The Hidden Luna Queen (Maeve and Xaden)

MAEVE POV

I had thought I was well hidden.

At least, as hidden as I possibly could be in the banquet hall of the royal palace, that was. I'd been so careful to choose a seat that was well out of range of any wandering eyes or gossiping lips. And everyone in the room had seemed to be so submersed in their own conversations that I thought I could survive the event without issue.

Where I could enjoy myself without worrying about scrutiny or expectations.

Imagine my surprise, then, when I suddenly found myself in the presence of a peculiar, noble stranger, who seemed particularly interested in my company for reasons unknown.

This stranger looked no older than his early twenties. Ash blonde hair hung nicely in front of his youthful yet chiseled features, though not low enough to conceal the icy blue eyes that regarded me carefully. Eyes that, despite how deeply they could pierce a body with a single glance, radiated warmth and kindness that could only have been borne from one with a genuine heart.

He must have been one of the soldiers. Or at least, the son or brother of one.

"Oh!" The startled exclamation burst past my lips before I had a chance to fully process what was happening. "Actually," I began to say with an apologetic smile, gesturing to the empty chairs that were previously occupied by Xaden and Charlotte, "I'm..."

And then the words died in my throat.

It wasn't like I could just say outright that I was personally accompanied by the crown prince and princess without drawing attention to myself. That was the last thing I wanted or needed right now. Was I supposed to... pretend I was here by myself?

The man seemed to mistake my stunned silence for a refusal of company, quickly adding: "If you'd rather be alone, that's alright, too—"

"No," I hurriedly cut him off. Surely there couldn't be any harm in letting him stay for a while, especially when he seemed friendly enough. "No, it's alright. You can sit here."

He smiled, taking a seat in the empty chair beside me. "Is this your first banquet? I've never seen you around before."

And there it was. "Ah-yes, it is," I admitted, and in a way, it was true. It was my first banquet at the palace that was not exclusive to the royal family. "Is it your first time, too?"

"I wish I could say yes, but alas," he drawled, leaning against his chair, "it's not. The thing about these sorts of event is that once you've been to one of these, you've been to all of them. So if you decide to start dancing during a speech or throw

food around... trust me, throw

would

really liven things up a bit."

A short laugh slipped past my lips. I had not expected such a blunt answer. That simple quip made him all that more personable to me.

The man glanced around the hall for a moment before turning back to me curiously. "I thought I saw Prince Xaden and Princess Charlotte over here not too long ago. Are you well acquainted with them?"

I silently cursed my carelessness.

How was I supposed to explain being seen with two of the most esteemed alphas in the entire kingdom without exposing myself No one with half a brain would believe that we were total strangers

conversation, nor that Alpha Prince Xaden's infamously tough exterior would subside so easily in the presence of a random girl he'd just met.

who happened to spark

I... really had not thought this through.

"Only a little," I lied. "They were kind enough to sit with me for a while."

The man opened his mouth to respond, but I was perplexed to hear a woman's voice speak instead. "Prince Xaden sure is a lovely man, isn't he?"

Startled by the sudden interjection, I

swung my gaze behind me, where I locked eyes with the short-haired girl

who approached me around the

same time this man did. She must have taken the liberty of occupying the empty seat at my other side when I told the man he could join me.

This was... awkward. This was more company than I'd expected to have. Still, it was not like I could just turn her away during an event where one was meant to socialize.

"... Yes, he seemed nice," I conceded with a small smile, trying my best to keep my answers as vague as possible.

She leaned in with a coy grin. "He can be even more nice when you take charge," she whispered. "He likes that."

I blinked, recoiling ever so slightly. What the heck was that supposed to mean? "Excuse me?"

"Or if that makes you uncomfortable, you can also try to wear more black, like you're doing now," she said, gesturing to my black dress. "He loves the color black."

The things she was trying to say seemed to be completely random. I was not sure what taking charge or wearing black had to do with anything, nor where any of it was coming from. "I-I'm sorry," I stammered, "what's all this for?"