07 Banquet

Desiree

Adam kept his word and sent the dress to my aunt Margret. My aunt wasn't happy at all. I could see it in her eyes. Most Moons weren't happy, and I knew it wasn't jealousy because they loved me a lot.

"You need to be careful, Desiree. You are a beautiful Moon. Beautiful Moons don't last here," One of the Moon girls said to me, and she had fear in her eyes. When they left, I sat with Aunt Margret while she dressed me up for the event.

"Honestly, I can dress by myself," I complained to her, and she sadly shook her head.

"Prince Adam insisted that I make sure you look nice," she said, and her hands began to shake as she combed my hair. I touched her hand on my head and asked her why.

She broke down completely.

"I promised Tiffani I would protect you, Desiree, but how can I protect you from the prince?" she said and began to weep. "That young man is going to draw too much attention to you, and that only means certain hardship or death for a Moon here. Why didn't you decline nicely?" she asked me in tears, and I understood her.

"I did, and when he insisted, I wanted to go as a worker in my work clothes. I tried. Honestly, aunty, I wish he would send word and tell me not to bother. I will be delighted. If I defy him and not go, I will be punished. If I go, I might be punished. I do not have a choice," I told her, and she nodded and lifted my face with her hand so I could see her.

"No matter how nice he is, do not forget that he is a Blood, and you are a Moon. Keep your head down at all times. Be timid and weak and act like a servant. Do not get comfortable, Desiree. Do not forget who you are," she advised me, and I nodded.

Adam's best friend and future beta Kyle came to the lower service quarters to get me. I learned he was from a Delta family but would be beta because he was the second strongest of Adam's generation. He was as easygoing as Adam, but I kept to my aunt's advice. I kept my head down throughout our walk to the banquet hall.

"Moon," he said to me, and I kept my head down, "you will be sitting at our table," he said to prepare my mind. As we walked, I heard people murmuring and asking who I was. Adam had sent me a beautiful royal blue laced gown. It was revealing and concealing at the same time. The gown was long with a slit that went up to my thighs, revealing my long legs. He complimented it with a silver slipper, and the hills flattered my feet. My aunt held my hair in a ponytail, revealing my face. Everyone at the Moon quarters said I looked like a goddess, and the truth was we weren't trying to look good. But I couldn't fault nature for making me beautiful. I just had to find a way that I don't draw too much attention to myself.

The murmuring was much, and I wanted to die. I did not allow Kyle to intertwine his hands with mine, and I kept my head bowed at all times. When we got to the table, I refused to sit. I knew the heels would hurt, but I stood like the other Moon servants at the banquet and curtsied to anyone passing without looking at their faces.

"Desiree, you are a guest tonight," I heard Kyle say.

"Yes, but I am still a Moon. I must remain standing until all the Bloods are seated," I told him, and he understood my position.

Thirty Minutes later, king Kingston and his son entered the hall. While the Bloods genuflected in reverence, the Moons knelt, and so I had to kneel too. Kyle tried to stop me, but I wouldn't want to come across as an arrogant servant, so I knelt on the hard floor like the other Moons.

"You may all be seated," I heard the king say, and I waited for the Moons to sit before I sat. The moment I sat down, a Blood worker approached our table.

"You are not allowed to sit here, Moon. You need to go to sit with your kind," He said to me in a very condescending tone and pointed to a bare table where the Moon guests were allowed to sit. Aunt Margret was there, and that was motivation enough.

Keeping my head bowed and avoiding eye contact with the blood, I stood up, and Kyle held my hand.

"She is Prince Adam's guest, and he instructed she sits at this table with me," Kyle said, and the Blood did not speak again.

"Please, Beta. Allow me to sit with my kind," I pleaded, " I will taste his food and return to my seat." I explained, and he did not agree, but when he noticed I was trembling he let me go.

I went to sit with my aunt quickly and did not look up until I was sitting at her table.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" I asked her, and she smiled at me.

"I am a level ten worker after all. Wasn't going to honour the invite, but I couldn't leave you here all by yourself," she said and winked at me, and I was grateful for her kindness.

"We are here to celebrate the engagement of our future King, Adam Kingston to his chosen mate, Lola Green," A man said holding, up a champagne glass. Everyone cheered and clapped, and Adam sat next to Lola, looking bored and uncomfortable.

The man said a long boring speech, and everyone applauded.

It was time to eat.

"Come taste my meals," I heard Adam say in my head, and I swallowed hard. How did he expect me to walk through the sitting crowd, to the high table, where his father and all the important people were, and taste his food, looking like I did? I knew I could not disobey, so I stood up, my knees shaking and began to walk towards the high table. People murmured, and I knew I would get into trouble for this. When I got to the high table, I knelt and remained silent.

"Taste my food," Adam said out loud, but I did not stand up. I waited for the king to tell me it was okay for me to get that close to him.

"How old are you, Moon?" I heard king Kingston ask me.

"Seventeen, Your Majesty," I replied.

"I see. What is your name?" He asked.

"Desiree Dawson, your majesty," I replied.

"I see. Are you Tiffani Dawson's daughter?" he asked me.

"Yes, your Majesty," I replied.

"Hmmn," he said " Do you have magic?" he asked, and everyone began to murmur.

"No, Your Majesty. It is not in my bloodline," I quickly responded, " It died with my grandfather," I solidified, and he did not answer.

"Who gave you the permission to dress like that?" An angry woman asked me. I knew she was angry, by the sound of her voice. I could not look up, so I did not know who she was.

"I did," Adam quickly responded, "And it is none of your business. You have no right to question my staff or speak when the King is speaking," I heard him say, and the woman apologised.

I remained on my knees with my head bowed, filled with fear.

"You may do as you master wishes," king Kingston finally said, "Permission to look up and be merry is granted," He said, and I stood up but kept my head bowed. Never looking at anyone on the table. I served Adam's meals and tasted his food and drink. A moon brought me a chair to sit close to Adam, and king Kingston permitted me to sit down.

"Won't you taste my food too?" Lola asked me, sounding annoyed.

"She doesn't work for you, Lola," Adam scolded her, and she smiled.

"I am your mate, and thus she serves me too," Lola said, and Adam seemed like he had enough. He lifted his glass and stood to speak immediately. I tried to taste her food, but he stopped me, and everyone saw it. I bowed my head apologising, and sat where I was. I noticed the Moons knelt when he stood up, so I moved my chair and knelt. Adam told me to stand up through the mind link, but I refused. I would do everything the Moons did.

"I am not happy about this match, nor am I in support of it," he stated, and many people gasped, " I just want to state that Lola and I are not in love but are being forced into this union. If I find my mate, I will not proceed with this union," he said and sat down. I sat back down, and I heard his father scolding him. Lola was crying, and everything was a mess. I also noticed other Blood ladies smiling. I guess they were hopeful.

Adam paid me too much attention during the party, and I was scared all through. The moment it was over, I left in a hurry and retired to aunt Margret's room in the lower service quarters. I could not go to the blood quarters because I was asked to stay away for that night. They were having a party and I was not invited.

The moment I entered my aunt's room, Adam summoned me to his room.

"Don't change your clothes," he ordered, and I felt weird.

I got to his room, and he offered me a drink.

"I see you did not enjoy yourself tonight," and I went on my knees immediately.

"Please, your highness. You need to stop being nice to me. We are not equals. I am trying to keep my job and help my mother. All this will draw unnecessary attention to me. I do not want to be on the receiving end. Please. " I pleaded because he was getting careless.

"I cannot do that," He said to me, and I looked at him. He lifted me, pulled me close and kissed me on the lips. I was frozen.

"I can't, Desiree, and you will understand why when you turn eighteen."