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Aero

I would have preferred to bring her in my chamber to finish what I started, but as Elijah said, we were needed at the party.

Serena was quick enough to compose herself once she realized we were back in the stage. Spotlights immediately found us, giving us no room to talk. She just gave me a meaningful glance just as the voice-over explained the steps of the ritual. I decided to control my unstable self; promising to question her for later.

Yes, blessing the snow moon was part of Phanteon tradition. The Alpha King and his Luna were expected to do the ritual; raising a plate of wheat in the air against the moon’s light together with a chalice of water and the first pup of the year’s cloth wrapping.

The whole time, I guided Serena through the process since she was still learning our traditions. In the end, she looked effortless, not rousing any suspicion at all from all who watched her. Well, either that or the guests were just in awe of us that they didn’t bother on the minute details. For both of us, this was our first executed blessing.

We ended the ritual with a traditional prayer, asking for a fruitful year of harvest and offsprings. Cheers erupted in the hall afterward and the voice-over started another round of chants: “Hail King Aero and Queen Serena!”

The people around us chorused and clapped their hands enthusiastically. I had never seen a genuine reception like this before even in my father and mother’s hosted party. It was filling me with pride and joy.

But, only for a moment however because just as the party started to go on full swing and the attention wasn’t on us anymore, I grabbed Serena’s hand and led her to the hidden room at the back of the stage.

Once we were inside, I trapped her against the door. Her back hit with a thud just as I slammed a palm onto the hardwood. A considerable splintering appeared around the edges. It worsened when my claws dug deeper. This was my way of displacing my anger and frustration. Better the inanimate object than her.

Looking down, our eyes met. Hers was searching. Mine was in turmoil.

With my free hand, I caressed her cheek and planted a kiss on her forehead.

“Help me, Serena,” I whispered, gritting my teeth. “I don’t…know…how…to contain my jealousy.”

Her lips parted slightly in a slow inhale. She angled her head to the side after taking her mask off, closed her eyes, and sandwiched my palm with both of her hands, looking like she was savoring the warmth it had emitted.

“Aero, your jealousy is misguided,” she said, then gazed at me with the most serious expression on her face. “Nothing happened between Hale and me.”

‘I know that, but…’

“Still, I want to know what happened,” I voiced out. “What were you two talking about?”

an order

Serena,” I interrupted, my eyes turning hooded. “When he’s concerned, I want

into depression because of the very emotion I was feeling right now. I didn’t want that to happen to me. I want to save myself

she’d be truthful

gave me a chaste

she started then. “He mentioned that you have enemies waiting to strike your back. I asked him if he knew about the murderer-arsonist, but he gave

well aware I’d sooner or later create an enemy with the other realms. All

inside. That meant he had indirectly sampled her blood. Possibly while still in his lair. Fucking bastard… “He tried to blackmail me using this,

Whether you’re exposed or not, nothing will change. You will still be my queen

the idea that she was more important than my crown and somehow

a relieved smile thereafter and that pleased

encouraging her

wanted me to leave you

scoffed at his desperation. This

blood too,” I stated, sneering at the idea of

fail

with both of my hands and declared, “I won’t allow that to happen, you hear me? I will protect you from him and from any other

she stammered to say. “Thank

her perpetual sweet scent. By this, somehow my jealousy had lifted.

an arm around her waist and

leave the party and rest,” I offered, but then, she quickly shook

exclaimed and pushed me back

for a moment, but then I noticed a gradual change inside

of a sudden, but she didn’t look like she was about to cry. In fact, her wet eyes brightened with determination. I was mesmerized. This was my first time seeing this side

I was just your tool; a person who secures your throne. My freedom, my decision-making inside your court, my influence in

that vampire’s mouth so badly that instant, but I knew I had to defend

touch her cheek. She immediately raised