The Hidden Luna Queen 2

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.To avoid an incomplete reading experience, visit Jobn'i'b.com. 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... heartwarming.

"Yes. I do."

"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. He's nervous...? Before I could begin to ask what was wrong, Xaden opened the box...

And there, perched inside, was a ring.

MAEVE POV

It's a ring.

Xaden got me a ring.

"Wow-"I gasped, awestruck by the beautiful gem in front of me. "Wow."

The warm glow of the setting sun began to seep through the curtains of our bedroom, casting its brilliant, vibrant light upon the ring in his hand, and the resulting sight quite literally took my breath away. A cascade of blues and purples and every shade in between shimmered and glittered within the small gem perched atop its lovely silver band, blending together seamlessly like something out of a fairytale.

I'd never imagined such colors could coexist like this before.

"Xaden..." I began to ask, my throat running dry, "what's this?"

"It's a gift for my Luna," he murmured. "For you."

This was no mere gift. For many, this would have been enough to purchase a decent plot of land.

"This must have cost you a fortune," I stammered, snapping my wide-eyed gaze back to his face, as patient and adoring as ever. "I couldn't-"

"I said I would not go overboard with the gift-giving," he said with a small chuckle. “This is just one ring... and one phone. I'm still well within the boundaries of my promise." He paused for a brief moment, suddenly becoming heavy with hesitation. "Though, I suppose this would be an entirely different situation if you, ah... if you do not... like it."

My mouth parted ever so slightly, in awe of the alpha in front of me.

"Do you... approve?" He asked the question like everything hinged on whatever words tumbled out of my mouth next.

I swallowed hard. "It's beyond beautiful," I said softly, not trusting the integrity of my voice. "I just... I couldn't even begin to repay you for such a precious gift."

"I don't need anything. Only that you would accept it," he said, pulling the ring out of its box and holding it carefully between his thumb and forefinger, "and myself, with it."

I was unable to stop the corners of my mouth from lifting. "Where do I put it?"

The splitting grin that stretched on his face was infectious, a warm and wonderful beacon of light. "Allow me," he murmured. Gently, he took hold of my left hand and slid the ring onto my fourth finger.

I couldn't take my eyes off it. It was stunning... and he believed me worthy of such a gem. It wasn't right that he wanted nothing in return.

He deserved something of his own.

"I... I want to give you something, too," I admitted.

His lips twisted into a humored smile, shifting his weight to make himself more comfortable. "Alright. What do you have in mind?"

I bit my lip. "Wait here a moment."

Pushing the blankets aside, I got out of bed and walked to the wardrobe across the room. I opened one of the smaller drawers in search of a small, particular object when I found it, waiting where I had put it just hours before. The blue and green bracelet I had woven that morning.

With my hands clasped tightly in front of me to hide the bracelet from him, I settled back in my spot across from Xaden. His eyebrows were raised inquisitively, his amused smile stretching wider than before. Despite this, he said nothing, waiting patiently for me to make my next move.

I took a breath. “Hold out your left wrist. And... please don't laugh."

He cocked his head but obeyed without question, holding out his wrist for me.

Slowly, hesitantly, I wrapped the bracelet around his exposed wrist, watching as his gaze settled on the strange gift, his amused expression slipping away, before I quickly turned my attention to the task at hand: closing the knot.

"I made this..." I said, not looking at him as I tried to tie the knot with trembling fingers, "this morning at the palace. It's no fancy ring, nor is it worth any money, but... it's all I have to offer."

He stayed silent as I worked, which neither settled nor heightened my nerves.