His Forsaken Luna-Chapter 15: Questionable Date (2)

We walked along the corridors where courtiers gathered in small groups, discussing whatever topics they deemed important. Others strolled by, and some who I was more familiar with walked briskly towards the council chamber. Everyone glanced at us, whispering like it was the raunchiest gossip they’d ever seen.

It probably was. Alpha Prince Eryx was quite the sight to walk beside, and I don’t mean because of his remarkable size and brutal good looks. No, it was because of who he was and the war crimes he’d committed against my kingdom. Eryx was next to rule the Bloody Throne. It was said he killed his siblings to be next in line.

The Alpha King must be so proud. I shiver beside him at the reminder of his bloodied claws. Eryx noticed the shiver and placed his arm over my shoulders. "What. Are. You. Doing?!" My hissed whisper grew louder until I was staring up at him with heated cheeks.

I glanced around as the whispers grew louder. It was inappropriate. Eryx tsked. "You act as though I’m humping you against the wall." He bends slightly, leaning closer to my features and curling his arm slightly so I am almost caged into him. His scent makes my mouth water. "Should I remind you that others acted indecently at your little Moonlight celebration?"

My lips parted, hands curled against his chest, forcing myself not to palm his solid torso or remember how I’d already felt his body against me and seen his muscles. His pectoral muscles were probably double the size of my breasts. I remember having the urge to nip one of them and discovering he had a nipple pierced.

Swallowing down my growing desire for this insufferable man, I said, "That was a masquerade."

Eryx tilts his head. "So?"

"This is court... It is unacceptable..." I trailed off, watching his blank expression. "The masks conceal their identities."

Again, he stares at me and repeats. "So?"

My mouth opens and shut, unable to explain more than that. I’m a little dumbfounded. Eryx smirks and tips my chin back up, snapping my lips shut. Leaning even closer, his eyes are like two jewels sparkling in the sunlight from the window beside us. "That gives them the right to act so scandalised by such a small act? They also performed ’indecent acts’."

Eryx’s head tilts before a low growl clip. "Hypocrites."

I release a long breath and nod in agreement, unable to look away from him. "That may be so, but that’s how the social scene works here." I freeze, realising we’d had a somewhat normal conversation.

Before this, Eryx kept telling me how I was bad at acting and that I needed to smile, especially in his company. He then proceeded to comment about how his company should make me happy anyway. It was hard to remove the frown from my face after that.

This was something I had to do, though.

A low snicker caught in my throat, and I feigned a cough after watching a few of the nobles rushing to the council falter, tripping over themselves as they stared at us incredulously. I may not like this little scheme, but it was somewhat entertaining. If I walked along these halls by myself, the temperature in the already chilled room would drop, and their stares would stab me in the back.

Eryx releases me and we stroll into the snow blanketed garden of the main palace. It is grand compared to my little courtyard. Besides the three fountains that take your breath away, the water iced over and still in the air, there remained ice statues, some of beautiful women, others of animals such as swans, a stag with antlers five times the size of a normal stag, a lion with wings and lastly the crow and wolf.

Eryx’s hand slides behind my back and tugs on my waist until my side is pressed against him. "Eryx," I snap, my fingers trying to peel at his hand. It was like trying to bend steel; he did not budge.

"Lia," he says, fingers pressing into me. Zaps shock through my body, and I gasp at the burning coiling in my lower stomach. "They are still watching. Do not make a scene." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

My shoulders trembled, and I glared at him. Eryx arched an eyebrow, his expression arrogant. I wanted to punch him in the face for it. It took everything in me not to. I didn’t think I was a violent person.

That was until an Alpha Prick was blackmailing me. I was already suffering from my own people, and now I was dealing with him? Unacceptable. A slight gleam enters his eyes, and my shoulders sag. It was a submissive move that surprisingly didn’t make Eryx smile. He frowned instead.

Whatever, I don’t care. I was trying to act, but it wasn’t working. This is only a role. Play it properly, or he will ruin what little reputation I have, I sternly reminded myself.

The circling thumb on my waist was also not helping with the heat pooling between my thighs. Eryx smirked, his earlier frown gone after scenting the air and leaned closer. "Want me to make it better?"

"Yes," I whispered before I could stop myself. My insides were burning even as we were surrounded by snow and ice.

"You want my help?" His voice wrapped around me like velvet, those eyes beguiling.

"Yes." No! What am I saying?!

"Then act better," he clipped, his back suddenly ramrod straight, and his scent and warmth snapped back. It was like I’d been slapped in the face.

The heat was still clutching at my skin, and a scorching pain throbbed at the back of my neck, but the haze I’d fallen into was clearer.

I glare at him but his head has already whipped to the side. Seconds later snow crunching beneath boots alerts me to someone approaching us.

"Princess," a royal attendant stops at a safe distance, glancing at Eryx cautiously. "His Majesty has requested your audience."

I bow my head, a breath of relief escaping me. I’m free from the brute. Said brute stops my departure. His lips brush against my ear and sparks burst from the sensitive touch.

The Prince’s grip on my hand is steely, a reminder that this is all an act. "Remember to really sell it to him."