a Crown Prince's principal wife receives a generous stipend enough for her to live comfortably for generations? You'd be respected and beloved…”

“Let me cut through the chase.  You did all of this… just to ask me if I'm willing to become your principal wife?” I asked.

“Brilliant as always… You'd be a good mother, Hestia.”

Dry laugh escaped from my lips.  “I'm sorry, Your Highness, but I don't intend to marry again, nor even accept any bonds except from my Vassal, who did it out of obligation.  I'm afraid I can't provide you with what you want. And I'll never betray my people.  Ever.”

“And why is that? Those people are the same ones who hurted you.  I've heard about your story, Hestia.  And I've heard a lot more from other people.  Words that you wouldn't even want to hear.  The Reds will welcome you with open arms.  I'll make sure of that.”

“A few rotten Lycans doesn't represent the whole,” I replied.  “While I appreciate your offer, I'll have to turn you down, Your Highness.  You and I both know the consequences of these kinds of drastic decisions.”

He didn't say anything.  Instead, Alfonso stood up and walked towards a nearby side table to pour some wine in a glass.

And I… couldn't help but feel this gnawing fear inside of me that he might change his mind simply because of me.  Our men needed some rest.

“I underestimated your will, darling Queen,” he simply said before turning to look at me.  “Your sister immediately threw herself at my feet the moment she walked in.  You know what happened to her next.”

He walked towards me, pushing a small medallion into my hands.  Just in time, Mischa entered the tent, his eyes trying not to look at us.

“Your Highness, it's time.”

Alfonso helped me get up on my feet.  Before he let me go, he leaned closer to my ear.  “Use that medallion if you need my help.  I'll be waiting.”

I walked out of the tent, in a daze.  The three were still outside.  Castiel stopped pacing back and forth as soon as he saw me.  He immediately ran towards me, checking my body for any injuries.

“Don't worry, Your Eminence.  His Highness isn't a barbarian to hurt a lady,” Mischa said, before bidding farewell.  When his fingers snapped, the tent and the base disappeared, leaving only the trace of a few firepits made by their men.

Augustus walked towards me, a small piece of paper resting in his hands.  The treaty.

“Well, all's well that ends well, right?” I said, trying to lighten the situation. Their faces remained grim.  I patted Castiel's shoulder.  “Hey, cheer up! I'm not dead yet!”

I glanced once again at the empty space where the tent once stood, my mind drifting back to Alfonso and his strange request.

How much did he know about me?

And how capable are those Reds… to know everything about me?

We've been highly cautious about spies and sleeper agents.  But the mere fact that he knew about what happened to me and about my personal life, Alfonso could've easily known more about anything within our kingdom.

Unless he himself had been able to get in and out of our kingdom without anyone noticing, or he's working with someone influential and powerful enough to move discreetly.

But who?

Is the Stranger involved in espionage? Is that why he was around?

But…

“Let's transport our wounded back to the Capital for treatment,” Castiel broke the silence.  “Oh, and please prepare for the second trial, Hestia.  We'll begin during the Fated Mates Festival.  We can't afford to leave the Queen's seat vacant any longer.”