Rejected Luna Queen

Nesta’s POV

I woke up the next morning, groggy and disoriented, expecting to find myself back in my room. But as I blinked my eyes open, I realised I was still in Nolan’s bed.

The familiar scent of his cologne lingered in the air, a mix of cedar, pine and something uniquely his. I was safely tucked under the duvet, the warmth of the blankets a stark contrast to the emptiness beside me.

His side of the bed was cold, the sheets ruffled, indicating he had left a while ago. I sighed, a mix of emotions swirling within me.

There was a small, irrational part of me that had hoped he would still be here, maybe offering some semblance of comfort after the intensity of the night before.

But reality had other plans. It was clear that I was just a body to him, a mistress to satisfy his needs, nothing more. Why didn’t he take me back to my room though?

I pulled the duvet tighter around myself, the softness of the fabric doing little to ease the ache in my chest.

The events of the previous night replayed in my mind–the way he had taken me with such raw passion, the way my body had responded to his every touch.

Despite my resolve to keep my heart out of this, I could feel it breaking a little more each time he treated me like this.

Why did I keep hoping for more? Why did I let myself believe, even for a second, that there could be anything beyond the physical between us?

I was doing this to protect Luca, Elara, and my unborn baby, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to separate my emotions from the act.

I pushed myself up, my body aching from the night’s exertions. My fingertips brushed against the bruises on my waist, a physical reminder of Nolan’s rough touch.

The thought of him taking me back to my room, only to wake up here, made me clench my fists in frustration. He was drawing a line, keeping emotions at bay, but it was tearing me apart.

I needed to be stronger. If he wanted a mistress, then that’s what he would get. But I would protect my heart. I wouldn’t let him see how deeply he was affecting me.

No more letting my guard down. I would keep my feelings buried, no matter how hard it was. Instead I got dressed in my robe and went back to my room.

I glanced back at the empty bed one last time before leaving the room, a silent promise to myself. Nolan might have the power to control my body, but I wouldn’t let him break my spirit. Not again.

A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts as soon as I entered my room, and Maria walked in, her usual calm demeanour a welcome sight.

“Good morning, my lady. The Queen Mother asked me to get you dressed for the day. She’s expecting you.”

I nodded, forcing a small smile. “Thank you, Maria. I’ll be ready in a moment.”

As Maria helped me get dressed, I pushed my emotions aside, focusing on the tasks ahead. There was no room for vulnerability here.

I had to keep my resolve, for my sake and for the sake of those I loved.

I made my way to the Queen Mother’s chambers, my mind still swirling with the tumultuous emotions from this morning.

As I approached, I took a deep breath, steadying myself. Whatever she wanted to discuss, I needed to keep my composure. The corridors of the palace seemed especially quiet today, adding to my growing sense of unease.

I knocked gently on the door before entering. The Queen Mother was seated at her writing desk, her posture regal as always. She looked up as I entered, a warm smile spreading across her face.

“Good morning, Nesta,” she greeted me, her voice soft and welcoming. “How are you today?”

“I’m well, thank you,” I replied, forcing a smile. “You wanted to see me?”

“Yes, indeed. I wanted to ask you about the art room. How do you like it?”

My heart skipped a beat at the mention of the art room. The memory of seeing it for the first time, feeling a rush of gratitude and surprise, came flooding back.

“I love it,” I said sincerely, a genuine smile tugging at my lips. “It’s perfect. Thank you so much for arranging it.”

The Queen Mother’s eyes twinkled with a secretive glint, and she gave me a smile that seemed to hide something deeper.

“I’m glad you like it. It’s important for you to have a space where you can create and express yourself.” She grinned.

Her tone was kind, but there was something else there, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

She had always been a bit of an enigma to me, her actions sometimes unpredictable. This secretive smile of hers only added to the mystery.

“I appreciate it more than you know,” I said, trying to decipher the meaning behind her smile. “It’s exactly what I needed.”

She nodded, a knowing look in her eyes. “Good. Very good. You deserve to have something of your own in this place.”

There was a moment of silence, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that she knew more about the art room’s creation than she was letting on.

Was she aware of the room being close to Nolan’s? Had she orchestrated it herself?

“Is there anything else you wanted to discuss?” I asked, trying to steer the conversation away from my racing thoughts.

She shook her head, still wearing that enigmatic.smile. “No, dear. I just wanted to see how you were settling in. But remember, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to come to me.”

“Thank you,” I said, standing to leave. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

As I exited her chambers, my thoughts were even more tangled than before. The Queen Mother’s strange smile and cryptic words left me with more questions than answers.

She was always a bit weird, always playing her cards close to her chest. But why did I feel like she was hiding something significant this time?

I sighed, pushing the thoughts aside for now. There were more pressing matters to attend to, and I couldn’t afford to be distracted.

Yet, the mystery of the Queen Mother’s smile lingered in the back of my mind, another puzzle piece in the complex picture of my life at the palace.