Chapter 5: The Luna Queen Is Coming

RIVER

The image of my mother’s neck being ripped open jolted me awake and I woke up to light blue eyes glaring at me.

In a flash I remembered everything. 

Sitting up in bed, I stared wide-eyed at my surroundings and nothing made a lick of sense. 

I was in the most luxurious bedroom I had ever seen, richly decorated with themes of black and beige. 

Was I dead yet? If so, why was my best friend here?

I turned to Paloma who stood with her arms folded across her chest, her demeanor cold.

This was surely not her bedroom. 

“What happened? Where am I?” I croaked.

Her stern face seemed to cool as her arms fell by her sides. 

“You’re in my man’s bedroom. He brought you here because you’ve had a rough night.”

I blinked in surprise. Densmore brought me here? 

To his bedroom? 

His bed? 

How? 

Suddenly, a memory flashed in my mind’s eye and I remembered my door bursting off its hinges and Densmore walking in shirtless, looking glorious as ever. His hair had been matted to his skull, his eyes, a rich shade of red, glowing like embers in the dark.

Densmore came for me, at my lowest point. Is that why I am in his bed now?

Paloma must have seen the look of surprise on my face because she shrugged. “Trust me, I am just as baffled.” She murmured, her face downcast. 

Still confused, I checked myself and realized I had been changed into a clean shirt. A shirt that smells like earth and fresh rain. I inhaled deeply, grabbing the collar to take a good sniff, then I caught myself remembering Paloma was watching. 

“Uhm..I don’t know what to say.” I pulled off the covers, ready to climb out of the bed. Everything here smelt of him and it was starting to drive me nuts. “Is the Queen aware of this?”

Paloma shook her head. “She doesn’t know and my man wants to keep it that way. So he asked me to lead you out the back door and take you home.”

My body rang with alarm. Take me home?

Last time I checked my father beat me black and blue because I came to the Palace. What would happen if he finds out I slept in the bed of the Prince?

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about your Dad. My sweetheart had a talk with him so you’re safe to go home.”

I stared at her, nodding slowly as her words sank in. 

Why was Densmore suddenly showing care towards me? How did he know I was in trouble? If he put me here, then where did he sleep? Where is he?

I was about to ask Paloma about Densmore’s whereabouts but I noticed something was off about her and then, the way she kept referring to Densmore as hers ... .was she feeling threatened?

“Paloma, you know I would never hurt you, right?” 

My best friend swallowed, her eyes flicking away before one of her sunshine smiles appeared.. “Of course.” She answered, but I knew her well enough to know she wasn’t convinced. “Let’s get you ready to leave before the Queen wakes up. Remember you still have your assignment at the Academy?”

I froze, remembering the task given to the Healer’s department. Anyone who brought the rarest herb flower would win the Floriculture Award, and win some money - money that I needed to move out of my father’s place and start life on my own. 

I began to wonder if I still wanted to give life a chance or continue with my plan to end it all. 

As if on cue, a whiff of Densmore’s scent wafted through my nostrils, giving me a reason to see where this sudden change leads. 

“Hello?”

I flinched, before getting out of bed, feeling completely brand new. Even old aches were gone. “Yeah. Sure!” 

Shortly after, we tiptoed into the hallway. 

The Palace was quiet, as if the building itself was still asleep and that eased my heart a little. The last thing I wanted was to have another run-in with the Queen.

We got to the steps and my heart dropped. 

Security was on patrol, yet Paloma pulled me towards the steps. 

“Don’t worry.” She mindlinked. “My Den already told the guards and maids to mind their business.”

I breathed a sigh of relief as I reached the landing, trying hard to ignore the fact that she called him,

“My Den.”

That statement didn’t sit right with me but I couldn’t be selfish. Paloma had been my only friend when everyone treated me like a freak. I had no right to think Densmore could ever be mine so they belong together. 

I just wish Paloma didn’t have to remind me of it. 

My best friend turned to me, her face serious. “Once we go down the steps, we cross the living room to the other side and that’s it.”

I nodded in understanding, then we began our quiet descent down four flights of stairs, and each time a servant passed by, I would flinch and then breathe at ease until we got to the bottom. 

Now it was time to cross the huge living room and after looking left and right, Paloma decided that we should cross but then we froze as we heard a familiar voice coming from a corner. 

Paloma and I shared a glance, our eyes bulging. 

The Luna Queen is coming.