Eighth-Born Luna (Emily and Nathan) novel Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Emily’s POV

My fingers tightened around the blanket. “What do you want?”

Stella smiled slowly. “I wanted to congratulate you.”

Her smile made it obvious she meant the opposite.

“Congratulations on what?”

She looked around the room again. “The royal residence.” Her eyes landed on the bed. “The guest suite.” Then her gaze snapped back to me. “You’re moving up in the world.”

I stared at her, refusing to show weakness. “You seem disappointed.”

Her smile twitched. “I find it amusing.”

“No. You’re jealous.” The words escaped before I could stop them.

Her polished mask slipped, but she recovered quickly.

“You think Nathan wants you here?” Her voice softened dangerously. “Cute.”

I refused to look away. “Then why are you here?”

That hit closer to home than she expected. Her eyes narrowed. “Because, unlike you, I belong here.”

I almost laughed. “Really?”

That one word made her jaw clench. Stella stepped closer, then again.

“Listen carefully, Emily.” The sweetness completely vanished from her voice. “You may have fooled Meredyth.”

I stiffened.

“You may have fooled Liam.” Another step. “But don’t fool yourself.” She looked me up and down. “Nathan isn’t interested in you.”

My stomach felt heavy. The worst part was that a small part of me still worried she might be right.

“He brought me here,” I said quietly.

For some reason, that seemed to anger her even more. Her nostrils flared. “You’re a wounded stray he feels sorry for.”

That one hurt, and she knew it.

“You think this means something?” Her eyes flashed. “You’re temporary.”

Stella looked uncertain. “No?”

I met her eyes. “You’re wrong.”

A strange confidence filled me. Maybe it was the Blackwood residence, maybe Nyx, or maybe I was just tired of being scared.

“I don’t know what Nathan feels,” I said, still looking at her. “But I know one thing. He doesn’t look at you the way he used to.”

The words hit their target perfectly. Real anger flashed across her face, and she stepped right up to the side of the bed. I instinctively shifted back, and right then, the door opened.

“Stella?”

Meredyth walked in, and the mood changed right away. Stella jumped back so fast it was almost funny.

Meredyth looked between us, her smile pleasant, but something sharp flickered in her eyes.

“I sent you to ask Emily whether she’d like a snack brought to her room now, or if she’d come down for dinner later.” Luna tilted her head. “You were gone a very long time.”

Stella looked completely uncomfortable. “I was just checking on her.”

“How thoughtful.” Meredyth’s tone was perfectly polite, which somehow made it worse.

Stella immediately straightened. “I should go.”

“I think that’s a good idea.”

Stella shot me one final warning look, then walked out.

The moment the door closed, I finally let out a long breath. Meredyth watched the hallway for a few seconds before turning to me. “Are you alright, sweetheart?”

I nodded. She didn’t look convinced, but thankfully, she let it go.

“Now,” she said, her expression softening. “Are you hungry?”

A shirtless man with enormous muscles held a woman tightly against his chest. She wore a thin red dress, and both of them looked completely soaked. The title read: Feral Desires.

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