His Forsaken Luna-Chapter 113: Routine

After training AKA run until I puke, I bathed and dressed with Theo’s help and went to breakfast. It was becoming my routine to start the day. I didn’t have to look over my shoulder and worry about Deyanira—for now.

Soren and Kharis guarded me from afar, glaring at each other. Nobles started to greet me and bow their heads as I pass. I didn’t acknowledge their existence. How dare they act like this now. Deyanira will return and they will turn their backs on me.

Many didn’t involve themselves in the Queen Mother’s antics but they still watched on. I know they held no power to go against her but that didn’t mean I had to forgive them. And those who bowed to me now in respect, the ones who do play a part in belittling me, looking down on me, making snide remarks and embarrassing me, stripping away at every part of me until I am bare, their faces are ingrained in my memories, their names a long list I know well.

I watched one Lady in particular, much older and should know better. She used to openly talk about my mother, insulting her days after her death. I held her gaze, fury brewing behind my eyes. She blanched, her hands trembling as she bowed her head and stared at the floor wide-eyed. Was she sniffling?

Pathetic.

Kharis and Soren stared at me as I looked away from her then shared a look. My head tilted. "Yes?"

Kharis smirked. "Oh nothing... You’re just giving off killer Alpha vibes."

"Killer Alpha vibes..." I drawl. My voice is even, and my face collected as I smirk but my blood sang with the compliment.

We continued walking, forgetting about the woman who still trembled. Nobody rushed to her aide or comforted her. Nobody. There was a little bit of pleasure in that.

Alaric hadn’t been at breakfast all week. Liva occasionally joined us but we’d grown used to each other’s company in the quiet, large dining hall with too many servants. After a while, I’d began ordering them leave after serving the dishes so we could speak freely—mostly. Soren was still a sour subject, and Eryx wouldn’t discuss any private matters in front of him.

I completely understood because my trust in him had dropped even with Calix by his side. The child was with his tutors now after a quick breakfast and would return to the room we provided him.

Sitting across from each other, I placed my cutlery down, finishing my meal.

"If you’re training, you should eat more," Eryx’s deep voice rumbled quietly.

It took me a moment to process his words and ignore the shocking pinch between my thighs his voice caused. What was wrong with me?

"I’m only running," I mutter, my expression not giving away how his stupid voice affected me. Even though I said that I grab a bread roll, looking around like I might get told off.

"Deyanira is not here," Eryx comments. "Eat."

I blink at his words, accepting another roll from Eryx’s plate. "Gain your strength. You will fall ill otherwise."

I stare at him, realising how much he truly notices. He observes everything with a keen eye while looking nonchalant and at times disinterested. That was what I believed until recently, since he’d announced our engagement.

Eryx cuts into the meat on his plate into little pieces as he listens to a report from Cohnal. He watches me, expectantly and nods at the untouched bread roll. I bite into it and a small smile tugged at his lips, pleased.

As I chew on the bread, I feel eyes burning into the back of my head and look over my shoulder to see Soren looking between us, scowling but his expression grows stoic once he sees me looking at him. Turning around and not minding it, I then see Kharis looking at me as Eryx began placing the cut up meat onto my plate.

I stared back at Kharis questionably. What?

Kharis was grinning broadly, looking between us as well. I thought he preferred us bickering? He found enjoyment watching me stand up to him.

Shaking my head, I ate the food Eryx gave me without a second thought. "We will be departing from here soon," Eryx says quietly after Cohnal left. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

My cutlery pauses and my chewing slows as I look at him.

"Your brother cannot deny you leave. You would be safer in the South, away from all of this," Eryx stated.

"I cannot leave my people in the midst of these attacks. It could cause panic. Why would their Princess leave in such a crisis?" The people didn’t know what was attacking them but the horror stories were spreading about the massacres.

"I’ve sent Faidon to investigate. He shouldn’t be long. Once we know what we need to, we will return to my kingdom," Eryx states quietly.

"Will Faidon be okay?" My thoughts returned to the shadow who fought the High Fae. We didn’t know much about the Blood Waiths except it was possible they drank blood much like how those children had begun acting.

"You don’t need to worry, there won’t be any fighting. He is only investigating," Eryx replied. "Are you finished?"

He glanced at my plate with a slight frown as though he wanted to feed me more. "I am more than full," I say quickly. "I will check on the children now."

Eryx nodded, standing. "Alaric has requested my presence." He offers me his arm as the servants pile into the room to clean up the dishes.

"He didn’t ask for me?" I peer up at him. We’d been discussing the attacks, poring over maps and marking them.

"I know we have been..." He glanced at the servants. "Busy. But we aren’t discussing the attacks. I need to speak to him about something else."

I look at him curiously but don’t ask him further. Alaric and Eryx had been on friendly terms before the Prince announced his ’love’ for me. Perhaps they were trying to bridge together that friendship?

"Have a good morning," I say, feeling a little awkward at such a normal pleasantry and turn to hide my blushing cheeks and embarrassment. But Eryx reaches for my hand. I halt, feeling heat blossom between our fingertips.

My gaze flicks up to him. "Be safe," he commands, his voice a little thick as he leans down and presses my knuckles to his lips, those captivating eyes locked on me.

I nod, my cheeks heated as he smirks and walks away. "The children," Kharis leans close to my ear and whispers with a low chuckle.

"Alright!" I jump, pushing his head away. Kharis laughs it off and trails behind me as I returned to the made up guest quarters for the children of the attack.

Like usual I oversaw them, checked for any signs they might be ’infected’. A few more had died overnight, and my heart clenched and eyes filled with sadness at seeing their empty cots. After speaking with Mary, a servant who stayed with them the most, she said they looked past the worst now.

It was only their trauma that lingered with them now.

I sat and helped with their reading and writing, glancing occasionally at Xan and the lingering feeling that something wasn’t right. Before I left, I asked if they were in need of anything although they all looked so healthy now, their skin brighter. They were still filling out from the years of starvation but they were much better.

They shook their heads but a young pup, now the youngest at six, asked how sweets tasted. Xan looked up at me then. "I heard children like them? Are they really tasty?"

"Sweets?" My brows rose as I realised they’d never tried them before. I had the sudden urge to get them some, and it was a good excuse to finally get out of this palace and have a breather.