The Hidden Luna Queen 2

Xaden was careful to avoid any large groups of guests, much to my relief. Before we made it to the door, however, he made it a point to cross paths with Burke, slowing down enough to say something to him. "Burke, come with us," he hissed under his breath, startling the beta out of his conversation with our tense appearances. “Now.”

Burke faltered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. After dismissing himself, he followed us out of the room without another word.

My apparent fake fiancé, my secret real fiancé, and I. What a joy this was going to be.

MAEVE POV

Xaden burst out of the banquet hall doors like a man on a mission, dragging me behind him with Burke following closely behind.

"Wait right here-" Xaden barked the order to his beta once the three of us were alone in the hallway, pointing his finger firmly at him. “Do not move from this spot or allow anyone to come this way."

Burke stumbled to a stop, obvious bafflement written all over his face, but he readily obeyed. "As you wish," he said, standing guard just beyond the doors.

All these harsh movements dizzied me. Why did he bring all of us out here?

His anger was unmistakable, but... maybe it wasn't directed at Nicholas like I'd thought.

Could it have been something I did? Had I done something wrong by allowing Nicholas to sit with me while he was away mingling with other guests? I was so careful to not reveal anything about Xaden, his family, or myself, but maybe that was not enough. Then again, what was so wrong with sparking innocent conversation with someone new?

With my brow scrunched in confusion, I opened my mouth to question Xaden, but he was quick to drag me further down the hallway, stalling any words I might have thought to say.

He ushered me into a dark, isolated corner, well out of range and hidden from prying eyes. My back landed with a thud against the wall, startling the air out of my lungs as I gazed up into his furious, glowing eyes. His strong arms caged me on either side of my body ensuring I could not escape his grasp.

I gulped. "What are you-"

Xaden swiftly cut me off by slanting his mouth over mine, halting the rest of the words in my throat and paralyzing me where I stood. I did not know why he was doing this, but I didn't dare to stop him or break away, out of fear that he would leave.

My heart pounded erratically, but he nipped and pulled at my lips so deliciously... I couldn't help but respond, kissing him back with all the tenderness I felt for him as my arms slowly wrapped around his neck.

A low growl emerged from his throat, resonating throughout my body.

What's gotten into him?

In the back of my mind, I felt his strong arms wrap around the small of my back, pulling me closer. My mouth parted in surprise, and my

momentary lapse of composure allowed him to thrust his tongue inside. Instantly, I was overwhelmed with the strong taste of red wine and charcuterie.

His calloused hands roamed across my back, scrunching the delicate fabric of my black, silk dress with desperate, needy fingers. This was beginning to venture deeper and deeper into territory that we could not under any circumstance explore... not while a palace banquet was being held less than one hundred feet away from us.

I pulled away from his dominant mouth with a gasp, planting my hands flat against his broad, heaving chest. "W-Wait..."

But my words seemed to fall on deaf ears.

Xaden was completely undeterred, proceeding to pepper hot kisses across my jawline and down my neck, and it was like my mind turned into sludge. I could not think with him touching me like this.

Then again... was that really such a bad thing?

No, Maeve-l scolded myself-that's the lust talking!

"You're mine," he growled between kisses. His sharp teeth grazed softly against my neck, making my breath catch in my throat with a stifled moan. My knees buckled, and I likely would have fallen to a heap on the marble floor if it hadn't been for his tight, warm embrace holding me up securely against the wall.

We can't do this... I thought vaguely, half listening to myself. Not here... not now...

But... damn it-why did he have to feel so good...?

My fingers dug into his jacket as I curled into him, unsure whether I should push him away again or pull him closer. “X-Xaden...”

"Mine..." he repeated huskily, his hot breath tickling my sensitive skin." Every single inch of you..." One of his hands slid down my hip and settled around my thigh, gently squeezing the thick flesh before hoisting my leg up to wrap around the low curve of his hip. “I want to mark you..." he entreated, dragging his teeth a little harder against my neck, “make them see who you belong to..."

I could just barely make out the words through my lust-addled mind. What was he going to do? Mark me...?

Somehow, I managed to find the strength to wriggle away ever so slightly, pulling my leg out of his grasp. "D-Don't mark me," I stammered out. "Please. I-I want us to wait until the mating ceremony, like we planned."

He let out a frustrated groan, tightening his hold on me. "I don't care what people will say. Let them-"

"But I do," I blurted out, forcing him to stop. "I do care, and-and I-I'm scared to subject myself to that level of scrutiny right now." My body started trembling, and his demeanor softened a bit. "I... just need more time, please-"

"Alpha Donner!" Burke suddenly exclaimed loudly from down the hallway, freezing the two of us in place. "How nice to see you. And you, Luna Margaret-you look as lovely as ever. I hope you two are enjoying the banquet?" This was his warning to us. People were getting too close.