The Hidden Luna Queen

Chapter 99

MAEVE POV

It's a ring.

Xaden got me a ring.

"Wow-"I gasped, awestruck by the beautiful gem in front of me. "Wow."

The warm glow of the setting sun began to seep through the curtains of our bedroom, casting its brilliant, vibrant light upon the ring in his hand, and the resulting sight quite literally took my breath away. A cascade of blues and purples and every shade in between shimmered and glittered within the small gem perched atop its lovely silver band, blending together seamlessly like something out of a fairytale.

I'd never imagined such colors could coexist like this before.

"Xaden..." I began to ask, my throat running dry, "what's this?"

"It's a gift for my Luna," he murmured. "For you."

This was no mere gift. For many, this would have been enough to purchase a decent plot of land.

*This must have cost you a fortune," I stammered, snapping my wide-eyed gaze back to his face, as patient and adoring as ever. "I couldn't-"

*I said I would not go overboard with the gift-giving," he said with a small chuckle. "This is just one ring... and one phone. I'm still well within the boundaries of my promise." He paused for a brief moment, suddenly becoming heavy with hesitation. "Though, I suppose this would be an entirely different situation if you, ah... if you do not... like it."

My mouth parted ever so slightly, in awe of the alpha in front of me.

*Do you... approve?" He asked the question like everything hinged on whatever words tumbled out of my mouth

next.

I swallowed hard. "It's beyond beautiful," I said softly, not trusting the integrity of my voice. "I just... I couldn't even begin to repay you for such a precious gift."

"I don't need anything. Only that you would accept it," he said, pulling the ring out of its box and holding it carefully between his thumb and forefinger, "and myself, with it."

I was unable to stop the corners of my mouth from lifting. "Where do I put it?"

The splitting grin that stretched on his face was infectious, a warm and wonderful beacon of light. "Allow me," he murmured. Gently, he took hold of my left hand and slid the ring onto my fourth finger.

I couldn't take my eyes off it. It was stunning... and he believed me worthy of such a gem. It wasn't right that he wanted nothing in return.

He deserved something of his own.

*... I want to give you something, too," I admitted.

His lips twisted into a humored smile, shifting his weight to make himself more comfortable. "Alright. What do you have in mind?"

I bit my lip. "Wait here a moment."

Pushing the blankets aside, I got out of bed and walked to the wardrobe across the room. I opened one of the smaller drawers in search of a small, particular object when I found it, waiting where I had put it just hours before.NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.

The blue and green bracelet I had woven that morning.

With my hands clasped tightly in front of me to hide the bracelet from him, I settled back in my spot across from

Xaden. His eyebrows were raised inquisitively, his amused smile stretching wider than before. Despite this, he said nothing, waiting patiently for me to make my next move.

I took a breath. "Hold out your left wrist. And... please don't laugh."

He cocked his head but obeyed without question, holding out his wrist for me.

Slowly, hesitantly, I wrapped the bracelet around his exposed wrist, watching as his gaze settled on the strange gift, his amused expression slipping away, before I quickly turned my attention to the task at hand: closing the knot.

"I made this..." I said, not looking at him as I tried to tie the knot with trembling fingers, "this morning at the palace. It's no fancy ring, nor is it worth any money, but... it's all I have to offer."

He stayed silent as I worked, which neither settled nor heightened my nerves.

I let out a short laugh. "I could have chosen anything else... painting, flower arranging, or even knitting... but I felt in my heart this inexplicable yearning to make this."

With the knot finally secured, I let my hands settle around his own, caressing the skin around the bracelet. I found myself admiring the way the vibrant blues and greens complimented his skin, beautifully tanned from his many days in the sun.

The colors are perfect. The same as our eyes.

"Only now did I realize," I said softly, "that I must have made this for... for you."

Holding my breath, I lifted my gaze to meet his and was stunned by the waves of emotion I found there. Light swirled around in the depths of his beautiful forest-green eyes, glowing with something unspoken that I'd felt stirring within him for a while.

Something that had blossomed inside me long ago.

And, suddenly, I couldn't think of anything else.

His mouth opened, spilling with sweet nothings and sweeping gratitude for the bracelet he kept admiring, but I only half-heard them in the haziness that was my mind, consumed by one thought and one thought only.

"Xaden," I murmured, as if caught in a trance.

"Hmm?"

I gulped, trying to swallow down my nerves as much as I could. Otherwise, there was no way I'd be able to say what I wanted to say.

What I knew he deserved to hear.

*I..."

And, suddenly, it was like my throat closed up. The words that I'd thought of saying to him were lodged, trapped behind some stubbom, invisible barrier.