The Hidden Luna Queen

Chapter 91

MAEVE POV

I awoke in my bed to the sensation of something brushing against my cheek.

Warm. Solid. Gentle. Ticklish, making my nose crinkle.

I was still half asleep, curled up in a comfortable pair of cotton pajamas, when I raised my hand to swat at whatever was touching me. Imagine my surprise, then, when I suddenly felt another hand enclose mine. My shock did not last, however, once I realized whose it was.

I'd recognize this hand anywhere.

"Xaden..." I murmured, fluttering my eyes open as his familiar, handsome face slowly came into focus above me.

Yes. There he was, still dressed in his lovely work attire from before. A vision, as always, even in the comforting darkness of the bedroom.

He leaned down, pressing a kiss on my forehead. "Tired, were you? I thought I saw something different in your eyes earlier."

I hummed. "It was a long morning. I just needed a nap."

The corners of his lips lifted into a small smirk. “It seems you did. It's well after five.”

-In the evening?!

A quick glance out the nearby window confirmed that it was, in fact, well into the evening. The pale blues and whites that once streaked the sky were gone, tinged instead with deep purples and oranges, wrapping around the setting sun in a warm goodbye embrace.

I reddened in embarrassment. I must have been more out of it than I thought. This pregnancy was taking quite a toll on me.

"I'm sorry," I said, wincing sheepishly as I groggily propped myself on my elbow, tufts of dark hair falling in my face. "I didn't mean to sleep for so long."

"Nonsense," he dismissed, tucking my loose hair behind the shell of my ear. "It warms me to see you rest so soundly. I would've let you sleep for the rest of the night, but I couldn't help myself. I missed you."

And cue the butterflies. They always fluttered incessantly whenever he said things like that.

I let

my

head fall into his hand, savoring his sweet touch. "It's only been a couple of hours."

"I know, but I couldn't help but feel that our moment earlier was cut short. I just..." he slowed as an uncharacteristic blush lightly dusted over his face, taking me by surprise. "I wanted to see you before it got too late, and hear how your day was."

I couldn't help but smile a little at that. I loved this gentle side of him, and felt ever so lucky to know I was one of few people graced to witness it.

"So, tell me." He gazed at me, open and expectantly, once he helped me ensure I was fully sitting upright in the bed. "How was your day?" "Well..."

I described, in detail, the unorthodox lesson I'd had with his mother earlier that morning, while Xaden listened with rapt attention, clinging to my every word and offering his thoughts when he found openings. Of course, I also reluctantly brought up the following altercation between his father and brother, which, unfortunately, was not a surprise to Xaden, although he admitted that he believed things would always be like this between them.

The thought left me with a dull ache in my heart. I wanted to help more somehow, but there was little to nothing I could do.

"I admire you wanting to help my family,” Xaden said, pulling me out of my thoughts, gazing warmly at me, "but it's not your burden to fix. I hope what happened didn't tarnish the rest of your day."

I shook my head. "It was a lot... but I'm satisfied knowing that I was there for him if he needed it. Besides, there was something else from this morning that I wanted to share with you.” After all, I saved the most important part for last.

"I had my first doctor's appointment at the women's clinic today. Everything is looking good so far with the baby, thankfully, but she had me take some tests just to be absolutely sure. All in all, I really think she's someone I want to keep seeing."

His face fell ever so slightly. "What? You had an appointment?"

Admittedly, I was taken a little aback. That was not the reaction I had been expecting.

"Yes... I... I had my first prenatal check-up for the baby," I repeated slowly, suddenly worried that I had somehow misinterpreted something. "I scheduled it yesterday and they were able 

to squeeze me in this morning." "... I see."

Why did he look so crestfallen?

"I thought you were alright with the idea," I said, confused. "Wasn't that why you brought it up in the first place?"

"It is, and I absolutely am," he answered without a moment's hesitation. “It's a marvelous idea, and I'm so proud of you for taking the initiative and scheduling that appointment," he said as he rubbed my knee, the gesture calming me down a tad, though I knew there was more he wanted to say than he was letting on. "But...?"

He huffed. "But I was hoping to be able to go with you."

"You were?"

"Of course," he said, as if any other alternative was completely unthinkable. "I want to know everything. How he's doing, how big he's growing-how you're feeling, and what steps we need to take to make this as easy and as pleasant for you as possible. I want to know how I can best help you both."

Oh.

I hadn't realized just how much this might have meant to him.

Xaden's admission, along with the way his face twisted into the most adorable, begrudging little pout, made me feel all sorts of things. Above all, I couldn't help but sink with guilt.

Because of how important and busy he was, I had wanted to try this on my own. Any chance of retaining my anonymity would be all but gone once we were mated in the coming months... but I supposed I'd failed to take into account how this decision impacted him as the father.

This was not just my baby... it was his, too.

"I'm sorry," I murmured. "I thought I could do this on my own-"

"Don't."

Xaden then grabbed onto my hands, looking as serious as I'd ever seen him. "Don't do that," he scolded, further stunning me into silence. "You are my priority. If you need me for anything-no matter how small or insignificant it might be, I will be there. Responsibilities be damned."

The hopeless romantic in me loved how sweet that sounded.

The realist in me, however, couldn't help but wonder how impossible that would truly be.

I mindlessly squeezed his hands. "Is that really okay for you to do?" I asked. "Won't you get in trouble for abandoning your duties?"

"I'm an alpha prince of this kingdom. I decide where I go and what I do, and if my Luna needs me, nothing on this planet can stop me from answering her call."

"Then... I'll call you. I promise."

He grinned. “And now you can." I watched, brimming with curiosity, as he turned to grab something from behind him on the bed that I had failed to miss in my still slightly drowsy state. He turned to face me once more, saying: "Hold out your hand."

Puzzled, I obeyed, when he delicately placed the mysterious object there.

I blinked, my jaw falling open.

It was a cellphone. The same silver-sleeked touchscreen that Sarah had, but a newer model.

"For me?" I couldn't help but ask, feeling flustered with excitement.

"Why wouldn't it be? Everyone needs a phone... especially beautiful women prone to finding trouble," he teased lightly, but I could sense snippets of the truth behind his words. "Your father should've gotten you one long ago, honestly."

Father. Hmm.

I'd never had a phone before.

I'd never needed one. At least, not according to Father. If there was no reason for me to leave Moonstone unattended for any prolonged period of time, then there was no purpose in giving me the privilege of having my own phone.

Even so, who else would I have been able to call? I had no friends nor any sort of ally that I could confide in-anywhere. Until now, I supposed.

"Furthermore..." Xaden continued, completely serious this time, "I refuse to take any more chances when it comes to your safety. Surely you must understand why."

History has taught me that, with my luck and with my reputation, anything can happen. With my family and Isabelle having it out for me, it was very clear to me why he would want to take such a precaution.

That being said, the gesture was... "Yes. I do."

heartwarming.

"So, please..." he beseeched, clasping my hands and the phone within his own. There was a tone of urgency to his voice that made me listen. "If you ever need something, or if you feel like you're in any sort of trouble, no matter how big or small... please—” he emphasized, "I want you to call me."

This really meant a lot to him.

I nodded. "Okay. You'll have to show me the ropes," I said, finally allowing myself to smile, holding tightly onto the phone. "But... thank you. You're the only one who's cared enough to think about things like this."

"I told

you. I'll always take care of you."

I smiled so hard my cheeks were beginning to ache. I ran my thumb along the sleek edge, feeling the cool metal against my skin.

My own phone...

"I wasn't expecting something like this," I murmured. "What a nice surprise to wake up to."

Faintly, I heard him fidget across from me. "Well, actually..." he drawled, pulling my attention back to him. "There is one other thing."

My brow creased, both in puzzlement and curiosity as he dug through his pants pocket. The cellphone was already a surprise enough. What else could he possibly have gotten?

After a moment of shuffling, he pulled out a dark blue, velvet box-small enough to fit cradled in his palm. Even more peculiar than the mysterious box, however, was the faint motion of his hand trembling in the dimly lit scene of our bedroom.

Even so, who else would I have been able to call? I had no friends nor any sort of ally that I could confide in-anywhere. Until now, I supposed.

"Furthermore..." Xaden continued, completely serious this time, "I refuse to take any more chances when it comes to your safety. Surely you must understand why."

History has taught me that, with my luck and with my reputation, anything can happen. With my family and Isabelle having it out for me, it was very clear to me why he would want to take such a precaution.

That being said, the gesture was... "Yes. I do."

heartwarming.

"So, please..." he beseeched, clasping my hands and the phone within his own. There was a tone of urgency to his voice that made me listen. "If you ever need something, or if you feel like you're in any sort of trouble, no matter how big or small... please—” he emphasized, "I want you to call me."

This really meant a lot to him.

I nodded. "Okay. You'll have to show me the ropes," I said, finally allowing myself to smile, holding tightly onto the phone. "But... thank you. You're the only one who's cared enough to think about things like this."

"I told

you. I'll always take care of you."

I smiled so hard my cheeks were beginning to ache. I ran my thumb along the sleek edge, feeling the cool metal against my skin.

My own phone...

"I wasn't expecting something like this," I murmured. "What a nice surprise to wake up to."

Faintly, I heard him fidget across from me. "Well, actually..." he drawled, pulling my attention back to him. "There is one other thing."

My brow creased, both in puzzlement and curiosity as he dug through his pants pocket. The cellphone was already a surprise enough. What else could he possibly have gotten?

After a moment of shuffling, he pulled out a dark blue, velvet box-small enough to fit cradled in his palm. Even more peculiar than the mysterious box, however, was the faint motion of his hand trembling in the dimly lit scene of our bedroom.