"I am Jane," she said, with the smile of someone who had just carved her name into wet stone and now dared the world to wash it away. "Queen to be."
The breeze caught the edge of her long cape, making her look every inch the royal she hoped to convince the world she was. She lifted her chin, that smile still pasted on.
Luna’s own smile, subtle and elegant, played on her lips. "Then you must know I am the princess."
"Not here, you aren’t," she said coolly. "If you would follow me, I will get you situated in the ambassador’s lodge."
She turned left. But she didn’t hear the following footsteps. Instead, she heard a hiss, a defiant breath—and silence.
She turned just in time to see Luna walking in the opposite direction.
straight into the castle.
Luna didn’t even spare her a backward glance. The sunlight kissed her dark hair as it trailed behind her. She had no time for childish tantrums or territorial pettiness. She had kingdoms to save, wars to prevent, a child to protect. Jane’s wounded pride didn’t even make the list.
"Miss Luna!" one of the junior staff called, clearly panicking. "The ambassador’s lodge is—"
But Luna raised a single finger and kept walking. That was enough.
Then, from the marble arch of the grand entrance, Kyllian appeared. Tall, regal.
For a brief second, his face lit up.
"Princess," Kyllian said, the warmth in his voice unmistakable. "You are welcome."
"I see you haven’t forgotten my title," she replied, stepping up and facing him with unshaken poise.
Behind him, Jane arrived breathless.
"I wanted to take her to the ambassador’s lodge, but she merely walked past," Jane said.
"Why?" Kyllian asked, clearly baffled.
"She is Blood City’s Royal Envoy, isn’t she?" Jane said, shrugging as though the logic were infallible. "Then that’s where she should be."
She might as well have added she doesn’t belong in the palace anymore—but the words didn’t need to be spoken.
Kyllian turned to Jane with a glare that peeled the niceties off her. Then, without a word to her, he reached out and took Luna’s hand—her hand—in his own.
"I’ll get you situated..." he said gently, ignoring Jane completely.
"Your highness, I will have to disagree. It is not your duty. Allow me do my duty," Jane said. She stepped forward with forced elegance. Her words were polite—on the surface. But they carried a distinct bite, a subtle reminder that Luna was now an outsider, a guest in her own kingdom.
Kyllian could practically smell the hostility, thick as fog around them. His eyes flicked to Luna, who remained poised, still smiling. Luna’s amusement made Jane’s little power play look ridiculous. And that only made Jane more dangerous. f.(r)eewe/bnov\ll.com
"Excuse me for a moment, Princess," Kyllian said. He turned sharply, took Jane by the elbow, and pulled her aside with enough force to make her stumble slightly, though she recovered quickly, cheeks flushed.
He leaned in, speaking so quietly it was almost a growl. "You are not the queen yet, Jane. I can easily replace you. It’s not too late just yet."
Jane’s mouth parted, a retort forming—but it never came. Not because she didn’t have one, but because she knew he meant it. She had married a man in mourning, crowned herself in a vacuum, and now faced a king whose crown still weighed unfamiliar on his head.
Without waiting for a reply, Kyllian turned on his heel, leaving Jane behind and returned to Luna. He simply offered her his arm, and Luna, always graceful in these moments, accepted.
"I just want to see my mother and then I will stay at the lodge," Luna said softly as they walked through the palace corridors, now quieter than before. The walls seemed to hold their breath at her presence—every portrait of past kings lining the halls watching her with spectral approval.
"You will do no such thing," Kyllian replied immediately.
"Kyllian! I know my place." She stopped walking and turned to him, her brows drawn with quiet frustration. "I am not here to challenge your wife. I am here as a representative of Blood City. That is all."
"I’m not so sure you do," he said, his eyes locking with hers.
He said nothing more. Instead, he took her the rest of the way, guiding her down the gold-veined corridor leading to the Queen’s quarters.
The moment Luna entered, her calm expression crumbled.
"Mother!" she gasped, her voice cracking as she rushed forward.
Queen Ravena opened her arms wide. Luna collapsed into her embrace. \n(o)v.e\l.com
Kyllian remained at the threshold. Luna buried her face into her mother’s shoulder. Ravena held her tightly, whispering words only a mother could speak.
"My baby." Ravena pulled Luna back by the shoulders, scanning her from head to toe.
"You look...drained." Her sharp eyes narrowed. "The vampire sucking your blood?"
Luna blinked, then barked out a soft laugh. "Mother... be nice. Damien is good to me."
"I’m sure he is," Ravena said. "But they’re still vampires. You give them one open vein and they’ll redecorate the whole house in arterial spray. I like him and his father but I still don’t like their kind."
"Mother. They have laws in place against that." fr.e ewe.bno.vel .com
Kyllian finally stepped forward. "I’ll leave you both alone." He gave a small smile. "Find me later, will you? Royal Envoy Princess Luna Sinclair."
Luna grinned. "Wow, I never realised how much of a mouthful it is. Thank you, Kyllian. But as soon as I am done here, I will find your Luna, and she will get me situated."
"Luna..." There was a hint of warning.
She raised her brows. "It is her duty. I don’t plan on taking it away."
Kyllian nodded slowly, then turned on his heel and walked out.
The moment he was gone, Ravena crossed her arms, one brow arched. "Jane got to you, uhn."
"She’s just trying to establish and control her territory, Mother."
Ravena snorted. "Please. That girl has the spine of a pastry. All crust, no filling. She isn’t Queen material." She flicked her hand dismissively. "But it was the best Kyllian could do, after you."
(Additional Chapter done. Currently Power ranking no. 37. Can we go higher, people?)