The Luna He Forgot

Chapter 4: King Meets Axia

Before the sun came up, I slipped out of the tower and hurried home. I didn’t dare go through the main entrance. Instead, I went straight to the washhouse. Thankfully, the door was always unlocked.

I slipped inside without any of the guards noticing and immediately returned to the mountain of clothes I’d abandoned that morning.

By the time the household woke, I was done. I had barely finished wringing out the last piece when footsteps approached.

Alexa entered first, Mother followed behind her.

They both stopped when they saw me.

“Where were you yesterday?”

My heart jumped, I lowered my eyes.

“I had the flu.” I said softly. Mother frowned. “So I stayed in the treehouse.” I added. She walked toward me and placed a hand against my forehead. Thankfully, I’d spent hours washing clothes in the cold water, so my body was burning. Mother’s expression changed.

“You really do have a fever.” She responded, I nodded weakly.

“I told you I wasn’t feeling well.”

She sighed.

“I would have sent you to your room, but we have an important guest arriving today.” Her face suddenly brightened.

“And it’s important that you see who your sister’s future husband will be.”

I froze, her future husband. Also known as the King of all Eradel.

Mother smiled.

“It’s a big day today!”

She looked me up and down.

“Wear that dress I bought you.”

“Last year?” I said, as I remembered that I the old dress was ripped to shreds yesterday.

“It’s torn at the seam.” I hesitated.

“But I have another one I can wear.” I glanced at the drawer I kept the new dress the stranger got me.

“Hm.”

She didn’t seem particularly interested.

“Then wear that.”

She turned toward Alexa.

“Come, Alexa. We have a lot to do.” She said, they walked away.

I remained standing beside the wash basin. My fingers slowly tightened around the wet cloth.The Alpha King was coming, tonight, I would finally see him.

—————————————————————

It felt like a dream. The noise of carriages and horses outside, the crowd calling his name and Mother rushing around in her most expensive dress, fussing over every little detail. I would have told her to relax but she would have told me to shut up, so I said nothing. I simply stood there and watched her in silence.

The dining hall was enormous, decorated in ivory and deep burgundy. My late stepfather had been a high-ranking general, respected throughout all of Eradel. Even after his death, his name still carried enough weight to fill our home with nobles. Sometimes I still wondered how a human like me had ended up in a world like this.

But somehow, I was here.

Ava looked like she belonged here. She wore flowing light-blue and silver robes that complimented her figure perfectly. Her golden curls fell all the way down her back, making her look like some goddess who had stepped out of a painting.

“You look beautiful,” I told her, smiling.

She rolled her eyes.

“Axia, the best thing you could do for me today is not breathe around me.” She examined her fingers as though I wasn’t there.

Noted, don’t speak to Ava today, or ever. Still, I couldn’t stop smiling when I remembered the dress I was wearing, the one he had bought it for me.

I knew I’d probably never see him again.

But I was glad I’d met him.

I only him as “he” and “him”, I wondered if I’d ever know his name. For one night, I had been free. Now I stood among the servants, holding a tray of food because Mother had decided there would be no room for me among the guests.

She needed my help serving. I hadn’t been given a choice, even when I’d told her I was sick. But there was one good thing about being here. I would get to watch the Alpha King choose Ava with my own eyes. At least I get to see what the man that rules half of the continent looks like.

Then—

The doors opened and the room fell silent. He walked in wearing white and gold and military regalia covering his broad frame, the royal insignia gleaming against his chest.

I barely looked up, until I saw his eyes.

Golden.

My fingers tightened around the tray.

No.

My heart literally almost stopped…that face, that voice. The stranger from last night.

My breath caught in my throat.

The King.

No…

The Alpha King, It couldn’t be. I told myself that again. It couldn’t be him…right?

He turned toward my mother and Ava, exchanging pleasantries with them. Then he smiled, and his voice followed.

It was HIM.

My stomach dropped.

Suddenly, everything came rushing back.

His laugh, his hands between my thighs and his lips on mine…and the way he’d looked at me and whispered to me.

Curses. I’m in so much trouble, I thought to myself. The man I’d spent the night with was the Alpha King and he was here to choose my sister.

My hands started shaking, I couldn’t breathe. The tray slipped from my fingers and crashed onto the floor causing everyone to look for where the noise came from. I didn’t wait, I ran—pushed through the doors and stumbled outside, my heart pounding so hard it hurt.

What was happening?

—————————————————————

I stood outside the washroom, seriously reconsidering every decision I’d made in the last twenty-four hours. Oh my goodness!

The only man I’d ever slept with was marrying my sister. What if he thought I was some kind of shameless woman? What if he recognized me? How was I supposed to stand in the same room and watch him marry Ava?

Maybe I should just disappear before anyone found out. Although…

I hadn’t eaten nearly enough pomegranate pie to die yet. Honestly, life was so unfair.

“Axia! Where are you?”

I froze.

The chief maiden.

“I’m coming! Just taking some air. I’ll be back soon!” I called.

“Your mother needs you. The food will be served soon, so you’ll have to help with the guests.”

Of course, She wasn’t particularly mean or kind. She simply followed orders, as reliably as the sun rose every morning.

I closed my eyes and took three deep breaths.

You’re fine, Axia.

Except I wasn’t.

I walked back inside anyway.

————————————————————

Everyone was seated at the table. The King sat at the far end, with my mother opposite him. Ava sat nearby, looking every bit like the Luna she was determined to become. Several dignitaries filled the remaining seats.

I stood with the servants, collected a veil from one of them to cover my face.

Then came the signal for the starters. I picked up the first dish and instinctively headed toward my mother.

She stared at me, then glanced toward the King.

Him first. Of course.

My stomach twisted. I didn’t want to go anywhere near him. What if he recognized me? My hands were already trembling, Mother gave me the look.

Serve him.

I swallowed and walked toward the King. Ava was beside him, talking effortlessly, flashing that beautiful killer smile. She looked completely at home.

I wanted to disappear. So I pulled the veil over my face and lowered my head. Don’t look at him. I told myself. I stepped closer and his scent hit me, my heart nearly stopped. I placed the dish before him, trying desperately to keep my hands steady.

Just a few more seconds. I told myself.

Then I could leave. So I turned, unfortunately someone stepped on the back of my veil, it fell off, the fabric pulled away from my face revealing my long, curly silver hair spilling over my shoulders.

I looked up. He was staring at me, completely still.

His golden eyes widened and mine met his. A flashing light in his eyes, and I client see anything but him. I tried to leave but he held my hand, and I clumsily threw some cutlery on the floor, but he refused to let go of my hand. “Axia?” My mother yelled. Suddenly prompting him to let go of my hand.

“Forgive me your Majesty.” My mother continued. “My step daughter can be very clumsy.”

He just stared at me.

“Axia?”

His voice was low.

I looked up.

“That is your name?”