Chapter3

#Chapter3

Kingdom of Hunters

Castle of Solar Dynasty

The crowd was immense. It was there to pay homage to the deceased soul. It was the last goodbye to Queen of Hunters, VasundharaRaje. The heavy mass was settled in the garden where the rituals will start soon. The front row was occupied by the Royals and their commanders. The event even brought the supernatural to show their grief and pay respect to the departed soul. King Raghav didn’t sit alone but with his good friends and allies. King Francis Dracula of Vampires and Alpha King Octavius Knight of Lycanthrope sat at either side of him, giving his slumped shoulders their friendly support. The moment, the news of Queen’s death was out the royals of supernatural made sure to show up and give their condolences. Their wives also accompanied them with heavy hearts. The queen of hunters held a special spot in their hearts too. Her death was sudden and unexpected.

Whoever heard the news, has unknowingly shed tears. She was that valuable and loved.

Gayatri was sitting at the far end of the front row with a 3 days old Devi in her lap. The child was unaware of the happenings and was deep in slumber. Gayatri’s heart melted knowing how difficult it’s going to be to bring up a girl without a mother. She made soothing circles on Devi’s scalp and caressed her pink cheeks affectionately.

ChandaThakur was sitting right next to her mother holding her 1-year old daughter, Shakti. Her eyes refused to dry remembering the beautiful Queen. 7-year-old Rudra was sitting at the chair next to his mother, holding her scarf. It was scary and astonishing for him at the same time to watch such a crowd in one place.

Besides Rudra, a boy was sitting on his mother’s lap. He should be not more than 5 years. Rudra felt unnerved in his presence all the time. Maybe, it’s because he was a Lycan or because of his constant glare on Queen Gayatri. The boy possessed forest green eyes with golden rings around them. His dark hairs were messed, and he was dressed in dark black like everybody. What differed him from the crowd was the vibrant aura that Rudra found weird. For some reason, he didn’t like this boy. He noticed how hard the boy was gripping the handles of his chair until his knuckles turned pale. He was staring at Queen Gayatri for some time now.

/"Don’t look at her./" Rudra blurted finally, fed up with his behavior. In return, the boy bared his sharp teeth in a warning and made a gesture of clawing Rudra’s face. Hearing a low growl from him, his mother quickly flipped his ear and warned him to pay attention.

/"Edward, behave./" Her cold tone immediately raised his hackles, and he retreated back. His face revealed the madness he was feeling. Short breathes came out of his chest in warm puffs. /"Edward, what’s wrong?/" His mother asked in a hushed whisper while rubbing his back. He leaned his back on her chest and took deep breathes.

/"Mother, can I play with that doll? I want her./" He said pointing at the sleeping beauty on Gayatri’s lap. A sharp intake of air was heard and his mother immediately turned him to face her. She cupped his cheeks and looked in his eyes sternly. It was highly unlike his son to ask to play on foreign territory and that also with an infant girl. Edward has never played with a girl in the past let alone breathe around them. He just doesn’t like the company of any female that isn’t family. His Lycan, that hasn’t matured yet, doesn’t let him associate with any of them.

/"Why do you want to play with her, Edward?/" Her mother asked curiously with a thumping heart.

/"Because she smells like the moon to me./" He whispered in her ear as if it’s a grave secret. When she pulled back, her eyes were teary. She kissed his forehead and nodded.

/"You may play with her, but only when she is awake. She is resting now, my son./" Edward pouted and looked back at Devi’s sleepy face in longing.

/"Can I look at her?/" he asked seeking the permission of his mother who instantly wore a cold expression. In Lycanthrope, the male isn’t allowed to look at any female that wasn’t their mates or family. The rules and laws of species command them to be respectful towards females. His mother shook her head.

/"You can’t look at her, not before granting permission from her grandmother. Behave like a good pup now./" His mother warned in order to avert his mind from the pull that he felt. He was too young to step in that role. Also, the girl belonged to a different territory and didn’t hold a wolf as her spirit. Edward was young, still, he caught that scent of the moon because he belongs to the strongest bloodline of Lycanthrope and is a future Alpha King. He has the sharpest senses and reflexes. Grunting, he jumped off his mother’s lap and in next second appeared in front of Queen Gayatri, who almost had a seizure watching him pop all of a sudden.

/"Grandma Gayatri, can I look at the doll?/" he asked excitedly keeping his voice low making the old woman frown. Confusion dawned on her features as she looked at the firstborn of Alpha King Octavius.

/"What doll are you talking about, son? I don’t follow./" She mumbled affectionately not daring to touch him, respecting the rules of Lycanthrope. The males shouldn’t be touched by a female that isn’t family.

/"The one, sleeping on your lap./" At his answer, her eyebrows raised high and she gulped. She stared at his expectant figure for some time and then nodded.

/"You may./"

/"Can I hold her too? I swear I won’t wake her up./" He promised and before Gayatri could answer, his mother, Luna Amara appeared smiling and lifted him up in her arms.

/"No. You can’t touch her, son. That’s not right at the moment. You see, she is still an infant, just 3 days old. You may look at her since Queen Gayatri gave you permission./" She mumbled and kissed his cheek. He nodded with a sigh and finally took a good look at his doll. His lips parted immediately watching small pouty lips open partially. The chest of his doll heaved as she breathed slowly. She was so small and so delicate. He saw how her fingers were wrapped around Queen Gayatri’s thumb. A smile broke on his chubby face noting she was drooling too.

/"My doll./" He whispered in amazement stiffening his mother, who chuckled later and corrected him.

/"She isn’t a doll, Edward. She is Princess Devi./"