CHAPTER 173: AMY WHINEHOUSE - BACK TO BLACK

Luna frowned. "Well... it’ll hurt. I mean, yeah."

"Right there," Damien cut in, snapping his fingers softly and sitting up a little, "Right there. That’s the problem. I can’t bear it. I would rather die than hurt you in any way. You think dying is the hard part? Hurting you would kill me."

"You’re sickeningly sweet," Luna groaned, flopping back onto the mattress.

"Agreed," Damien said proudly, snuggling into her side. He wrapped an arm protectively around her, his hand settling naturally over her growing belly. "Can I take a nap now? I have a big day tomorrow."

"This was supposed to be my hiding spot," Luna whined, narrowing her eyes playfully.

"Well," he murmured, already halfway to dreamland, "it is ours now. Deal with it, Princess."

His smile lingered even after his eyes closed.

*****

The morning sun broke across Blood City with the thunderous excitement of a kingdom on the brink of celebration. The wedding of the vampire prince and the werewolf princess was more than an affair of hearts—it was the stuff of power. The streets were alive with color. Every shop window bore pictures and projections of the royal couple.

But inside Luna’s private residence, the werewolf delegation, had arrived with their own thunder. Luna’s mother, stepped out of the car. Kyllian followed, eyes scanning the surroundings with the instinct of someone who didn’t trust anyone. Talon followed.

Luna stood at the entrance. She smiled tightly. "Welcome, Mother."

"Well, thank Goddess you look healthy." Her mother eyed her stomach critically.

Luna turned to lead them in. "We’ve put you up here instead of the guest castle," she explained. "Space issues, of course. But also, mixing werewolves and vampires in close quarters? Let’s not tempt fate."

As she led them down the hall, Luna caught Kyllian sneaking a glance at her stomach.

"Oh my Goddess, you are beginning to show," Ravena said as Luna lowered herself carefully onto the couch, her hands cradling the subtle curve of her growing belly.

Luna laughed softly, brushing her fingers over the swell. "Just slightly, Mother. Honestly, I can’t wait for the child to be born."

"Neither can I," Kyllian muttered, too low for anyone to properly catch the weight behind it—yet not low enough.

Luna’s head turned sharply. "What was that?"

"Nothing." Kyllian straightened.

"Hmm," she murmured, suspicious but choosing peace—for now.

"When is this wedding happening?" Kyllian asked, in what he clearly thought was a casual tone but landed more like a complaint.

"Tonight." Luna’s face lit up. "The temple ceremony starts at dusk, then the reception will be held at the main town square. We had to switch venues last minute because, well... apparently we’re more popular than we thought."

"Did the wedding planners still use my template?" Ravena asked.

"Yes. With minor adjustments," Luna replied.

"Good," Ravena said with a crisp nod. "I’m going to freshen up."

And with that, she glided into the house.

Luna turned to Talon, who had been standing awkwardly in the corner. "Talon, could you find one of the maids to help you settle in? I would like to have a word with the king."

Talon gave a small bow—though he did shoot Kyllian a subtle warning glance before disappearing into the house. It looked like a coded message telling him to behave himself.

Luna stood slowly and approached Kyllian, her eyes steady. "Walk with me," she said, brushing past him without waiting for an answer.

Kyllian followed. He always did.

"Is everything alright?" Kyllian asked, casting a sidelong glance at Luna as they strolled through the outer courtyard of Blood Castle. The air was cooler out here. The castle grounds bustled ahead of them.

Luna slowed her pace. "When do you intend to begin your investigations into the attack on our land?" she asked.

Kyllian looked ahead for a long moment before replying, "I don’t think I should discuss the details with you, Luna. No offense." He said it gently, but the subtext was clear: You’re one of them now.

Luna’s eyes narrowed, but she nodded. She wasn’t naïve. She’d expected that answer. "But our agreement still stands," he added pointedly, "If Damien had a hand in what happened... you will kill him."

"You know how Father used to say known enemies should never be ignored?"

Kyllian’s expression softened at the mention of the late king. "Yeah."

"Well, I had a run-in recently. With one of the Lords."

"That doesn’t narrow it down." Kyllian muttered.

"I think this one needs a closer look," Luna said, her voice now tinged with warning.

"You suspect he may know something?" Kyllian raised a brow, but his tone shifted—sharpened.

Luna nodded. "I suspect... he knows everything."

"That’s a lot of everything."

"It’s in the way he threatened me," she said.

He stopped walking. "Wait. Threatened you?" His voice dropped an octave—Alpha edge activated.

"Yes," Luna confirmed calmly. "Not directly. Not stupidly. But in the way people do when they want you to know they have something up their sleeves."

Kyllian’s jaw tensed. "Tell me his name."

"Damien’s uncle. Lord Gabriel."

"Does Damien know this?" he asked.

"I didn’t tell him," Luna said softly as they continued their walk across the castle grounds. "But both he and the King have always been wary of Gabriel. Just... royal history."

"Wary?" Kyllian scoffed.

The wind blew gently through the courtyard, fluttering the ceremonial banners hung high between poles. The scent of peonies filled the air.

He stopped walking and turned to face her. "Are you safe here, princess?" he asked, his voice gentling in that way it always did when concern for her crept in.

Luna gave him a small, almost amused smile. "I am, Kyllian. It may be nothing. I may just be paranoid." Her tone was light, but her eyes held the steel of someone who didn’t believe her own words.

"I’m going to leave Talon here," Kyllian declared. "I do not like that you do not have your own people watching over you."

Luna rolled her eyes in an exaggerated arc. "Damien is already overprotective. Now you want to chip in? Do you want me to bite you?"