Lenny's movements froze momentarily as she peeped through the glass, rapidly blinking at what she saw. She had told Adrianna to leave the Master alone and the bitch was with him and that also not alone—there were about ten servants who stood around the bed. She couldn't believe this was happening. She clung to the potion she was carrying. She didn't know what to do next because it was important for the Master to have the potion in order to energize himself. His body was icy cold, which meant that if he didn't feel warm soon, he wouldn't be able to perform magic. Lenny peered inside once again. She rubbed her eyes to reaffirm what she saw. Lenny stroked her throat in a self-soothing gesture as her mind raced on what to do next.
Adrianna drew her eyebrows together and moved closer to Dmitri. He was lying on the bed in a state of dizzy. She leaned in to observe him better. "Dmitri, please have this drink. Look, the Healer is here to treat you."
Vikra let out a long exhale. He was agitated at Adrianna. He wanted Lenny to be there. He was feeling so weak that his limbs were sprawled on the bed. Lifting a finger drained his energy. He closed his eyes in order to give a message to Adrianna to not enter his personal space, to go away but she was insistent. He was all the more angry that there were ten servants apart from the Healer standing all around him. Even if he wanted, he couldn't create ruckus or else she would suspect. He had to wait for the right time to strike her. So he stayed quiet and withdrew in himself.
"Are you okay?" came another question. She held the glass in front of him and said, "Have this drink. It will warm up your body and give you more energy. The Healer has specially prepared for you. You have to attend the grand feast and it won't look nice if you look ill. If the Chiefs see that their Alpha is unwell, they might start making plans about dethroning you."
Vikra gave a vicious smile on the inside. He needed to become warm and that is what Adrianna exactly was providing. He nodded faintly. With the help of the servants, he was seated on the bed with pillows propped up behind him. Adrianna offered him the drink, which he sipped slowly.
At the same time Lenny was happy that Adrianna had offered him a drink to energize his body. She chuckled on the inside and stepped back but something happened that shouldn't have. She stumbled upon a small pot that she didn't notice. It was too dark on the outside. The sun had completely set in the horizon and few strayed stars shone across the inky sky.
Adrianna turned to look towards the glass balcony door immediately. "Who is there?" she asked loudly in a stern voice.
Lenny smacked her head and immediately got sucked in the vortex to go to her room.
Adrianna rushed out and looked around but there was nothing. She closed the door behind her and went back to check upon Dmitri. When Dmitri finished his drink, Adrianna asked the servants to help him change.
An hour later the guests started pouring in the gardens to gather for the grand feast. The party looked like a grand festival of lights. There were thousands of lights that illuminated brightly on the top. Aroma candles flickered wafting thick fragrance in the air that relaxed the mind. Werewolf Chiefs and their wives had come dressed in traditional attires. Soft music was flowing like a warm breeze in the spring. In various corners painters were sitting who called upon the guests to get their faces painted in traditional tattoos that could be washed away. Soon the music shifted to the conventional tunes and the crowd went to the musicians only to sway their limbs with the beats. The aroma of food perfumed the air.
Adrianna and Dmitri came out fully dressed along with Cora and Pierre. Lenny watched them from the corner of her eye. She wanted to go to the Master and make him drink the potion as soon as possible. However, the problem was that there were way too many people who gathered around the royal couple.
They sat on the high cushioned chairs that were specially crafted for them and which were placed under a pergola that had blue bell creepers climbing all around. The Chiefs would come along with their spouses and present the couple with the gifts. They praised Adrianna for saving them all from the war that could have wiped all their packs.
Lenny thought of an idea to go near her Master. She stood in the line of werewolves who wished to give them gifts and waited for her turn. As she neared the couple, she wondered as to why her Master was still looking drowsy. It made her nervous. It was possible that the drink Adrianna gave wasn't sufficient. She became impatient. After a long fifteen minutes, when her turn came, she immediately walked to him avoiding Adrianna. She shook his hands and said, "Please accept my gift also, my King." She handed him a pouch that contained the potion. There was a lot of noise around her and taking advantage, she leaned in closer and whispered, "This contains drink for your vitality."
Adrianna narrowed her eyes and tilted her head. She snatched the purse from Lenny and said, "I am sorry but you are out of line here. You cannot simply go around giving drinks to the Alpha."
She was aghast as to how Adrianna could listen to her whisper. "B- but Adrianna, this is just a small gift for Dmitri. After all he has done so much for the werewolves and I just wanted to commend his efforts," she said loudly in a slimy way so that others could listen. She wanted to gather some support for herself. So she looked around all those who became silent and watched the commotion. "Since we have had such grand celebrations in the Wizard Kingdom about your victory, it is appropriate to dedicate these festivities to Dmitri," she said waving her hand in the air.
Adrianna scoffed. She relaxed on her chair while maintaining a strong eye contact with Lenny.
Lenny was hoping for some support but to her astonishment, no one said a word against her or in favor.
And why would they?
Adrianna was not only their Luna, she was too powerful a woman to be trifled with. They had seen too many instances of how she wielded her power.
Lenny gulped. Her hands became sweaty. She cleared her throat and gave a quick, high-pitched laughter. She babbled, "I think we all like our Alpha here, don't we?" She tried to fire the crowd again but the flames she thought she would generate doused the moment they were out of her mouth. Her gaze turned to Adrianna who tilted her head to the other side still watching her like a hawk. Lenny pursed her lips and stepped sheepishly down the pergola, her face red with anger and discourtesy she faced.
The line continued to give their gifts, the music continued to flow. However, Vikra couldn't move his limbs at all. He was sitting like a puppet there, staring at everyone. Adrianna had made him drink a potion that arrested his movements completely. She suspected that something was wrong the moment she went near him. He was cold, she couldn't feel his heartbeat and when she entered his cell, it was blank, it was black.