Like A Son

Luna's Pov

If there was anything worse than serving people who hated your guts, it was eating with them. Knowing that malicious eyes are following your every move is a sure recipe for a loss of appetite. I managed to force down some food which went to sit at the bottom of my belly like a couple of bricks. After that, I just turned the food in my plate, my cheek propped on the other hand as I stared at it like I was looking for something that was embedded deep within it.

"Ahem!" I was pulled out of my revelries by the Beta clearing his throat. I looked up at him, blinking as I tried to come back to the present. "Breakfast is over. You all can leave now." My heart soared with joy as I rose to my feet, the chair skittering noisily. Great! Another reason to make them hate me more. Already, I could see them pinning their gazes on me as if to say, "we get the point. You are dumb. Now, could you stop making it so obvious?"

"Not you!" My heart plummeted to the bottom of my belly about as fast as it had risen. I looked toward the Beta and sure enough, he was referring to me. "The rest of you can leave now." He ordered. I bowed my head and fiddled with my fingers as the others made their way out of the room. The maids came in at this point and cleared all the used utensils.

Finally, the room was empty except for myself and the Beta. "Come closer." He called, patting the chair from which Leon had just stood up. I frowned as I walked toward it, certain that the owner would not would not like the idea. The table was made with thick mahogany which was painted white as well. The chairs were probably made of the same material as well but it was hard to tell with them being decked all over with felt. I arrived beside him and took my seat.

"You know why I brought you here?" He questioned as he daubed at his lips with a napkin.

"To eat?" I replied, growing tired of being played around with.

He met my eyes and for a moment, his black irises glittered making me think he would actually break a smile but that was not to be as the twinkle disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. He carefully folded the napkin and placed it on the table then got out of his chair and walked over to the first one on the right that had remained empty on which he rested an elbow and locked his fingers before meeting my eyes again. "You noticed that this place remained empty, didn't you?"

I blinked wondering if that was supposed to be a rhetorical question but his curious eyes that remained fixed on me told me otherwise. I shrugged.

"Then you should know who it belongs to." His eyes seemed to burn through my skin to my very soul which he seemed to be looking through inch by inch. I squirmed.

"How should I know?" I practically groaned already growing tired of his endless questions. How was it my problem if someone decided not to show up for breakfast? It wasn't like it was very noticeable in a room as huge as this anyway.

He nodded then pinned his eyes on me for so long that I felt a hole must have been burned through me this time. When he finally spoke, his voice sounded distant, "it belongs to Indrik."

I scrunched my eyebrows as I took in his features. Hair that barely managed to kiss his ears just like his son's, a strong firm face that managed to convey sadness about as well as it could convey authority and.... He had finally stood up. Wasn't too short. He would still hold his own against the many tall men I had met since I had arrived in this place even if he was atleast a head or two shorter. He had a big body, evidence of the strength that lay within. His hair was starting to gray at the edges but that only served to enhance his features.

"Indrik is like a son to me." He continued, his eyes shifting to something above my head, his voice low and almost mournful. "Ever since he was born, it has been my responsibility to look after him. Watching him grow has not been easy especially because," he paused and his eyes drifted to me, like he was trying to figure out how much I knew and how much to tell me. "because of his weakness. He has been known to break out of line several times to satisfy an innate need to be seen." His eyes had drifted from me again. "I wish I could tell you that this little thing with you was unique but frankly, no." I wondered where he was going with this. "He is not going to stop until he gets what he wants which begs the question, why did he bring you here?"

I recalled Indrik's words to me in The Haven but somehow, I felt he wouldn't want me sharing that. For whatever reason, I felt a strange urge to protect him. "I don't know." I replied.

He narrowed his eyes with suspicion as though try to figure out if I was lying or not then his face relaxed. "I hope you are telling me the truth." His voice was heavy, threatening. I met his eyes, refusing to flinch. Finally, he relaxed. "I will be watching you. You can leave now."

He didn't need to tell me twice as I bounded from my seat and left the room that was a beautiful as it was suffocating. Luckily, I had a good sense of direction as I weaved through the palace. Bursting out, I inhaled deeply, glad to be free from that place.