The Hidden Luna Queen (Maeve and Xaden) novel Chapter 105

“I have visited my brother’s mansion many a time,” Charlotte remarked calmly, leveling her gaze to match that of the heiress, “and I can assure you, I have not seen any woman, nor any such indication that a woman is living in that house. Well, apart from his lovely housekeeper, but she does not seem to quite fit the rumors,” she teased.

She hoped that would be the end of that, but the emergence of this new rumor seemed to have sparked the other girls’ interest.

“In his mansion?” Talia, seated next to Paige, questioned with visible shock. “When was this, Bella?”

The daughter of Alpha Charles was keen to answer. “A couple of weeks ago, actually. One of my old friends visited with her family and, sure enough, it was the housekeeper who alerted them about a woman living there.”

“Many important visitors come and go all the time,” Charlotte commented, once again raising her cup. “In fact, he’s met with a few ambassadors for treaty negotiations. It’s very likely he invited a few to stay at his mansion in the meantime.”

What Bella said next made her almost jolt in her seat, and made the other girls explode into frantic babbles.

“I-I’ve also heard she’s pregnant with the prince’s baby.”

If Charlotte was being honest with herself, that rumor caught her completely off guard. Not only because it was a—very—true secret that they were working so diligently to hide, but if it were only a mere rumor, it would be quite an accusation to raise among one of the members of the royal family. No one would dare to question the honor of a prince so brashly—in front of his own sister, nonetheless!

But, as far as the public was aware, it was only a rumor.

And she was going to keep it that way.

“My word,” Charlotte let out a laugh, prompting the rest of the frenzied party to ease their murmurs. “First, Xaden has a secret live-in lover, and now he has a child on the way? Just where is this friend of yours finding all this sort of gossip?”

“She gets around,” Bella answered quickly, her gaze starting to dart around the room. “But I trust her judgment. She’s never lied to me before.”

All of a sudden, Charlotte placed her teacup down loudly on its respective saucer, not flinching when the clamor echoed around the quiet garden space. The other girls, however, went still and silent with bated breath. “Your friend sounds like quite the interesting character,” she remarked with a polite smile, hiding her tension. “Do you really trust her judgment over mine, Bella?”

The gauntlet had been thrown. Everyone at the table could see it.

It was up to Bella to accept the princess’s challenge or admit defeat.