The Hidden Luna Queen (Maeve and Xaden) novel Chapter 99

MAEVE POV

“Eric?” I questioned, surprised, thankful for the interruption, tearing my gaze away from Isabelle.

What is he doing here?

Eric’s lanky figure shuffled uncomfortably, yet he moved with determination. “I-I was on my way back to my room. I was just in a meeting with my father,” he shakily enunciated, swiftly pointing his gaze directly at me as those words left his mouth, “until he got called away for something else.”

That knowing glance he gave me only served to validate that feeling of dread I’d had ever since I entered the palace. At first, I just wrote it off as my worry about what Queen Leonora had to say to me, or that I simply did not want to be around Isabelle. But now I knew my instinct was correct.

She was likely lying to me.

Isabelle’s eyes widened. “You were just with the Alpha King?”

Eric immediately tried to straighten his awkward posture. “I-Is that so difficult for you to believe?” he dared to press, suddenly making her look uncomfortable. “Despite appearances, I’m still a prince of this kingdom.”

“That’s not what—” she began to weakly protest before seeming to second-guess herself and quickly cut herself off, swinging her glare back to me. “Look, he told me to bring you, and I cannot refuse a direct order from His Majesty,” she said before taking on a low, warning tone: “and neither should you.”

Meanwhile, Eric held out his arm to me opposite Isabelle. “The Luna Queen is waiting for you.”

I gulped. If both were true, I would risk insulting one person by choosing the other. But on the chance that only one told the truth, I needed to choose carefully.

Should I believe Isabelle or Eric…?

I inhaled shakily, deciding on the best course of action. “Thank you, Eric,” I said, taking his arm and ignoring the distinct look of shock that marred Isabelle’s face. “I’ve kept her waiting long enough.” And with that, we departed from that hallway, wandering in the direction of the queen’s parlor and leaving Isabelle alone where she stood.

I tried my best to appear calm and collected, but inwardly, I was trembling with nerves. I couldn’t believe I did that—I stood up to Isabelle again. But I couldn’t find it in me to regret it, I would have rather taken my chances than risk being alone with her again, especially when every fiber of my being screamed at me not to.

“Well…” Eric sighed once we were well out of reach of Isabelle. “We seem to be far away enough now.”

“What did the Alpha King want with you?” I dared to ask, my worry overpowering any reservations I might have had about speaking out of turn. My mind went to any and all worst-case scenarios—that he might have faced punishment at the hands of his father for the events of last night.

My heart lurched, hoping I hadn’t been the cause.

He offered a small grimace, which I assumed to be a weak attempt at a smile. “I was… actually lying about that,” he said, rubbing his wrist. “I just passed by his office on my way down here—he was getting ready to talk to Lucas… not me.”

I blinked. “But then—?”

“He never made a summons for you,” Eric clarified. “She made that up to lure you away from the Luna Queen.”