The Hidden Luna Queen (Maeve and Xaden) novel Chapter 90

Maeve POV

“Y-Your Majesty…?” Isabelle murmured, apparently taken aback by Alpha King Arlan’s sudden and completely unexpected interruption.

With shallow, heaving breaths as I tried desperately to curb my rising nausea, I watched the interaction, unsure what to expect. She did not say anything beyond that, but the confusion that deeply interlaced within her words was made abundantly clear to me. I could practically hear the storm her mind was beginning to conjure up.

This banquet might have been in my honor, but we all knew just how the Alpha King felt about me.

If he wanted to, I believed without a doubt that he would have continued to keep quiet while Isabelle did what she wanted.

And if it were up to him, I certainly would not have made it this far. I would have been kicked to the curb within the first minute of meeting him.

Was there a chance that I somehow… misjudged him?

“There will be no more discrimination of any sort against Maeve,” he said, stiff but stern. “The purpose of this banquet is to welcome her into the family. Anyone who dares to believe or act otherwise will have no choice but to leave.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the Luna Queen nod. “She is marrying our beloved Xaden,” she criticized sharply. “It is highly inappropriate for a fellow Luna Princess to mistreat her sister-in-duty.” The sight warmed my soul—a blessed comfort to know that she was in my corner, even beyond the privacy of our lessons.

Isabelle stammered, full of disbelief. “I-I don’t—”

Alpha King Arlan slammed a powerful hand against the table, but no one flinched except for the target in question and myself. “I have had enough of your antics, Isabelle. Treat her with respect or else I will have you removed immediately,” he warned, taking on a dangerous tone that left absolutely no room for debate.

And however much I knew Isabelle might have wanted to, even she knew better than to disagree with the king. She might have been an opportunist or strong-minded, but she certainly was no fool.

But not even a fool would dare to defy the Alpha King.

Not to his face, and especially not in his domain.

“I believe I have made myself perfectly clear,” he grunted, taking a sip of his wine when no one said anything else.

Isabelle seemed to take the hint, however, dipping her head, low and courteous before her terrifying father-in-law. “Of course, King Arlan, sire,” she murmured quietly as she sank deep into her chair, reduced to nothing but a mere shadow of the girl she was just moments ago. “I meant no disrespect to Your Majesties.”

The sight was… unexpected.

I honestly had no clue she was capable of even a shred of humility at all, but I supposed anything was possible. Unlike when Sarah had faced the wrath of a royal, I found it hard to feel any sympathy for Isabelle. Her disdain toward me defied any sort of logic or reason and I failed to understand why she chose to treat me so.

Why was she so eager to see me fail?

King Arlan cleared his throat, seemingly placated with her quick submission.

Queen Leonora, on the other hand, looked less convinced but did not say more regarding the matter. Instead, she summoned several omega servants to clear away all of the offending dishes, remarking that they had not even been listed on the original menu, while Xaden and Charlotte continued to tend to me until every last one was gone.

Before long, I could breathe again without feeling like spilling my guts.