It took a while for Arlo to stop crying but he finally did.
The dinner was fun and the Luna turned out to be more fun than Aniya had expected.
So this was where the Princess got her warm personality.
The Luna asked her about her home and Aniya was more than willing to share lovely details about Ignas to them– to her. She was hoping that she would be able to sex how much she loved her home, take pity on her and send her back.
She told her about their beautiful festivals, the family she had there and how she missed home.
“Arlo misses home too,” she said as she ran her hands through his golden curly hair. “It would be so much better for us to be there instead. My best friend is like his second Mother. I’m certain that they are both losing their minds without each other, he just doesn't know how to communicate yet.” She pulled up her son. “You miss Ma Zesika, don't you?”
He babbled something back and she turned back to them.
“You see. He said “I miss her so much, it feels like my heart is aching. The air is stagnant without her, if only I could go back, then I would be able to breathe again. I miss my Mother.”
“He said all that?” The Luna asked, her hands still around the fork.
Aniya nodded, biting back a smile.
“Yes, he did.”
“That is a lot of words for a couple of babblings,” Oana chipped in.
“It is our special language. Only I understand him.” This time around she couldn't help her laughter and they all joined in.
The clicking of the cutleries on their plates filled the air along with the fading echoes of laughter.
“You are such a wonderful human.” The Luna said when she stopped laughing.
“She is,” Oana chipped in once again.
“I’m sure you and your son must be greatly missed in your family.”
Aniya nodded, yelling in her mind for them to help her out of this Realm of unfortunate events.
Something twinkled in Luna’s eyes and Aniya could have sworn that she was thinking of helping them.
She began to speak.
“My son—”
Suddenly, her voice trailed off. Not just that, but Oana who was sitting next to her went rigid in her seat. Aniya heard the reason before she saw it.
The sound of giggling ladies floated into the dining room. A robe adorned with nosy golden adornments, sweeping the floor.
Then she saw him and her heart raced.
Ikrus?
No. No, that wasn't him.
This one looked older. He had a goblet of wine in his hand and despite the resemblance, there was just that different there.
His father?
“Father,” Oana was the first to speak as she stood up and bowed in greeting. She pulled Aniya along with her to do the same. “I’m so happy that you honoured my invitation.”
“Yes, it is good that you came, my love.” The Luna said too and she rang the bell like she did before.
The Father said nothing, instead he pressed a Fatherly kiss to Oana’s forehead, looked at the Luna briefly and took his seat at the head of the table.
“Alpha, what would you like to eat?” One of the servants asked but Aniya didn't pay attention to that. Instead, she thought of the word “Alpha”.
The Alpha here must mean King.
The Luna must mean Queen.
If she was correct then it would mean that Ikrus was likely the Crown Prince. Considering that Oana was certainly younger than he was, except if there was one more sibling somewhere.
Her mother's teaching on how to observe and take down the enemy rushed through her head, and although her mother was nothing short of horrible, sometimes her lessons guided Aniya. It wasn't something she was proud of, it just was the way things were for her.
The ladies that came into the room with the Alpha had very little clothing on. They sat on the floor, each by his legs.
The smile on the Luna’s face vanished.
Aniya took note of that.
The King was unfaithful, the Queen didn't like it. Drinking like that, and with the women by his feet, the King would be easily seduced. Except that with claws as sharp as those, she had to take extra care not to get killed while she would lure him.
Maybe she could use him to get her way—
No! Aniya, no!
She wasn't doing this again.
She would wait for Oana or come up with something another way.
Not this again.
At that moment, this Alpha looked right at her. As if he had been able to read her thoughts.
She looked away immediately.
“Father, this is Aniya. Ikrus’ mate.”
Moments of silence followed and it might have been the longest moments in Aniya's life. Her heart was racing wildly.
She observed the ceramic plates, how the light glowed gently on it, then she realized that they had no torches.
This light must be as a result of an advanced form of magic. That once again reminded her that she couldn't escape alone. She needed a portal to go back to her Realm.
By Ignas, she really would have to wait for Oana!
“Let me see you.” The Alpha finally spoke and his request only made the unsettling feeling in her stomach worse.
“My love, I believe there is no need for tha—”
“You will be quiet,” he snapped. “You. Come here.”
“Go,” Oana whispered to her as she took Arlo away from her.
Aniya stood up stiffly. Once again, she found herself wishing that Ikrus was here.
Her feet moved towards him and she stopped finally in front of him. She tried to avoid their gazes clashing but the next order was nothing but unnerving.
“Kneel.”
“Do it.” It was Oana again; that whisper guiding her actions.
Aniya took in a shaky breath and did it.
She did, balling her fists by her sides. Then she realized something, she was just on the same level as the women that sat by his feet.
No! By Ignas, no!