The Dead Luna

Phoenix:

Sebastian!

It was not what he said but how he said it.

I felt a jolt in my chest, and something deep stirred in my heart.

Jai smirked but didn’t remark as if he didn’t believe the king.

"Phoenix spends the night with no one, your highness," Jai kneeled on the ground, but his words were bold enough to annoy the king.

"And I’m not a no one," There was amusement in King Sebastian’s voice, and I wished I could shake both of them.

Jai’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t say anything out of respect. He got to his feet and turned to me, "I’ll walk you to your..."

"No need," Sebastian cut him, "I’ll walk her to her room."

Jai’s eyes turned towards me, asking me silently to speak up. But right now, I needed to stay neutral.

Those four cruel women were already my enemies, and I couldn’t afford a fifth one.

Jai’s eyes were still on me, waiting for my response, "Phoenix?"

"It’s fine," I swallowed hard, trying to make him understand that this was not the time for this competition, "I can go there by myself."

Jai looked back at Sebastian as if trying to weigh his thoughts.

Oh, Jai. Don’t offend him. You know you’re being stubborn.

"Your highness," he tried to control his emotions, "I ... I don’t know what games you’re playing..."

Was he insane? Why was he acting like my boyfriend?

"Enough!" Sebastian King warned him silkily with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. Those golden orbs flared, not with anger but something dark.

I could sense that he was trying to control his Lycan. It was obvious that his Lycan liked me. But I couldn’t explain the beast... that behind that mask, lived a girl who was the ugliest in this world.

"Can you two please stop?" I stepped forward between them, "Just stop acting like I’m not here at all."

Jai was rolling his tongue inside his mouth, not accepting my no. Though he knew that I never liked this side of him.

"Please don’t go with him," This time, he acted as if Sebastian wasn’t there, "I don’t trust him."

A low growl erupted from Sebastian’s chest, his lycan claws burst through the back of his hand, slicing his skin.

Before I could even blink, he lunged.

"No!" I shouted at the top of my lungs.

Sebastian’s clawed hand slammed into him, sending him crashing into the tree with a thud.

"Oh, Goddess," I ran to Jai, but Sebastian was faster. His claws now rolled over Jai’s neck, making him writhe in pain.

"P...please... leave him," I placed my hand on Sebastian’s wrist. Jai was clearly in pain, and they both were staring into each other’s eyes.

This time, I could see Jai had given up, but he wasn’t able to speak due to the pressure of Sebastian’s hand on his neck.

" Sebastian!" I called him softly, rubbing my hand on his arm that was holding Jai, "Sebastian, please... leave him."

Sebastian seemed to go rigid under my touch. His Lycan slowly turned to me and looked into my eyes, "You..." it whispered, "You called me Sebastian."

What?

I blinked in confusion.

Sebastian let the neck go and straightened. His beast had gone back, and now Sebastian was standing there with a big smile on his face.

Was he crazy?

"Thank you," he cupped my face in his hands, "My Lycan liked that," his gaze darted towards Jai, who was sitting up, holding his neck where I couldn’t see anything serious except some marks that I was sure his werewolf could heal.

"Jai," Sebastian spoke in a voice that was now devoid of any anger, "If you are angry at me for walking her back to the quarter, then let me give you a good reason to hate me."

Good Goddess. What was he up to?

Jai got up from the ground and bared his neck in submission, "And what is it, your highness?"

Sebastian said with a straight face, "Last night we slept together. On the same bed, hugging each other."

My eyes flew to the face of the ruler of Velmora Kingdom.

He sighed and raised one shoulder with a smile, "And the best thing was... we weren’t wearing anything... Wasn’t it fun, Phoenix?"

***

I bolted up in my bed with a racing heart, and for a second, I forgot where I was.

The knocking didn’t stop as if someone was trying to break the door.

Urgh. My head was throbbing.

Last night, I walked to my room alone after asking Sebastian not to follow me. Thankfully, he granted me the wish, but still, I kept looking over my shoulder to see if he was following me.

And now someone didn’t like it that I was sleeping peacefully.

"It’s only damn four o’clock in the morning!" I muttered, dragging myself out of bed and putting on the mask. Stomping to the door, I yanked it open.

Oh, brother.

Of course.

It was Kiara.

"Have you forgotten?" she shot me with a cold glance, "You’re a warrior and you need to be at the borders. We can use some extra hands."

Extra hands. Huh?

As a head warrior, shouldn’t she be the one providing extra hands to the patrolling guards? But look at her. Still wearing her pajamas!

I blinked at her and pasted a fake smile on my face, "Sure, boss," I gave her a lazy salute.

Rolling her eyes, she marched off.

This was all a plan. I knew it. They wanted to take that anger out, and this was just a trailer.

"I’m not going anywhere," I said under my breath. Enough was enough.

I closed the door slowly and plopped face-first into the pillows.

Ouch!

The bed had turned uneven and hard under my body.

Frowning, I shifted a little. There was something under me, and that wasn’t my mattress.

I reached up and pulled the sheets aside.

The face I least expected appeared before my eyes. Sebastian was sleeping there peacefully, like he owned my bed.

Before I could utter a word, his strong arms pulled me to him. Goddess. He wasn’t wearing a shirt.

And then it clicked. He must have seen my face.

No, Goddess. Please.

"Don’t worry," he said sleepily, his voice muffled against the pillow, "I didn’t see your face. You can remove the mask now and ... stop wiggling your ass, love. Go to sleep."

I was looking at him in shock.

"Didn’t I tell you that from now on you’ll be sleeping beside me?" He let out a soft sigh, "Haven’t slept this peacefully in my entire life," his strong arms pressed me against his naked chest.

I stayed rigid for a few minutes and then, at last, eased into his hold. And then something crossed my mind that must have brought a wicked smile to my lips.

Kiara wanted to be a royal warrior, and the way she just treated me...

I didn’t think King Sebastian would consider her now.