CHAPTER 24: THE QUEEN’S PROPOSAL

"So, my daughter," Anastasia said, her lips curving into a playful smirk.

"I heard from Erzsébet that you fell in love with a human and married him in a moment of impulse."

She placed a hand over her heart and acted hurt.

"Ah, my daughter has already grown so old, old enough to leave her dear old mother behind."

Alicia’s cheeks flared a deep crimson, and she shook her head vehemently.

"Wha-what are you talking about, Mother? I didn’t marry in impulse! Besides, I only came to like him recently."

Anastasia laughed, the sound warm and hearty, echoing softly in the chamber.

"Hahaha! My daughter, you are so cute, Pfft!" She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.

Alicia’s blush deepened as she realized her mother was just teasing her.

"Mother! Don’t tease me!" she protested.

Anastasia stopped laughing and her face grew serious, though a relieved smile blossomed on her lips.

"In any case, I’m glad you came to like that man, or I would have had no choice but to reject Erzsébet’s proposal."

Alicia, confused by her words, asked, "What proposal, Mother?"

Anastasia leaned forward and began to explain.

"Erzsébet knows that Eleanor’s impulsive ritual, involving not only a human but also a witch and druid, along with a werewolf, and a succubus has dangerously fractured the old ceasefire pact.

She initially wanted to deal with the problem herself, but as you know, Eleanor’s mistake was public.

A simple punishment would not be enough to prevent a full-blown conflict."

"So she proposes a Collective Solution. Instead of punishing the girls for a broken pact, she wants to use this incident to create a new, stronger one.

She wants to arrange a formal, public marriage between Valerian and representatives of the five major supernatural factions."

Alicia’s eyes widened in disbelief.

"She proposes that the five women—Eleanor, Iris, Liliana, you, and the Druid—become the official wives of Valerian.

This new marriage would be a political statement to the other factions, a symbol of a new era of cooperation.

She wants to show that our races can not only coexist but intermingle for a new age of peace.

This would turn a crisis into a major political victory for all of us."

Alicia digested the information, her mind reeling.

’To think this mistake, this one chaotic act, could help the five races in such a way,’ she thought.

It was an incredible, almost unbelievable, turn of events.

But as one worry left her mind, another immediately took its place.

"Wait, what about the human representatives’ approval? Won’t they disapprove and blame us for taking a human without their consent?" she asked, her voice tinged with anxiety.

Anastasia sighed at the mention of them, a weary expression crossing her face.

"The human representatives are divided into two factions: the Mages and the Priests.

Those two factions have a severe dislike for each other, so they normally don’t agree on the same thing."

"It’s alright, though," she continued.

"This time, they don’t want to risk a war, especially now that both Angels and Spirits don’t bother with Earth anymore."

"So they agreed to accept the new pact on one condition: that the human who is married to you isn’t being forced."

A wave of relief washed over Alicia.

At least she knew Valerian wasn’t being forced, not anymore.

But as that worry resolved, a new one immediately appeared.

"But will Eleanor accept this arrangement?" she asked, her voice full of doubt.

....

After walking for a long time, I finally reached my home.

If you’re wondering why I walked and not ran, since my speed was fast enough to reach home in a minute, or teleported, since I can use magic now, I have a reason.

Iris. My Fourth Wife.

She was clearly in heat. I could feel it through my connection with her.

And her being in heat was different from Liliana’s.

"We are here," I said, turning to Iris as we reached the front door.

She simply nodded and opened the door to my house before me, a look of calm purpose on her face.

I entered after her and began to speak.

"So, about my ear—"

Before I could continue our conversation, a broadsword, crackling with lightning, came hurtling towards me.

However, I didn’t even have to flinch.

As my barrier stopped it instantly.

The sword clattered to the floor, harmlessly a few feet away.

"Well, I don’t really like that kind of conversation, you know," I said, my voice calm, almost bored.

"Especially with women."

"SO KNEEL!"

Immediately, as if she had lost all control of her body, her legs bent down and her head bowed.

An invisible pressure, a raw, dominating force, pressed against her, forcing her to the floor.

"Ho-how di-did you know?" Iris asked, her voice filled with confusion.

She was clearly surprised that I had already expected her attack.

"Well, did you know I can read feelings and emotions?" I asked, a sinister smirk on my face.

"Not to mention, our connection literally lets me hear your heartbeat and feel your heat."

I walked around her, circling her prone form like a predator.

"I know how animals have their hierarchy when choosing mates. And as a werewolf, I guess you wanted to make me submit to become your beta, huh?"

I mused, a chuckle rumbling in my chest.

"Nice try."

My smirk widened.

"How does it feel to be utterly dominated without a chance to fight? How does it feel to be the prey?"

I leaned in, my voice whispering quietly.

"I bet you were thinking you were the hunter, to stalk me for the whole time like a predator.

Heh, but it turned out you are the prey here."

I reached out and gently touched her chin, forcing her to look at me.

""So, care to submit, my darling wifey~?" I asked, my voice dominating and commanding.

Iris shivered, her body trembling under the invisible pressure I had placed on her.

A deep blush spread across her cheeks, a subconscious response to my actions.

She panted, her breath coming out in short, ragged gasps as her body fought against her own will.

Pant... pant...

Inside her head, her mind screamed in silent agony.

’How?! How could he beat me without any resistance?! I’m a warrior! I’m Lady Iris of the Argent Clan! I’ve never knelt to anyone!

But... his power... it’s overwhelming. My instincts... they’re screaming.

The primal part of me knows.

He’s the Alpha.

He’s stronger.

He’s... he’s the one.’ A powerful, unshakeable urge, a feeling she had only ever heard about in old werewolf tales, washed over her.

It was the absolute, unconditional desire to submit.

To let go of her pride and kneel before her mate, her Alpha.

She lowered her head until her forehead touched the cold ground.

The words came from a place deeper than her conscious mind, a place of pure, primal instinct.

"I submit to your desires, my Alpha."

I smiled at her words and gently patted her head.

"Good girl." With a thought, I released her from the spell.

Upon being released, she immediately leaned into my hand, looking up at me with eyes filled with pure, unadulterated desire.

’This one seems to be the most simple,’ I thought to myself. ’Just like a puppy, hmm?’

I had always wanted a pet.

Yeah no, she was my wife, not my pet.

’But... but those fluffy ears and that tail... they’re so cute. I just want to touch them. I want to caress them.’

Unable to resist my own desires, I slowly moved my hand from her head to her ears and began to gently rub them.

The fur was incredibly soft, and I couldn’t help but smile as a low, rumbling purr escaped her lips.

"Ahhhh~" she moaned aloud, a surprised but pleased expression on her face.

"Hubby, not there! It tickles!"

Looking at Iris’s flushed face and ragged breathing, I was immediately aroused.

My Incubus blood was boiling, and adrenaline coursed through me.

A single, primal thought cemented itself in my head: ’I want to bed this little wolfy.’

I couldn’t resist my desires any longer.

I leaned in and kissed her, starting with her forehead and moving down to her nose, her cheeks, and finally, her lips.

Iris let out a surprised squeak but quickly melted into the kiss, her arms wrapping around my neck as she eagerly returned my affection.

"Hubby," she murmured against my lips, her tail wagging happily behind her.

"You’re so gentle."

I deepened the kiss, pouring all of my pent-up arousal and affection into it.

Iris responded eagerly, her tongue darting out to tangle with mine.

As we kissed, my hands wandered over her body, caressing the soft curves that I had been admiring earlier.

Iris shivered beneath my touch, a low, pleased whine escaping her throat as I found particularly sensitive spots.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my lip.

Iris had bitten me! I pulled back with a gasp, only to see a small trickle of blood dripping from the tiny wound.

"Oh no!" Iris exclaimed, looking horrified. "I’m so sorry, Husband! I didn’t mean to hurt you!"

She leaned in and licked at the blood gently, her tongue soothing the sting.

The sensation sent a shiver down my spine, and I couldn’t help but groan at the feeling.

Iris’s eyes widened at the sound, and she looked up at me with a mixture of innocence and curiosity.

"Did... did that feel good, Hubby?" she asked softly, her breath warm against my skin.

Before I could respond, she leaned in and licked the wound again, more slowly this time.

I shuddered as a wave of pleasure coursed through me, and my grip on her tightened involuntarily.

"Yes," I breathed, my voice husky with desire. "It felt very good."

’So good I might just bone you right here without any preparation,’ I thought.

’Damn, when did I become so easy?’