Author's Note:Chapter dedicated to Reetu_Tiwari.
"In the court of wolves, even honeyed words drip venom—and the sharpest fangs wear a crown of silk..."
_Threedaystothematingceremony_
Eira barely caught a wink of sleep the entire night, her fate in Valdor was uncertain and so were the whereabouts of the princess. And then, there was the mission Alpha Arin had burdened her with, the one she had the faintest idea on how to carry out.
'Find out the weakness of the lycans? How am I to do that?' she frowned as she crawled out of bed, the ache in her limbs spread across her body.
'Are those the retainers Lyra mentioned?' she recalled Lyra mentioning her retainers would arrive to ready her for the upcoming mating ceremony. But that was before the Lycan King announced he would be sending her back to moonstone.
Had he maybe reconsidered?
She grazed her thumb across her lower lip, 'Could it be because of that?'
Eira placed her thoughts on hold as she opened her chamber's door for her unexpected guest…guests rather. Out of habit, she lowered her head and kept her hands in front of her, paying respect to the lavishly dressed woman.
Two soft fingers lifted Eira's chin, drawing her gaze to the earthy green orbs gazing softly at her, "Ah, there's no need to be so formal, Lysára, I've only come bearing welcoming gifts." Her honey dripped voice sounded.
Eira blinked her heavy eyelids twice, she had not expected to see a pale skinned slender beauty at her doorstep. Granted, she was as tall as a Lycan, but she retained the delicate features of a she wolf.
Her hair was caramel brown and twin braided resting on both sides of her hips. Though her fingers were hidden under her black silk gloves, she imagined how dainty they must've been. Her skin looked soft to the touch and her frame was slender, though she was dressed in a coat thrice her size, Eira could tell she was thin. Thinner than the women she saw at mesh hall yesterday.
In fact, Eira realized she didn't set eyes at all on this woman yesterday. Judging from the golden ring resting on pinky, Eira presumed she wasn't a nobody. The women she saw at the banquet dinner wore copper, and silver but not gold.
"How rude! The Khthoní has paid you a visit, how dare you keep her waiting!" A brunette scolded from behind.
Khthoní? Eira widened her eyes, she had heard that word before. According to the slave from yesterday this gentle woman in front of her was the one who arranged yesterday's dinner. A member of the Lycan King's harem, and perhaps someone she ought to keep a close watch on.
Gently, the Khthoní rebuked her retainer, "Sana, don't frighten the poor thing, she had an unruly experience getting here." she retracted her finger, and signaled the other woman holding a woven basket inside. The woman marched into Eira's chamber, brushing her shoulder against hers, shoving her rudely to the side.
Eira turned to her guest but the woman had her eyes fixed on her other retainer, oblivious to the misconduct of her retainer. Once the basket was placed by the mirror, her guest turned to Eira and made her introduction.
Her left hand on her heart she announced, "I am Thalassa, the Khthoní of the imperial harem." She turned to Eira with an expectant face, but after a few moments of silence she gasped. "Say it isn't so, did you truly lose your voice on the mountain?"
Eira nodded.
"Can you read or write?" she urged.
Eira shook her head.
"Oh you unfortunate little thing!" she moaned, "As if being forced to leave your land wasn't bad enough, you also lost your voice and your travelling party." She reached for Eira's hands, catching her off guard. "I heard Vynessa attacked you last night, and at my banquet too. You unfortunate thing, I only wanted to make you feel welcomed, but that spiteful woman ruined everything!"
Thalassa bit her lip and squeezed tighter, "If only I had come earlier!"
Immediately both her retainers, who Eira just realized where twins tugged at her sides, "Please! It isn't your fault. Some shifters never learn to kneel when they're beaten."
Sana blurted, "Vynessa has gone too far. After killing the former Lysára to take her place, she should've accepted the Alpha's mercy and quietly gone into exile. She spat at the Alpha's mercy the moment she returned."
Her twin Sena chimed, "She keeps dragging the Khthoní's name through the mud! She bites the hand that once fed her dignity. Had you not been kind enough to bring her into the castle in the first place-"
Thalassa's grip tightened, Eira winced from the pain. 'Her grip is as tight as Alpha Arin's.' Perhaps she was not as dainty as she seemed. And just what was that about her bringing Vynessa into the castle?
Eira's thoughts were cut off by the arrival of Lyra, and two other women, whom she guessed were the retainers Lyra spoke of yesterday.
"Khthoní!" both women greeted with bowed heads and their hands in front of them. Eira noticed Lyra mouthed the greeting, barely kissed her chin to her chest and sharpened her gaze at Thalassa.
If she had learned anything from her years of waiting on Adrianna, then it would be the instant recognition of a sneering subordinate.
That is, if the Beta's mate was considered inferior to the Alpha's concubine.
Sharply Lyra interrogated, "And what might the Khthoní be seeking so far from her purer quarters?" The indignation in her voice was impossible for Eira to miss.
Sana tried to speak but Thalassa cut her off, "I came bearing welcoming gifts and to check on the well-being of the newest addition. Being promoted so unexpectedly may reap it's benefits, but it also attracts some consequence. I was afraid the poor thing's will might have be broken."
Lyra kept her features straight, "I and the Lysára retainers are more than capable of taking care of her. Please, head back before the air here affects your health. We wouldn't want to place the Alpha's kindness to waste, a private quarter is a luxury some can only dream of." She said then marched past her into Eira's bedroom. The retainers mirrored her, and each stood at Eira's side.
Sana hissed, "Watch your words, his majesty only did that because the Khthoní is fragile!"
The woman on Eira's right laughed, "By that logic, our Lysára can expect her private quarter any day now."
Sena sneered, "My sister forgot to mention, the Alpha's favor for the Khthoní was an important factor too." She looked Eira from head to toe, "Without that, anyone would just be whipping a dead horse." She gushed.
"That's enough out of you two, let's not cause any trouble for the poor thing." She cocked her head at Eira, "I hope you come see me later on, I would love for us to chat more."
Eira lowered her head in a nod then watched as Thalassa and her retainers walked away. The moment they were gone, both Eira's retainers exchanged all knowing looks.
Both women reached into the brown pouches sitting on their belts and began to furiously throw what looked like salt all over the front door.
"Lysette, this isn't enough, we should have the Lysára moved from this room, goddess knows what that viper has done."
Orelda nodded, "We might need to perform a purification ritual-"
"Alright, that's enough out of you two, we don't have much time on our hands now do we?" Lyra pointed out, towering over the gift basket. She reached for the lid but decided against it. Turning to both women she asked, "Could you have her ready in time for tonight?"
Eira's ears stood, tonight? The mating ceremony wasn't for another two days.
Lysette and Orelda circled around Eira, analytical looks on their faces, "She looks paler and thinner than I imagined, she's in no better condition than the slaves. Pray tell are all wolves like this?" Orelda interrogated, pinching her chin.
"All four generals will be in attendance tonight. So she must make a remarkable impression. And that attention hungry viper will be there too."
Lyra folded her arms and flattened her lips into a smile, "If anybody can get her ready in time for the banquet tonight, then it has to be the both of you. His majesty must think the same, or he wouldn't have specially chosen you two as the princess' retainers."
Eira gulped, banquet? Did this mean the Alpha wasn't sending her back?
Noticing the confused look on her face Lyra signaled Lysette over. She reached for Eira's hand and placed it over Lysette's palm, Eira raised a brow, what was she doing…
"Don't worry princess Adrianna, I am only trying to help." She said reading her thoughts.
Eira gasped. How did she…
Lysette grinned, "I was one of the few people born with the eye of the Luna, and as a result I can tether into a shifter's mind and peer into their thoughts." She announced.
Eira immediately cleared her mind and steadied her breathing. She had experience back at moonstone when it came to lying to Alpha Arin and his insufferable son. She nodded, accepting the strange ability, although it disheartened her that she would have to apply an extra layer of caution, this ability was not a total setback.
At least, she could finally seek the answers to the questions nagging at the back of her mind. So to speak, she immediately placed the ability to use.
Looking at Lysette she thought, "What banquet is happening tonight?"
Lysette responded sharply, "Twice a year, the four generals converge at the castle for their semi annual report of their governing territories. After the meeting, they spend the night at Valdor and are thrown a welcoming banquet by one of the top five ranks of the imperial harem."
Eira thought, "Top five ranks?"
"The top five ranks are the highest ranked women in the Alpha's harem." She explained. "From bottom to top they are; Zephyrine, Nyxóa, Lysára, Khthoní and Aethoná."
Eira noted her position in the middle and Thalassa as directly above her.
Angrily, Orelda announced, "This year that slithery bitch is hosting the banquet!" She averted her eyes to the gift basket, "And I have a feeling she has a couple of tricks up her sleeve."
Author's Note: Sorry for the two months ghosting, but the updates are finally back to daily. Comment which pairing you like more so far, Kael and Eira or Ryker and Adrianna.