I returned to my prayer position, unsheathing a dagger and tucking it into the folds of my dress. I knew that if the Goddess was warning me of their proximity, then my guards were outnumbered. I sent a mind link to Marcus and the general of my private guard, informing them that the invaders had made it to the temple. I heard back from them simultaneously, Get to safety Luna!, and it made me smile internally.
I cannot leave now. Protect the people. I instructed them both, severing the links immediately. Akeila was apprehended and I heard her protests as she struggled. The sound of boots filled the temple, and I fought to keep myself still. We were surrounded. A pair of legs became visible in front of me, a deep and commanding voice echoing around the temple from their owner.
"Instead of fighting alongside your people, you sit here and pray. What a waste, what disrespect for your warriors' lives." I lunged forward with my dagger, successfully stabbing it into his thigh, wrenching it out and rushing behind him, kicking out his knee. Once he crumbled, I grabbed his hair and held the dagger under his chin, fury boiling my blood, my Alpha aura flooding the temple and making the opposing forces cringe.
"You dare say that to me after you invade my city without provocation? You dare insult me and my warriors?" I dug the knife in, feeling it pressing dangerously on his skin. His Adam's apple bobbed against the knife, and he growled, allowing his Alpha aura out. It was laughable how weak it was compared to mine.
"Please unhand my brother, mistress." A calm voice entered the stillness of the temple, and I looked up to see the second man Akeila had described. Akeila was now struggling in the grip two warriors had her in, and the man's attention went to her.
"Why are you holding onto her like your life depends on it? Ease up this instant." The warriors relaxed their hold, but still held her in place. Her eyes were planted firmly on him, and his Adam's apple bobbed several times as he took noticeably deep breaths before turning his attention to me once again.
"He is a fool, surely. However, you are outnumbered, and I cannot abide by my brother receiving…more…injuries." His eyes narrowed on the profusely bleeding wound on the man's thigh. I narrowed my eyes at him and held firm.
"You invade my lands, and want to make demands of me? Don't make me laugh. I will slit this man's throat if you do not leave." He held up his hands and nodded, his face suddenly filled with sorrow. He took several steps closer to me then dropped on his knee.
"I swear to you, this wasn't planned. We have not harmed your civilians, and our men have held back as much as possible with your warriors. However, you will want to hear out my brother before this gets uglier. I do not want to pull rank with you." I snorted and let out a derisive laugh.
"Uglier? You have already invaded my city! Harmed my people!" He flinched at my raised voice, then looked over at Akeila as he bit his lip so hard blood began trickling down his chin. Akeila started whimpering and struggling more, feeling the pull of the evident mate bond between the two, when I smelled something absolutely intoxicating. As the scent filled my nose, my wolf howled happily, prancing in circles. My grip relaxed on the dagger and the male beneath it spun out of my grip, moving behind me to press it against my own throat, his other hand planted firmly on my waist.
"Oh sweet little Luna, feisty little thing. If you don't want your little guard dog over there to have a knife sticking out of her ribs, you will listen." He tilted his head into my peripheral view, and when I didn't struggle, he continued, "I've heard of you, your perfect pedigree, your beauty. I will take you as my Luna, your people will be left in the care of one of my brothers. You will be the next Lunar Queen, and you will provide me heirs for the royal bloodline. Only you will do."
The shocked registered in my body, and I stared at the floor absolutely dumbfounded. I looked up to Akeila, whose mouth had dropped open, then to the man's brother who had been talking. His jaw was set firmly in anger, a vein popping out on his temple, his eyes betraying his disgust as blood continued to trickle down his chin.
The goddess' words echoed in my head, and my eyes searched each of the men in my view, trying to see if I could place the scent. My wolf was frantically pacing in my head, reviewing the men with me. No, no, no, no, no, no…our mate is close, but we cannot see him…Timera whined. Suddenly she stilled before becoming so excited she practically frothed at the mouth as a movement caught my eye on the side.
A man came forward from the crowd, and I found myself seething that Akeila's description wasn't enough. His eyes were the brightest shade of blue, piercing and discerning, with full lips and high cheekbones. His hood was pulled back to allow his black curls frame his face, I found myself wondering how soft his hair was, how bouncy those curls would be.
He towered over the other men, easily standing at six feet and then some, he would tower over all men in my kingdom aside from my bodyguards. His frame was built powerfully like a warrior, although his garb and weapons screamed spy. He had sprays of blood across him, and I noticed a wound on his shoulder that was still bleeding. My wolf whimpered upon smelling his fresh blood, pushing me to comfort and care for our mate.
His eyes held mine and I could see that he felt the mate bond. His scent assaulted my senses, and I felt that I would collapse at the intensity of it all. The knife to my throat tightened, bringing my senses back to me.
"Well, little Luna? Do you accept my offer?" I took in a shaky breath and met my mate's eyes, seeing the rigidity in his body. The intense glare he gave the man behind me.
"Mate." I whispered, his eyes snapping back to me. The man behind me chuckled and loosened his grip slightly.
"Good, good, you are seeing reason. There is no reason for such a promising bloodline like yours going to waste on som-" he was cut off by my mate's whispered affirmation.
"Mate."