Chapter 21 - The Intimacy Weapon

–Aurelia-

“What?!” Both Azura and Sorya yelled with shock in their eyes, their voices echoed in the night making some sleeping bats take flight.

I sighed, “My same reaction when the Healer and the Beta told me.”

I had screamed so loud that the Healer jumped, he was quite startled even Beta Ilan was too.

At first I thought I heard wrong or maybe they were joking but why would I be summoned at around midnight to be joked with and the seriousness on their faces told me otherwise.

“You are meant to be his caregiver, not his toy!” Azura whispered, under the brightness of the moon, and with the help of two lanterns, I could see a deep frown on her face, “I don't like where this is going, my queen.”

Sorya nodded, “I took, my queen. This is getting out of hand. How would they request you sleep with the Alpha King and from what you have said, it seems they just shipped you off as his?” She hissed in displeasure.

“Maybe, you should have just poisoned the monster.” Azura said, “If he was dead, none of this would have happened at all.”

“Please, my queen, tell us you turned them down immediately.” Sorya asked.

I nodded, “Yes, I did. I can't do that. I am not some toy for that monster. The goddess forbids.”

When the Healer repeated the words back to me, I shook my head vehemently and repeated just one word, hard and firm ‘No’

But instead, Elder Sage said he did give me a week to think about it. I had immediately written a letter to Uncle to meet in our usual place.

I am on a revenge mission but sleeping with that monster was never part of the deal.

I can't imagine being close to me, his hands on me, his body….

‘He had touched your eyes, and you did nothing.’ My silent inner voice whispered to me… I brushed it aside quickly, including the fated thought which was rearing its head.

As far as I am concerned, the fated experience never happened. Never.

I took a deep breath and turned to the man that had just sat down quietly by my side. When I had dropped the news, he didn't flinch and didn't react, he just sat there in silence.

Uncle Diomar and his silence…. I thought with a shake of head.

“Uncle, what am I going to do now?” I asked, he raised his head and turned to me but said nothing.

“Father,” Sorya called, “Please say something. We are at an end.”

Uncle Diomar rose to his feet, Sorya and Azura did the same, I was about to when he gave me his disapproval look which told me or rather reminded me I was the northern Queen and I need not to stand, I reminded sitted.

He gestured for Azura and Sorya to sit down, which they did, “Well…” and trailed off.

For some minutes, he stared at the dark clouds illuminated with the stars and the moon… he was thinking.

Suddenly he turned to me, the corner of his lips curled up, his eyes squirted making him look darker than even the night.

I smiled… I am very sure uncle has come up with a very good plan, a plan that will bring an end to this madness.

“My Queen,” Uncle Diomar bowed, “ Did they tell you the reason why?”

I shook my head, “They didn't and I didn't bother asking because I wouldn't be doing it.”

“Hmmm…” He hummed and went quiet for a bit, turned to the sky again, “And was it like an order?”

I frowned… Why was my uncle asking these questions?

“It-”

He raised his hand to halt me, “Please, my queen, cast your mind back to when they told you. I don't want you to remember just their words, I want you to remember the expressions on their faces.”

And just as he had taught me during my years of training, I closed my eyes, even my breathing to be more slowly and then I recalled.

“Tell me.”. My Uncle's voice sounded faint as I seemed to travel back to then.

I can see myself standing and watching as the Beta and the Healer spoke to me.

“The Healer looked concerned and even Beta Ilan.”

“Yes, go on”

“I can see ….” I paused, “ Fear? Worry?”

Now, I recalled their words and unlike before, I could hear the fear and worry in their voices.

I snapped my eyes open, my brows pulled together, now I was confused.

“They seem to be afraid and worried.”

But why would they? If they wanted me to be intimate with the Alpha King, to be a toy, they should not be worried or afraid at all.

Unless…..

“The only reason they can be like that is if….” Sorya paused, her eyes widened as she seems to come to the same realization I did earlier, “you-”

Azura jumped from her seat, she had been in thoughts too and it also dawned on her, “Your sleeping with him is connected to his recovery not to be some sex slave or slave thing!”

Uncle Diomar nodded, his smile growing wide, “Yes.” His graze moved from me to Azura and then Sorya while nodding his head, “Now, I am very proud. You girls genuinely followed as I trained you all. I am proud.”

“But still, my lord,” Azura shook her head, “My queen can't do such. It's ungraceful.”

Sorya nodded in agreement as Azura sat down.

“We can't be graceful when we are dealing with a monster, Azura.” My uncle replied, Azura sighed.

“We are not only making him fall in love senselessly . We want to break him,” My uncle lifted both of his hands and fisted.

“We want to crush him.” His voice went dangerously low, sounding so scary.

And with a sinister smile, “We want to destroy him, spirit, soul and body.” And then my uncle burst into a maniac laugh.

Both Azura and Sorya were also laughing but I couldn't laugh, so I forced a smile on my face. Uncle's words sent chills down my spine, it made my stomach tightened and that's… very strange.

Maybe it was because Uncle was sounding more sinister than ever.

Well…. Alpha King Alaric deserves all the cruelty in this world… loving him

The laughter died down.

“Love,” Uncle started, his eyes on nothing in particular, just staring right ahead, “Oh love, it makes a man weak… it makes a man weaker every passing time. Very weak.”

Aurelia, darling. Love is the moon goddess's gift to us.

My father's words sounded softly within me…. Father was definitely not referring to a monster like Alaric.

Uncle Diomar turned to me, “But, your Grace, do you know what makes love a dangerous weapon?”

“No.”

Uncle Diomar smiled.

“Intimacy.” He said with this eerily calmness.

“Love will not render a male senseless. Love will not ruin a strong male like the Alpha King of the West without intimacy.”

“For us to bring that monster to his knees. To completely crush him without remains, love must be with intimacy, my queen.”

And with a bow, he completed, “So Yes, my queen. You must accept their words and sleep with him just as requested.”

I rose to my feet, Azura and Sorya did the same.

“But Uncle, intimacy brings pups. I don't want to have those with that monster.”

“Never!” My Uncle snapped, his voice angry, “Never. That will never happen. Don't worry, my queen. I will send supplies for that.”

I forced a smile and nodded.

“I am ready.” I said, my voice firm and stern.

“All hail! Her Royal Majesty, the second after the reverend moon goddess, the custodian of the Northern kingdom. All Hail Queen Aurelia Isolde Draxmere the fourth.” My Uncle chanted.

“All hail!” Both Sorya and Azura responded.

And they all bowed.