Lilienne
This is awkward. Magnus struck me as the talkative type, but the moment we stepped out of my quarters, he fell completely silent. Still, every time I sneak a glance at him, he looks perfectly at ease—unbothered, relaxed, as if this stroll were nothing more than a casual outing.
I, on the other hand, already regret agreeing to this.
"You've been staring at me for a while now, Your Majesty," Magnus finally says, breaking the silence with a teasing lilt in his voice. "Am I really that handsome?"
The question catches me off guard, but fortunately, my face remains impassive. I have learned well how to mask my thoughts. I must stay focused. He may be our guest, but he is still a lycan. And not just any lycan—he is the heir to a powerful neutral pack. Dark Moon may not involve itself in politics, but its strength is undeniable.
The fact that Magnus chose to come in person might not be as casual as it seems. It could be a diplomatic signal. Or worse—a silent threat.
"Goddess, the silence is deafening," he adds, his voice softer now, almost pouty. "I'm starting to feel insecure."
The cocky smirk is gone, replaced by something far more playful, but I'm not fooled. He is performing again.
"Why would you feel insecure just because I'm quiet?" I ask, lifting a brow with deliberate curiosity. Could the rumors be true? Is he truly so vain, so obsessed with his own allure, that he grows restless when not being admired?
But before he can reply, my body tenses, a ripple of unease crawling across my skin.
And then, I hear it.
"Luna!"
Goddess, not her again.
We both stop and slowly turn at the sound of Serina's hurried footsteps echoing down the hall.
She looks as cheerful as ever. Unlike Kaelen, she seems completely unaffected by our constant bickering. I can't decide if her persistence in trying to befriend me is admirable... or just painfully stupid.
"Good afternoon, Luna!" Serina beams at me, but even as I offer her a polite, distant reply, her gaze has already shifted—fixated on Magnus instead.
"Goddess! You're absolutely stunning! Your looks are fit for a king!" Her voice rings with exaggerated innocence, but her flattery earns a sharp frown from Magnus. It's a subtle but unmistakable flicker of irritation—one that surprises me, yet somehow suits him perfectly.
"Serina," I step forward, the click of my heels firm against the floor. My tone leaves no room for misinterpretation, and she instinctively takes a cautious step back. "It's not only inappropriate to speak to an alpha wolf so bluntly—it's reckless. I thought you'd been taught at least some basic etiquette by now."
"Oh!" Her face flushes a deep red, but not with shame. Her embarrassment quickly transforms into astonishment. "Wait—you're an alpha? Are you here for Lunaris as one of Kaelen's guests?"
"Kaelen?" Magnus repeats, clearly puzzled.
I sigh and press my fingers to my forehead, exasperated by her tactlessness.
"Serina, this is Alpha Magnus North of the Dark Moon Pack," I explain, barely able to keep the frustration from my voice. "And yes, he's here to celebrate Lunaris."
"And no," Magnus's voice cuts in smoothly, adding to my words, "I'm not His Majesty's guest. The invitation I received was sent by your Luna."
I part my lips, stunned by his response. Was Kaelen right all along? Did Magnus truly come here because of me?
But why?
My heart skips, anticipation bubbling beneath the surface—until I catch that familiar smirk tugging at Magnus's lips. Arrogant. Unapologetic. That playful glint in his eyes sweeps away my curiosity like morning mist under the rising sun.
It was a joke—a sharp one—but nothing more. A deliberate jab meant to provoke. But still… why would he bother targeting Serina, someone he doesn't even know?
"Well," Serina recovers faster than I expect, her voice rising a pitch as she finds her footing again, "Her Majesty's guests are the king's guests too. It's a pleasure to meet you, Alpha Magnus. I'm Serina. I…"
She falters, her gaze flicking to mine. I don't know what she sees in my expression—perhaps the storm gathering behind my calm—but she swallows whatever she was about to say and pivots quickly.
"Are you taking a walk? May I join you?"
The question grates against me more than it should. She always does this. Slipping into my moments, inserting herself where she isn't wanted, as if she's trying to mold our lives into one seamless existence. As if she's waiting for the day I step aside so she can slide right into my place.
I want to shut her down with a swift, cold rejection, but Magnus's presence makes me hesitate. Serina didn't say who she was, not exactly—but her being here, inside the palace, speaking to me with such easy familiarity… it might've planted seeds of assumption in our guest's mind.
What irritates me even more is that she wasn't overtly rude. Her behavior could easily be dismissed as naïve—perhaps even innocent—and judging by recent experience, that's the kind of demeanor men rarely take issue with.
So no matter how carefully I word my rejection, I already know how I will be perceived: bitter, cold, or just plain cruel.
I purse my lips and brace myself for resignation. "Well—"
But I never get to finish.
Magnus places a steady hand on my shoulder, stepping forward with a smile so forced it could cut glass.
"I'm sorry... Serina, was it? We are about to visit the Queen's private garden, and from what I've been told, it's a very exclusive space. Fortunately for me, I was granted full access today. Unfortunately for you, that means you can't join us. It's a VIP treatment for a foreign guest, nothing personal."
He pauses just long enough for the awkwardness to bloom, then turns to me with a smile so sharp it's almost predatory. "Shall we, Your Majesty? I've been eager to see this place you hold so close to your heart."