The Hidden Luna Queen 2

His brow furrowed as he slowly rose to his feet. "And why not?"

"Why should I?" she questioned. "She's never done a thing for me, nor has she been at all considerate of what I want and how I feel. She's an eyesore, and I have much better uses of my time than feeding that ego of hers." "Because she's important," Kenneth said, purposefully vague. "More important than any feud you have going on with her, so I need you to compose yourself with grace and dignity, and do this for me."

Her eyes glinted. "So she's more important to you than I am."

"She's not "

Kenneth sharply cut himself off, heaving a frustrated huff as he rubbed his hand over his jaw. While she waited expectantly for him to gather his thoughts, Isabelle's bitter frown deepened.

"On no grounds," he said firmly, leveling his gaze with her so she could see how serious he was, "could she ever begin to compare to you. You are my princess-and she is nothing but a tool. The only reason I spoke with her in the first place was because I need something, and she's the only one who can give it to me."

He watched as Isabelle's expression slowly shifted into that of disgust. "You're... you're not looking to have an affair with her, are you?"

The pure absurdity of that almost made him howl with laughter.

"Where on earth did that come from?" he questioned with a disbelieving huff, faintly amused. "I have no desire to enter that level of relationship with her, nor to break my mated bond with your mother."

"Then why?" Isabelle pressed, looking just as tense as before. "Why is she so important?"

It would certainly be easier if she knew the truth. Perhaps she might even understand the special treatment if he just explained the circumstances.

But he couldn't.

Not when he still had yet to confirm whether Maeve could do what he needed.

"Just trust me when I say," Kenneth ultimately murmured, resting his hands on his daughter's thin shoulders and forcing her to look him in the eyes-icy blue to icy blue, "having her on our side will benefit us in the long run."

The breath she took was sharp. "More than my position as a luna princess?"

His hands tightened around her shoulders, but he couldn't deny it. "Yes."

Suddenly, she pulled away from him, as if she'd been physically struck, glinting with betrayal. "Then go, have your dinner with your precious tool," she jeered, much to his surprise. "I refuse to s**k up to her."

And with that, she spun on her heel and stormed off.

"Isabelle-" he called out, stern, almost scolding, but she did not turn back around. Within seconds, she had vacated the gardens and he was left standing all alone, with nothing but yellow roses and the overbearing scent of something bitter. Well... damn.

Kenneth sighed and shoved an impatient hand over his hair, careful not to mess it up.

This certainly put a little damper on his plan. An apology, in his mind, would prove an earnest willingness and desire to be in her life and to hopefully wipe clean the slate of any past wrongdoings. Without his daughter's cooperation, Maeve's trust would require more effort to obtain.

But in the end, it mattered not.

Even if it took him a few extra months to win her trust, he would do it. For twenty years, he'd waited to meet her... had been held at arm's length, all at Burton's mercy until she was deemed ready to be turned over to Kenneth... Another month would be nothing, with him at the helm.

So, with his resolve standing strong once again, Kenneth made a beeline for the palace gates. He couldn't waste time here anymore. He had a banquet to prepare for in just a matter of hours.

However long it takes... whatever it takes... I will make you mine.