Luna felt a surge of panic. The last thing she needed was her father knowing about her encounter in the forest. Before Damien could respond, she swiftly kicked him under the table. He let out a muffled grunt, shooting her a surprised glance.
"Last night, Father," Luna said quickly, feigning innocence. "Before you arrived from the ceremony. I came in earlier, and he was waiting."
Kyllian, ever observant, didn't miss the exchange. He noted the brief flicker of pain on Damien's face and the way Luna's eyes darted nervously. His own feelings toward vampires were less than favorable. They were predatory creatures, and the fact that one was now entangled with Luna didn't sit well with him.
King Magnus nodded, accepting the explanation. "I see. Well, Luna will soon be wed to Alpha Kyllian."
Kyllian's jaw clenched, a muscle ticking as he stared at his plate. Damien's eyes darkened.
"I was thinking a winter wedding," Queen Ravena chimed in.
"Mother, let's not get ahead of ourselves," she said, forcing a strained smile. "Alpha Kyllian and I haven't even had the chance to get to know each other."
"Which is precisely why I've invited Alpha Kyllian to stay at the palace for a few days," Queen Ravena replied with a wink. "It will give you two ample time to become acquainted."
Damien's fork snapped in half with a sharp crack. The sound echoed in the room, drawing everyone's attention.
"Apologies," Damien said smoothly, though his eyes betrayed his irritation. "Sometimes, I underestimate my own strength."
Luna's patience was wearing thin. "Does anyone ask for my consent on anything anymore?" she demanded.
"We are past that, sweetie," her mother said dismissively. "Time is of the essence."
"Time is of the essence for what?" Luna pressed, her frustration mounting.
King Magnus sighed, setting down his utensils. "The kingdom faces a looming threat. Rogue vampires are turning humans and seeking to claim territory. Prince Dragos is here to assist us in fortifying our borders."
Luna's eyes narrowed. "And how does marrying me off fit into this grand strategy?"
Her father met her gaze. "We must prepare for all eventualities. Strengthening our alliances through marriage ensures the stability and future of our kingdom."
"Bullshit!" Luna snapped, pushing back her chair as she stood.
"Mind your tongue! I am still your king!" King Magnus thundered, his voice reverberating through the hall.
Luna's eyes burned with unshed tears. "Do you speak as my king or my father? Because it seems the latter has long been overshadowed by the former."
With that, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the dining room, leaving a heavy silence in her wake.
Damien watched her retreating figure, a slow smile creeping onto his lips. There was fire in his mate, a defiance that intrigued him. Kyllian, on the other hand, hid his amusement behind a sip of his drink. Luna was no meek princess, and this situation was becoming more complicated by the minute.
Good girl, they both thought, each for their own reasons.
*****
The royal training grounds were alive with movement. The scent of dust filled the air, stirred by the rhythmic drills of the royal guards. King Magnus stood atop the viewing platform, arms crossed behind his back. On either side of him stood Prince Damien and Alpha Kyllian.
"You say rogue vampires have breached our borders," King Magnus began. "I haven't encountered any. And your kind… is difficult to sniff out." He gave Damien a side glance that was not entirely unfriendly but clearly not laced with trust either. "No offense."
Damien chuckled, lifting one elegant brow. "None taken, Your Majesty. It's not easy being fabulous and undetectable."
The king raised a skeptical brow, but a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth before he rolled his eyes and returned his gaze to the sparring soldiers below. Damien knew werewolves were wary of vampires, rogues or not. But what they didn't know, they feared and what they feared, they wanted to control.
"I tracked two last night in the woods," Damien continued. "They're dead. Bodies burnt to dust. But I didn't sense any others, which means they're likely still scoping out the land, testing your defenses."
What he didn't say was that that encounter had ended with Luna almost being a midnight snack. The Princess clearly didn't want Daddy Dearest to know she'd needed rescuing. And Damien wasn't the type to ruin a lady's pride.
King Magnus exhaled slowly. He turned toward Kyllian.
"This is why the marriage must happen," the king said, nodding at the courtyard as if the fate of the kingdom were currently being carved out by training swords. "A strong leader by her side will give our enemies pause. They fear strength. Unity."
Kyllian cleared his throat. "Your Majesty, with all due respect… you are still very strong."
"Strong?" the king echoed with a dry laugh. "Yes. And also old. My back pops every morning. The lineage must continue, Kyllian. I have only one child. A girl. but still…" He paused dramatically. "The Moon Goddess was stingy with my offspring. I have to put things in place while I still draw breath. Who knows, tomorrow may be my time."
Kyllian opened his mouth to object again, but the king raised a hand. "Don't even start."
Kyllian looked like he'd rather face ten rogue vampires than try to woo Luna.
"You're young, handsome, strong." the king said, now clapping a hand on Kyllian's shoulder. "Find a way to make yourself irresistible to her."
"Your majesty, that sounds like something a male stripper would do."
"Try something simple," Magnus said, eyes twinkling with mischief. "Write her a poem. Bare your soul. Shirtless sparring works too. She's still a woman. Women love poetry. Or six-pack abs. Or sudden acts of heroism."
Kyllian sighed, his jaw tight. "Fine. But I hope we agree that it doesn't matter what I do, she is still going to do what she wills."
Prince Damien stood as still as a statue. His crimson eyes glinted beneath thick lashes. Rage boiled in his chest. Was he really expected to just stand there while his mate was handed over to that overgrown pup?
He'd always thought he had a pretty solid grip on his emotions. But nothing had prepared him for watching the one woman the fates had chosen for him to be handed out so disrespectfully. He wanted to rip his fangs Kyllian's smug face.
As if the Moon Goddess enjoyed teasing him, Luna arrived just then. She was radiant without even trying, her posture regal yet effortlessly casual as she stepped on the pther side of the platform. Her dark hair was swept into a loose braid that trailed over one shoulder, and the attire she had on gave her the aura of a warrior queen in waiting.
Her presence alone made time hesitate.
Behind her, her maids scrambled to set up her seating area. Luna took a seat, crossed one elegant leg over the other, and tilted her head ever so slightly, eyes focused on the sparring warriors with the keen interest of someone who'd fight right alongside them if the moment called for it.
Damien stared at her, completely captivated. Where he came from, princesses were treated with such fragility, you would think they would crack if you pressed with one finger on their skin. But Luna was different. She didn't want luxury, she wanted purpose. She didn't desire to be worshipped, she wanted to be respected.
"There she is," King Magnus said, snapping Damien out of his reverie with a firm clap on Kyllian's back. "Go." He shoved the reluctant Alpha forward. "While I discuss further with Prince Damien."
Once the Alpha was out of earshot, Damien turned to the king. "You do not want her to find her mate naturally?"