Chapter Three
1289 Words
Maddox POV:
I sat straight in my bed, sweat pouring down my body, yet I was shaking. Shaking because of the nightmare I'd just had. I flipped on the lamp next to my bedside table and tried taking some deep breaths as my
mother had taught me.
In and out, Maddox. You'll be okay.
"Maddox?" my mother called as she knocked lightly on my door.
"Come in." My voice was hoarse like I had been screaming. Maybe I did. I'm not sure.
I saw my mom's long dark hair first as she entered. Her white night dress billowed around her small frame and her gloved hands were clutched together with worry.
"Mom? What's wrong?" I immediately left my bed and went to her. She wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tight, her shoulder shaking with silent sobs.
"Shh, It's okay mom," I tried to comfort her.
"Ruby will be home soon. She's safe in the Moonlight Kingdom."
My mother stiffened.
"You dreamt it, too?"
My blood ran cold at her words.
There was no such thing as a coincidence.
She pulled me away from her and looked me in the eye.
"You are not to say a word to your sister until we know more. We do not know the truth yet. Our dreams have a way of twisting the message. Promise me, Maddox. Promise me you won't tell her."
I gulped as her grip on my arms tightened. I knew my mom was powerful, but I didn't know we also shared this ability.
"I promise."
***
Ruby POV:
Ever since we were little Juliette and I had shared a bedroom in the castle. Now that we were older and were approaching adulthood, our quarters had been divided. We now had our own rooms and bathrooms, but they were connected by a singular door between our walls so we could be close to each other.
I dropped my luggage on the floor in my room and flopped into the light blue sheets on my bed. It still smelled like me, even though I hadn't been to the Moonlight Kingdom in a little over four months.
"Ugh, I should really just transfer here when Maddox takes the throne." I sighed, content with how everything felt so free.
"How do you know he'll take it?" Juliette asked as she sat down beside me.
"Well, he's Maddox. He's way more suited for ruling than I am. If anything, I'd take Anton's place over the royal guard. But goddess knows he'll never actually retire." I sat up to face my cousin.
"Besides, I'm just not cut out for ruling."
She slapped me lightly on the arm. "You are too. Don't say those things about yourself."
I rolled my eyes.
"I'd be more useful here anyway."
Juliette sighed. "I know I can't change your mind right now, but you never know what the future holds. Let's keep our options open, okay?"
"Fine," I conceded.
Juliette smiled. "Good. Now, our classes start tomorrow, so we have a clear schedule today. There's someone I want you to meet."
Her face slightly flushed as she said that and I noticed a sparkle in her eyes.
"Ooh, a new boy toy? I'm all in. Give me fifteen minutes to change our of this insufferable gown."
Juliette laughed, her face flaming even more, and crossed the door to her own room.
I was dressed in under five minutes in a pair of cargo pants, a tight black shirt and boots. I decided to let my fiery locks free. I couldn't tame them even if I tried.
When I walked into Juliette's room, she was just finishing spraying on perfume. She had managed her curls and was wearing form fitting jeans and a low cut pink top. I noticed she had also applied a little mascara to her lashes as well.
"Wow. He must be something special if you're actually dressing up for him," I commented.
She smacked my arm and applied another layer of gloss to her lips. Smiling, she turned to me and grabbed my arm.
"Let's go!"
We strolled through the pack lands flanked by our personal guards. They were kind of enough to stay back and give us privacy, but annoying enough that I still knew they were there.
I think they did that on purpose.
As I looked around, it was hard for me to imagine that this was once my mother's home. That she was once the secret heir to the Moonlight Kingdom. I couldn't picture her here. It was too.... calm. She fit in perfectly at Darkblood and I never would have known she wasn't from there if we hadn't learned of our parent's histories.
Juliette led me to their training arena. I appreciated the Roman colosseum type building and my ears delighted at the sound of wolves and skins training. A big smile broke out on my face. This was my place. Now I was in my element.
But instead of joining in with the other warriors, Juliette guided me toward the weights where a brown haired boy was doing some curls with his back facing us. He was tall and lean, not quite filling out his muscular frame yet. His hair hung down into his eyes and sweat dropped from his forehead. We waited while he finished his set, and when he turned around his eyes immediately locked onto Juliette. She brightened and smiled, waving like a school girl. I covered a giggle with a cough as she shot me a warning glare.
The boy put away the dumbbells and jogged over. He stopped just before reaching us and smiled at Juliette. His green eyes assessed her appearance and his pupils dilated slightly. I rose my eyebrow, shocked at him for checking her out so bluntly.
"Hi Garrett," Juliette greeted.
"Hey," he replied smoothly in a husky voice.
"This is my cousin Ruby, from the Darkblood Kingdom."
His eyes shifted to me for the first time and his face looked shocked. I put my hand on my hips and raised my eyebrow.
Something about this boy felt off.
"Nice to meet you," I finally greeted.
"Yeah, uh, you too. So what are you doing in Moonlight?"
I shrugged my shoulders.
"Decided a change of scenery would be good for me. I intended to train and learn during my time here."
Garrett's back stiffened at my words. I glanced at Juliette but she didn't seem to notice.
"Well, we certainly are glad to have you here."
"I appreciate that. I'm sure I'll be seeing a lot of you during my stay," I replied while subtly shifting closer to Juliette.
Garrett seemed to understand the double meaning in my words and he nodded his head before turning back to my cousin.
"I've got to finish training, but I'll see you later?" He glanced in my direction again.
"Definitely," she replied with a smile.
He left us then and we turned to head back to the palace.
"What do you think?" Juliette asked excitedly.
"He's... something!" I tried to sound chipper but she didn't notice the hesitation in my answer.
She told me all about how they met and what she knew of him during our stroll, but I couldn't stop looking over my shoulder.
Something wasn't right, I could feel it in my gut, and my intuition was screaming to be careful around him.
I glanced back once more to see him watching us leave with a look of frustration and anger. I caught his eye and he ducked down, pretending to be working out still.
I faced Juliette and smiled as she continued to talk.
Whatever this feeling was, I would be sure to find out what was causing it.
- Writer
