Bewitching The Alpha King

Chapter 23

"Seems like you two are bonding pretty well" Arthur noted as he watched Elise feed the Phoenix some grapes bravely. It has been only a few days since he introduced her to Deja and now they have grown closer to each other.

Mostly because Deja would always fly away towards Elise and wrap itself around Elise's warmth, making up for all the time they had missed. And to his surprise, Elise didn't look bothered at all. In fact, she actually looked excited every time Deja approached her.

"Your highness" Elise fed the last piece of grape to Deja and looked up at him, "I didn't know I could get such a friend like Deja. Such a magnificent creature, Deja is" She continued, stroking Deja's beautiful yet strong feathers.

Elise and Arthur were in a room that Arthur had specifically chosen to paint in there. Elise was teaching him the basics first, that is to create strokes first before starting to paint a specific thing. She has been teaching him for the last two days, continuously but for some reason, it felt like Arthur was deliberately making it hard for her to teach him.

He would ask her to do weird things, claiming he would understand better if she does that. For example, he had asked her to hold onto his hand and start gliding the paintbrush onto the canvas. It may sound like an easy thing but he had a free hand on her left hip when that happened, making it hard for her to concentrate.

He even asked her to hum a song under her breath because he thought that hearing her sing a song would make him feel relaxed and help him with the painting.

Nadine wasn't kidding when she said that teaching the King would be harder than she thought. Elise was starting to get frustrated really.

"I am quite relieved that you find friendly," Arthur said, dipping the paintbrush onto the green colour, "People got scared easily when they come face to face with Deja" He added, bringing the paintbrush to create strokes as Elise had taught him.

Elise smiled, her eyes were still on Deja as it munched the grape she gave it adorably, "Well, I can see why" She said. The beautiful creature does look menacing at first glance but it is really a harmless bird. Or that was she thought."So have you done with your painting yet?" She asked, averting her eyes to the king with a smile playing on her lips.

The king paused his strokes and looked up at her again, momentarily dazzled by the charming smile on her face. He quickly rearranged his features and narrowed his eyes on the canvas, "Well, not really but I think I am going somewhere with it" He said, raising his shoulders to shrug, "What do you think?" He asked her, pointing at the canvas.

Elise took a deep breath and mentally prepared herself for what might have come from him as she walked towards him. She went straight to stand behind him so she can look at the strokes, "Hmm, not bad for a beginner" She commented casually, studying the strokes. Arthur was finally improving after two days and even though she might look calm and collected on the outside, she was jumping in joy inside.

That meant in a few more days, she could already retire from teaching him."You have to make the strokes a little smoother, though. Those lines look a little harsh" She said, pointing at some lines that looked a little rough to her, "Soft strokes first" She reminded him.

Arthur nodded, "Will you show me again?" He asked, his eyes held mirth and mischief in them.

Elise sighed and nodded her head and grabbed a paint brush from the small table in front of him, "Art doesn't have a rule, your highness. You just have to let your heart speak" She said as she created effortless strokes, "It won't be hard after you let your heart take over to do this" She said, feeling his eyes on her back.

Arthur raised his hand and put it on her hip just like the previous times and looked up at her innocently when she glanced behind to look at him, "Did you see how I created the strokes, your highness?" She asked, narrowing her on him, almost accusingly.

"I did but I would appreciate it if show it to me one more time" The king smiled up at her, flashing his pearly white teeth just right.

She felt a flicker of irritation coursing in her but she forced herself to remain calm, "Okay, your highness," She said, "Please give the strokes your undivided attention so you can do this as well" She demanded, keeping her tone professional as she glided the paintbrush on the canvas again.

Arthur watched her stroking the canvas with the paintbrush again, "Did you see that, your highness? Can you create strokes like this for me?" She asked him, glancing behind her again.

Arthur nodded his head, "I'll see what I can do" He said and Elise let out the breath she didn't she was holding, prying his hand from her hip.

"Great," She said, stepping away from him and gesturing him to start painting again as she handed him the paintbrush.

Arthur sighed and nodded his head, resuming to do what he was doing but in a much better way. He could get used to this, painting with her to ease everything that is on his mind."By the way, I heard you're doing great at the academy. Your trainer couldn't stop talking about how talented and quick-witted you are" He praised her conversationally, "It is nice to see you improving yourself constantly" He added, narrowing his eyes a little on the canvas.

Elise was gleaming in happiness when she heard that, "It's all thanks to my father really, he really made me who I am today" She said, tremendously missing her father right now. She was sure that he would be so proud to hear that.

Alpha Christian might be strict on the ground but he always made sure that she understood everything he taught her. He never made her feel like she was anything less even once so she wouldn't stop learning with him. She released a quiet sigh, wishing to feel his warmth around her again.

Of course, that didn't go unnoticed by Arthur. He knew she missed her family very much but he had something much important than that now, "I remember the time you said you would love to know about your real family" He started, and almost instantly he felt her eyes on the side his face.

"Yeah, you told me you would find someone to help me with that" She reminded him quickly, "Do you have any updates?" She asked him desperately, wanting to know more about her background.

Who are her parents? How did she end up in the Red Pride? What actually happened? These questions were always in her mind. Yes, she loved her adopted parents so fiercely but she couldn't ignore the ache she had to feel the love of her real family too.

Arthur smiled softly and put down the brush, "I actually wanted you to meet someone" He said, fixating his blue eyes on her, "He is actually has been pestering me to let you meet him for quite some time now" He added under his breath, shaking his head a little.

Elise's curiosity grew tenfold, who was so interested in meeting her? "Really?" She asked and the king nodded his head, "Who is it?" She asked.

Arthur took a deep breath before answering her, "Amos. The ancient one" He said, standing up from the chair he was sitting and stretching his muscles a little as he was in that position for about two hours now, "He is well, he knows things" He said, rolling his eyes a little.

Elise gasped, "About my parents?" She asked, pointing at herself. Does this Amos know about her parents? If he does, she needs to meet him right away. She couldn't wait to know about her parents.

"About everything in general" Arthur said, making her eyes widen in both surprise and confusion, "He is a clairvoyant" He added before she could ask him another question.

"Woah, that is so cool" She gaped. She didn't know clairvoyant existed. She only knew about them from the books she had read but she never thought there will be one in the castle.

But again, she should have expected that. The clairvoyant's power would be the most beneficial at the castle, by the king.

"Yeah, he knows that as well" Arthur grunted, "He isn't the friendliest person you will ever meet but he is thoughtful enough to share with you what he knows if he feels like he should, that is" He added quickly, not wanting her to be disappointed in case Amos couldn't find out about her parents.

"I need to meet him right now," Elise said, brushing away the loose hairs that fell onto her face. There was some paint on her fingers and she had unknowingly smeared it on the side of her face while she did so.

Arthur's eyes were amused again, even if her beauty was temporarily tainted with green paint, she still managed to look beautiful as ever, "Well, for that you need to have a clean face first" He smiled, knowing she would be confused at first.

"What?" Elise asked, "My face is clean right?" Elise asked him unsurely, touching her face again and making the smear even worse.

Arthur chuckled softly and bent down to pull a few tissues from the table before crossing the distance between them in a flash, "Well, you don't want to be covered in paint when you're meeting one of the most important people in the castle" Arthur whispered to her, bringing the tissue to her face and starting to wipe the smear away.

Elise was, of course, taken aback by the sudden gesture. Her heart started to hammer against her chest and there were butterflies in her stomach, "What are you doing?" She asked in a small, timid voice.

"Cleaning your face of course. You look beautiful even with the paint on your face" He grinned at her, making her chuckle softly.

"Well, thank you, Arthur," She said boldly, surprising him and also herself, "But I think I can do that by myself" She grinned, reaching up her hand to take the tissues away from him but stopped herself when she noticed his burning gaze on her.

Arthur's fingers froze against her cheeks and his eyes widened as he stared at her in shock. This was the very first time he heard his name being called in a very long time. That too, his mate was the one who had used his name, "What did you say?" Arthur whispered, his eyes never leaving hers.

"You were the one who asked me to call you by your name if we are alone" She reminded the king, suddenly worried if he didn't approve of her, "I am sorry, your highness" She apologized right away, bowing her head slightly.

"Say that again" Arthur demanded, his heart was in his throat. He was nervous, excited, and happy at the same time that he thought he would combust into nothing.

"I am sorry, your high-" She started but her voice died in her throat when the king interrupted her abruptly.

"Not that, say my name again!" Arthur urged her, placing a finger under her chin and lifting her face so he could look into her eyes again, "Please, say my name again" He begged her once their eyes met.

For a second, Elise didn't know how to breathe. His plea was so painful to even hear and she didn't even know why but she wanted him to stop begging her, "Arthur" She said, the name rolling off from her tongue in an exotic way, resulting in the desire to grow in impossible heights in Arthur.

Arthur gasped, "Again, please" He begged, tightening his arms around her body, trying not to shift into his wolf right then and there. His wolf was overjoyed as well, lost in the moment. He pulled her into his arms, snaking his strong arms around her securely making her let out a soft gasp.

This is where she belonged. In his arms, by his side.

The two of them were breathing raggedly, overwhelmed by the emotions they were feeling. His warm breath was fanning on her face and so did hers, immobilizing the two momentarily in their own little world.

Who knows the simple act of his name coming out from her luscious lips could have this effect on him and his wolf? He and his wolf were too lost in an emotion that is foreign to them.

Love, desire, and acceptance.

Isn't this what he had yearned for a long time now? Isn't she a gift to him from the moon goddess herself? Isn't she?

Elise's eyes fluttered close as she too felt a sudden irresistible impulse to reach out to him, to touch him just a little. Just to brush her fingers ever so lightly on his face...

"Arthur" She gasped, allowing herself to feel whatever she was feeling for once. It felt wrong but at the same time, it feels right as well. She wanted to be with him, at this moment, she wanted nothing else but to be with him, in his arms.

And as if the last straw of self-control has been stripped away from him when he heard his name again coming from the lips that he desired for three painful weeks now, Arthur found himself descending his lips onto her beautiful ones.

Something he wanted to do since the moment he laid his eyes on her. Something he should have done a long time ago.