Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 54: A Toast And Lightning ()

Neveah swallowed down her reluctance and complied with Alessio’s words knowing it was not a request but an order.

There were many eyes fixed on them and many had heard his words, if she did not comply, it would stir suspicions... suspicions that would place Neveah in a difficult position.

Neveah’s rebellious heart was unwilling, she wanted to lift a fierce glare to Alessio and make it clear that she was not his maid servant or attendant.

But Neveah forced away her true side, she was so close to getting what she wanted... getting away from all of this, to finally have a chance to see the world for herself and live as it pleased her.

She would not jeopardize that chance only for a moment of defiance, no matter how tempting it was to tell Alessio off when she was fed up with his antics.

However each act of defiance she had ever porported against Alessio had ended terribly for her.

Neveah dutifully picked up the flagon of wine and refilled Alessio’s cup and all the while, Alessio’s gaze was fixed on her as though she was the only thing of interest in his banquet.

He stared at her so intently that Neveah’s hands trembled as she tried to focus on just pouring out the wine without spilling it.

When the cup was filled, she quickly set the flagon down, intertwining her fingers with one another to still the tremors otherwise the sharp eyes of the Eclipse Alphas would take notice.

’What was up with Alessio?’ Neveah wondered to herself in astonishment.

She could not help feeling uneasy about how strangely he was acting, except for when he intended to hurt her, Alessio normally maintained a great distance from her as though she carried a plague.

It was the only reason she had survived so long, she had only needed to concern herself with pleasing her father most of the time as she rarely encountered the ever busy Eclipse Prince.

And even when they did meet, he only accorded her a reluctant recognition to honor their father’s orders and nothing more, since when was he comfortable to sit right at Neveah’s side?

Even asking Neveah to pour him a glass of wine and then staring at her as though he was going to devour her any second now.

Neveah could not come up with what she had done wrong other than going into the woods and she had thought he would let go of that since today was at least his crowning banquet.

Neveah tried to be indifferent but memories of her gruesome death kept flashing through her mind, her back even ached terribly as though those claw wounds still bled and so she could not help the cold feeling of terror that gripped her.

Neveah had to grasp her hands tightly to calm herself and remain seated in such close proximity to Alessio without visibly trembling.

"Aren’t you going to drink?" Alessio asked when Neveah remained in that stiff position for a long while, keeping her gaze fixed on the table.

"I do not enjoy alcohol." Neveah replied in a low tone and Alessio scoffed beneath his breath in response.

"Understandable, this brew is potent even to wolf shifters... a human could never handle it." Alessio said and Neveah did not bother giving a response.

Alessio drank from his glass goblet before he passed it over to Neveah, staring expectantly at her.

"Alessio..." Neveah began to decline but Alessio cut her off.

"Drink Veah... tonight is my crowning banquet, as my sister, you should be seen at your happiest. Wipe that gloomy look off your face and drink." Alessio instructed in a dark tone.

"But... I can’t..." Neveah began to reason but wisely cut herself off as Alessio’s gaze darkened.

Neveah picked up the goblet and took a sip from the potent brew, cringing slightly at the burning taste that completely overwhelmed whatever flavor it was supposed to have.

Not all of the brews had such a strong taste, it was only what Alessio preferred and Neveah wondered if this was his newly decided method of torturing her.

Was it possible to choke to death from drinking a potent brew? That was the only reasonable conclusion.

"Hold it in... breathe..." Alessio guided as though he knew Neveah was about to spit the liquid right back out.

Neveah followed his guidance and forced it down her throat, shuddering visibly as she resisted the urge to break into a coughing fit.

Alessio sniggered at Neveah’s reaction before he took back his goblet and downed the rest of the content.

Again, Neveah was left feeling apaled by Alessio’s uncharacteristic actions... how could he ever be willing to share his goblet with her, drinking from the exact same goblet...

With each day that passed, his actions grew even more strange and Neveah shuddered again, hoping it was just her overthinking.

Alessio lifted a hand and called for an attendant who switched out the flagon of wine for another one and this time he filled his goblet himself before taking a sip from it.

"Try this...it tastes better." Alessio said as he once again passed the goblet over to Neveah. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Neveah prayed for patience and calm as she accepted the goblet of wine, taking a tentative sip from it rather than the large gulp she had taken before.

Neveah frowned slightly as a fruity taste exploded in her mouth, extremely mild and pleasant to her taste bud yet the kickback of this wine seemed even stronger than the last.

Neveah took another sip, the taste was much better than the last and she wondered why anyone would want to drink that over this.

"Slow down... you don’t want to get intoxicated." Alessio advised with an amused expression on his face.

Neveah rolled her eyes, if she would be forced to drink one way or the other, she would rather drink this brew than whatever the last one was supposed to be.

"You want me to drink... I am going to drink. You want me to act the part of an elated sister...well brother, you got it." Neveah said as she rose to her feet, hitting her ring lightly against the glass.

As expected the attention of all the Eclipse Alphas and that of her father and mother turned to her.

Alpha King Lothaire Raul quirked a brow at Neveah but Neveah ignored him as she cleared her throat.

"Might I have your attention please? Most of you may already know me but for those who do not, I am Neveah Omega Lothaire...Princess of the Eclipse Domain."

"It does my heart good to see all the Eclipse Alphas assembled together to celebrate the pride of the Eclipse Royal family...my brother, Alessio..." Neveah began, passing Alessio an adoring smile.

"Words will fail me to describe my joy at this moment as I have never known one more worthy than he... by birth, by honor and in all regards, he has earned the rights to the leadership of the Eclipse Domain."

"As much as I would like to celebrate him for days... I fear my strength is limited and so before the wine gets to me,"

" I shall be the first to propose a toast to Prince Royal... Alessio Terran Lothaire." Neveah announced, earning the laughter of the Eclipse Alphas by admitting she was a light weight.

Neveah then turned to Alessio and lifted her goblet to him.

"You will be granted the Creator’s blessings with no doubt ...you will make a great king brother, the Eclipse Domain is blessed to have you...may your reign flourish under the gaze of the Creator." Neveah said as she lowered her head to a bow.

"Hear, Hear!" The Eclipse Alphas echoed, pounding their fists down on the table in unison.

"To the Prince Royal!" Neveah announced.

"To the Prince Royal!" The Eclipse Alphas echoed as they all rose to their feet and lifted their goblets up.

Neveah downed the contents of her goblet first, smiling as she filled it up before the eyes of all the Eclipse Alphas and handed it over to Alessio.

Alessio accepted the goblet and got up to his feet.

"Bottoms up." Alessio said in his deep baritone before he downed the contents of his goblets and all the Eclipse Alphas did the same, breaking into cheers and applause.

And at this very moment, a peculiar phenomenon took place before the eyes of all the Eclipse Alphas.

A bolt of lightening shot through the roof itself, and all the Eclipse Alphas watched in shock and alarm as it hit Alessio directly and he released a pained groan, the goblet clattering out of his hands.

It all happened in the blink of an eye, too fast for anyone to comprehend what was actually happening as the roof remained in one piece yet there was a glow encasing Alessio.

And before all eyes, his upper robes were burned off to reveal his bare chest where the Creator’s mark slowly engraved itself one stroke after the other.

An earth shaking growl escaped Alessio’s lips as he gripped the side of the table to steady himself whilst he received the Creator’s blessings.

A blessing that had only been known to be given on the peak of Mount Vernon in all the history of the Eclipse Domain came to Alessio right here, before all eyes.