The Hidden Luna Queen 2

"I... have no idea what I'm doing," I admitted with a helpless laugh.

She gave me a small smile, putting down her own project and scooting ever so closer to me. "You see, you take the colored strings you want, and then you tie a knot at the top here," she said, pointing at the end of my batch of strings and watching as I followed her instructions. "Make sure it's nice and tight. Now, you weave them together, like this-" She picked up her strings and demonstrated for me. "This," she said, holding one string, "crosses over this one. And this one over here crosses over this one. And you continue the motions until you get to the end."

I watched her work before turning my attention back to my own. There were a lot of steps to remember, but it all sounded so simple when she put it like that.

"Okay... I think I got it." I smiled up at her. "Thank you...?"

"I'm Clara."

"Maeve," I offered.

"I don't believe I recognize you. Are you mated to a soldier?"

"I'm engaged. We're still waiting to be mated," I said, avoiding any specifics, since it wasn't of any particular importance here. Another girl-young with curly, dark hair and a cream, floral dress-leaned in. To avoid an incomplete reading experience, visit Jobn'i'b.com. “ hope you're ready for what's to come," she muttered before returning to her drawing. "Being mated to a soldier is no easy task, especially with what they've been saying on the news about this war."

Instantly, the memory of that talk I'd had with Xaden some days ago sprung to mind. He'd tried so hard to hide the truth from me, but I could see it in his eyes... just how much he dreaded the thought of what could happen.

Of what could be close to becoming our reality.

I twirled the strings around my fingers. "It's scary," I admitted. "Not knowing if they'll be okay or not."

"Tell me about it," the curly-haired girl mumbled, her pencil slowly coming to a stop. "I worry every night might be our last. If we really do go to war, I'm afraid I'll never see my Noah again."

An older woman at our table shushed her. "Don't jinx things, Eloise," she scolded, prompting said girl to quickly snap her mouth shut. "You should have faith in our great monarch and his army. No matter what happens, they will take care of everything." "There's nothing wrong with being afraid," I insisted, pulling the attention of the table back to me. "That's what makes us all ... normal."

The woman stared at me curiously before trimming the leaves off a rose stem. "Why on earth is that? That certainly wouldn't do me any good with my husband on the alpha council."

I smiled ruefully. Little did she know my future mate was her superior.

"I don't want to hide my burdens behind him," I admitted, filled with thoughts of Xaden as I continued to weave my bracelet. "I want to share his. I want him to know he's not alone-that I'm his partner in this, through and through. After all," I continued, glancing up at the ladies around my table, "isn't that what makes us Lunas? Not by hiding behind our mate, but by standing beside him?"

To my surprise, the rest of the table was stunned silent.

I blinked. Had I said something wrong...?

But then Clara spoke up. "You have a wonderful way of looking at things, Maeve."

Eloise agreed with a bright, curious smile.

Even the seasoned Luna had nothing to counter. "It sounds like this fiancé of yours is quite the lucky wolf. Does he share your sentiments?"

Shyly, I opened up to the table, and this was one of the rare times I felt like I could fit in with a group of strangers. Maybe... just maybe... I could do this Luna Princess thing. MAEVE POV

The rest of the morning flew by, and before long, I found myself with an adequately made bracelet and a mildly dry throat from all the talking I'd done.

I survived the lesson. I still wasn't sure how, but I did... and it felt so natural. Not once did I feel like I had to put on a mask or pretend to be someone I wasn't.

I was just... me.

Once I was alone, watching a few of the girls and Charlotte start to collect some of the projects that had been left behind, I felt Queen Leonora's presence approach me. "That wasn't so terrible now, was it?" she asked, gazing at me carefully.

"I... actually really liked it," I admitted. "I've never been able to just... talk to other girls like that.”

And I got a cute, handmade bracelet out of it, I silently added.

"I know I warn you and Charlotte about being careful with the people you talk to, especially when you fully enter our world, but it is possible to make friends. And, as you can see,” she said, gesturing to the unknowing figures of the girls I'd sat with,” there are plenty who will enjoy your company. Do you know why?"

I shook my head.

"Because you're an empath. People are naturally drawn to your kindness, even if they don't quite yet realize why, but we can sense these things. People recognize those who are naturally good, just as easily as those who are naturally... not. It's a gift, Maeve, even though it may sometimes feel like a burden."

"That... that's not what I was told growing up," I said, trying to ignore the thick, familiar feeling that arose in my chest whenever I was reminded of my family. "It's funny how tightly words can stick to you, even if you try with all your might to shake them off." Queen Leonora rested a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Then don't waste your energy trying to shake them off," she said, taking me by surprise. “Instead, write even bigger words on top of them, or next to them, or wherever you'd like. Keep them, and let yourself see just how wrong they were to say that to you."

I blinked, squeezing the bracelet tucked within my hands. "I will."

With a few parting words, Queen Leonora left to go speak with some of the older women who'd been waiting for her. And when Charlotte passed by with her arms full of sketchbooks and art supplies, I couldn't help but reach out. "Are you sure you don't want my help?"

"You're not lifting a finger," she said firmly. "Haven't you heard that rule about heavy lifting while pregnant?"

I hummed. "You really are like your brother, you know."