Rivalry

Magda's mouth falls open.
"What's her crime? Isn't it normal when a woman is attracted to a man?" she asks in amazement. "We live in the 21st century, Eric. Women nowadays show when they like a man. If Ivor doesn't feel the same way about her, he can, like a gentleman, let her know. She doesn't have to lose her job for that? Really?." The Luna turns to Saray for support. Good for me because as the King's Secretary, I am not in a position to serve the Luna of lies. One day she might confront me with those again and I don't want to damage my reputation because of an Alpha who lacks the balls to inform his mate adequately.
"Listen, let's compromise on this. Magda, Ivor is a security agent and the woman's attempt might well be deemed as if she wanted to distract Ivor for some reason. She should have played her game with more tact, not in front of everyone at the table. That's truly disrespectful," Saray enters. "Are you willing to ask her not to be around us anymore so that Ivor can continue his work without distraction?" she asks Magda. The latter has to think about it for a moment, but before she comes to a decision, judgment is sounded from an unexpected side. "She has to leave. The server needed first to find out if Ivor was already married or in a relationship. She hit on a man without knowing his personal status. We don't want those whores around you, Magda," Elena persists sternly. "Just as well she can pull this off with Esis and God knows what happens. Get rid of that whore!" she indicates.
"Elena! Language!" Magda now screaming, embarrassed at her younger sister. "What nonsense are you talking about? My husband is committed!"
But Elena does not allow herself to be dissuaded from her position. "If you don't fire her, I'll tell Esis what happened here. I don't want to see that chick around here anymore. And I mean that, Magda. Watch what I'm capable of if she's not gone by tomorrow." Everyone stares at the young girl, her confidence unusual for her age. 'Eric, what is this all about?' I hear the King-Mother in the mind link ask. 'Magda is already upset by our strange behavior. Don't make everything worse by turning her sister against her.' I look in her direction and smile. 'It's a mate thing,' I inform her short. Alarmed, she drops her spoon on the plate, grabbing all the attention. The atmosphere at the table relaxes somewhat; I breathe a sigh of relief.
With eyes wide with shock, the older woman stares at me.
'Are you sure? She's just a child, for God's sake! Are you guys crazy?' she roars into my mind. I clutch my head and try to suppress a headache. 'King-Mother, it's not on me. Please consult Selene, she's the one creating couples,' I refer to her. Anger draws on her face. 'Don't outsmart me, Secretary. Know your place,' she now bites to me furiously. 'If he touches her, I'm the executioner myself. His head goes off! You both try me out!' I shake my head. 'Not a chance. He won't even look at her, let alone touch her. Ivor hates the situation himself. Six or seven years of celibate waiting for a mate is not really what he imagined. He sees this as a punishment, hence his reaction,' I update the woman. She is silent now and stares at her plate.
The changing facial expressions and aura of Alidya and I have not escaped Magda's notice.
She moves closer to Saray as if seeking protection. The Queen strokes her back a few times reassuringly. "It's okay, Magda," I hear her whisper to the Luna. "Send the servant away. Keep the peace in your house, especially now that Elena threatens to tell Esis about this. It is not worth the drama to keep her here; in fact, Elena is right. Although I trust Esis completely, keeping such a woman in your house is not healthy". Oops, I think someone just became unemployed. The Queen has spoken. Elena is her friend by heart and I foresee some changes emerging in the Palace if the girl is able to greatly influences the Queen at such a young age. The power shifts will be enormous if Ivor's mate can get the Queen to revise her judgment. A strong Secretary is needed for the next King, I am now in a terrible hurry to take care of my offspring. We must avoid getting Rasputin figures in the Palace, although I have no sense of evil with the child and her family. But prevention is better than cure. I need a pup. Soon.
"You are right, Saray. Today is her last day. I will also pay her three times her salary," the Luna now exhales with relief. So, that's settled then, thanks to this little brat next to me. I look in her direction and see her eyes are on me too. She probably senses my mood and her subconscious warns her to be careful with me. Ooohh well, this human overestimates herself, I just have to encourage Ralph to become mentally stronger. Emotionally, he is like wax in Saray's hands, which may come in handy for the Rasputina next to me. Hmmm, Rasputina is not a crazy nickname for the girl.

Suddenly, a chair slides back hard and Elena storms out of the dining room.
Everyone stares after her, dumbfounded. "What's going on today? Am I the only normal one here in a home for lunatics?" cries Magda. "You guys are acting pretty strange. And here my sister is, also handing out the sheets, running rudely out of the dining room without permission. Damn!" Silently I stay in my chair and stretch my were-hearing. And just as I thought, the little one is in the kitchen, I bet she puts Ivor's meal together.
Yes! Good thinking.
I hear her step toward his bedroom. Goodness! I don't know if this is a good idea. Ivor, in this mood, is the man you really want to be miles away from. His bad temper is like the worst hurricane, you name it, Gilbert, Ivan, Fiona, whichever one wreaked havoc across the seas. Elena won't know what hit her when she meets the man like this.
But then I suddenly remembered that Elena was an islander.
She’d lived with her family on the island where Saray had washed ashore. And she survived up there. Storms are nothing new to Elena; she has been dallying with them all her life.
The Moon Goddess has some strange ways of weaving her plans together....