Here's for tonight. Thank you for waiting. So, what do you think? Is King Essak an ally or an enemy? ✨🦋 Thank you for all the comments and gems!
ADESSA.“Will you tell the truth for all my questions, or do I have to use my command on you again?” He began.“I will not lie, my King,” I responded. “Good.” He then motioned with his hand, directing me to the couches. “Take your seat. Is it Savannah or Adessa?”With my head down, I headed for the nearby single couch and sat there. I tilted my head and found him looking at me, still standing where he was earlier. “Adessa. My name is Adessa Quijeros.” I replied, doing my best for my voice not to crack. “I killed two people from the Knight’s Stone Pack, but if you would let me explain…”He raised his hand, and it made me stop talking.“Enough.” That was all he said, and cold sweat formed everywhere on my body. He turned around and walked toward the table where a vintage telephone sat. Is he going to call someone to arrest me?I stood up abruptly. “My King!” This time, I couldn’t stop my voice from trembling. He placed a finger on his lips after he pressed a number, and I held my bre
ADESSA.“I’ve been looking for you for twenty years,” the King said, and it kept resonating in my ears.I looked at him, and slowly, the words came out of my lips. “Looking for me? For twenty years? I’m not sure I understand.”“Your mother’s name is Adelaine.”It was the woman’s name he mentioned earlier when he first saw me. “She was taller, but you look just like her. And even with that mask on, I could tell.”“My King, you must be mistaken.” I forced a smile despite the loud beating of my heart and the sweat on my palms. “This is not my real hair. And they put too thick makeup on me. What you see…”“I know what I felt.”I swallowed hard as my stomach churned. King Essak turned away and headed for the window. He looked outside while I remained silent, waiting for him to continue.“A King’s senses are heightened. My sense of hearing, reflexes, taste, everything. And I could feel a bond. I felt it for every one of my children that came into this world. I knew someone was born twenty y
KAEL. It had been hours since she was taken, and I had no idea where she was. King Essak returned to the ballroom and stayed for ten minutes, but I was not able to get to him. Unlike earlier, he was fully guarded this time. No matter how I tried to ask politely and professionally, I was not allowed to talk to him. And regardless of whether I positioned myself within his peripherals, the King would always avert his gaze away from me. Something was off. It was taking too much of me not to snap and create chaos. I was worried, but I knew that if I let out an outburst, I would be in a bad position. The last thing I wanted was to give them a reason to throw me out of the perimeter of the Absalom Palace. After the event, there was an after-party. I also went there, hoping to find Kevin or meet someone who could tell me anything about Adessa, but I was not successful. I then proceeded to Mindorf Manor, which served as the hotel for guests. Everyone invited to the Moonlight Ball had auto
Author's Note: This is officially part 2 of Adessa and Kael's story. The title will change to THE ROYAL LUNA from this chapter forward. ✨✨✨ADESSA.After they swabbed something inside my mouth, I was allowed to leave the room. The woman that came with the two men was named Danielle, and she was to be my handmaid. I was still trying to get a grip on what was happening. A part of me wanted to wish the Alpha King was wrong with his assumption that I was his missing daughter and that I was a princess so I could be free to look for Kael again, but making that wish reality could only mean more trouble for me. If I were not his daughter, he would surely have ordered me to go to prison. Either way, I was at the losing end. But maybe, if I were his daughter, not allowing me to see Kael would just be temporary. If I could explain to him our history, he would surely understand. I kept my hopes and head high as I followed Danielle along the long corridor until I realized we were heading for
ADESSA.“But I think you are the missing royalty,” Danielle added.“Why?”“This mark on your back. It looks exactly like the one that…” She paused, and when I tilted my head to look at her, her eyes widened, and her face turned red.“Like the one that? Like the one that someone has?” My brows furrowed. The King told me in passing that the birth marks on the backs of the royalties were not public knowledge. But maybe workers in the palace knew this thing. “Never mind.” She replied. “We should rinse off your body.”“Have you seen a mark like this?” I asked as I stood up, pointing to the red mark on my hip bone. She swallowed, and her face was turning more red. I already assumed many things. “From my father?” I teased her, and she immediately shook her head. “No. Of course not.” “So… from one of my brothers?” I leaned closer, enjoying the blush on her face. Despite the discomfort on her face, I could say this was the only thing that felt natural in my fairytale life at the moment.
ADESSA.I was not able to sleep at all last night. After Father left my room, I asked Danielle about the Royal Games. She confessed to me she didn’t know the full extent of the event and that what she knew was just hearsay or stories passed on. The Royal Games were not practiced for many decades because no princess had been born in the Royal Family for a long time.And it seemed the King was reviving the tradition because of my existence. Danielle told me what she knew about the game—it was open only for unmated Alphas, regardless of age. Unmated Alphas were those who were never married, as well as widowed or divorced. They were not only open for Alphas of this continent but also extended to other continents. All the while she was talking, I did my best to keep up a brave front, listening and trying to get all the details as possible, even if everything she said kept breaking my heart. I knew Kael loved me, and I was confident he would make an effort, but what if they didn’t le
ADESSA.“This is your room from now on, Adessa.” The King’s voice came from behind me.I slowly turned around to curtsy before him. “Good morning, Father.” I almost said, “My King,” and I was glad I was able to catch myself as I wanted to make a good impression.He nodded but remained in his spot while I continued to smile warmly at him. “This room is for me?” I asked.“Yes.” He replied before he motioned with one hand. “Come here.”One man approached him and handed him a beautiful crown encrusted with clusters of small gemstones. It was sparkling, and just looking at it made my heart thud loudly.“This is a ceremony that should be witnessed by our people, but allow me to be selfish and have this moment alone with you. I will give you a grand coronation the moment you settle with a mate.” I bit my bottom lip. I almost got teary-eyed with his words, but the last part made me worry again.“Kneel down, Princess Adessa. Remember that the only time you will kneel before me is whenever I
ADESSA.I was acting calm compared to the turmoil within me. Everything the King told me led to one thing: I had no freedom to choose who I would end up with. He was implying I should give up Kael and accept whoever ended up as my future husband. I had told him I had been married and that I was no longer pure. He said it didn’t matter anymore. He was sure everyone wanted to have the possibility of ruling Absalom. I felt like I was just a tool for Absalom. I wanted to tell him I didn’t care about his kingdom. I only wanted my husband.But how ironic my life had turned out. What was happening was exactly how my life started with Kael. I was also just a tool to save him—his ego and his heart—from being broken by Desiree. Only this time, I had no idea who I would be marrying. And at least with Kael, he asked me if I wanted to. I was not forced into marriage with him. My eyes stung as I tried to keep from tearing up as we walked down toward the hall where the breakfast banquet was. I co
KAEL. We were the first to arrive and were asked to surrender our treasures. It didn’t take long before a vehicle came, and the challenger team, led by Alpha Randolf, stepped out. And with the smirk plastered on his face, I could tell they were able to snag a treasure. I thought we were waiting for the rest or at least one more team, but the Game Master told us everyone who was supposed to be here was already here and requested Randolf to surrender the treasure they got. They didn’t get just one treasure; they got six. All six treasures of the two teams. I was certain they found the obsidian necklace and Liam’s team still tied up. It was the only explanation for their treasures, but it seemed they also wiped out Alpha Leon’s.I couldn’t believe it, as I thought Leon’s team was stronger than them, but maybe I just didn’t know their full strength. In the end, the twelve became six in an instant. But it didn’t matter to me. In fact, I was grateful. The fewer the contenders, the faste
KAEL.When I turned to Draco, the necklace was not around his neck anymore. Gunner was gripping it tightly, but before I could do anything to help him, Draco shifted, ripping his clothes apart and landing exactly on top of Gunner. I shifted back into my human form and grabbed the necklace from Gunner’s hand while Draco still had his teeth on the side of his shoulder, near his throat. One wrong move, and Draco could snap the vein on his neck, so the fucker stayed paralyzed under his hold. Vaidas, on the other hand, was already dragging forest vines. I helped him, and it didn’t take long before we were able to tie the three of them together under the tree with their hands bound as well. We were about to leave them when Draco returned and took Gunner’s treasure from his pocket. They lied—no one stole his treasure. “You started this game. It’s only fair we play along…” He tossed the ring in the air before catching it, clutching it tightly in his hand and smirking at them. “I don’t thi
KAEL. Deciding what to do with the cloak was making me uneasy. If I were Superman, this would be easy to handle, but how the fuck do I move and kick ass with this thing around me? I could take it off, but I didn’t have the luxury of time to work on the fucking zipper to take out the citrine. And I had nowhere to hide it. They were coming closer. “No matter what happens, we can’t trust anyone. Except for the three of us.” I told them. It was hard to let those words pass my throat because Draco was part of the team, but at this point, with all our fates in this game entwined, it was all or nothing. The sounds of leaves rustling and twigs snapping at the other side of the trees became louder, and the three of us moved into position, ready to leap and attack. But when the faint light beaming from the canopy of the trees as the moon and sun shared the dawn fell on the forms that emerged from the bushes, I heard the sighs of relief from the two men with me.It was Alpha Liam with his tea
KAEL.“I need a quick nap. I haven’t had a good sleep these past few days.” Draco said as he slumped his body under a big oak tree. I wouldn’t believe him if I couldn’t see his face clearly. He did look tired, and bags were under his eyes. This game, or just being here, was certainly tiring him.“We’ll stop for only an hour. We need to move further than the rest.” Prince Vaidas told him.“Who the fuck are you to decide all the time?” Draco sneered at him before closing his eyes. “Don’t forget you’re on this team because of me.”“The hell I care about what team I belong to. I’m not anyone’s puppet.”“I didn’t say you were!” The prince growled. “But resting is not an option until we can secure a long distance from them!”“Unless you fucking know the route of the whole forest, there’s no telling if we are far from them or not. Who knows? We may just be going around in circles only and end up in front of them by the time they are ready to look for us.” Draco told him.That was the same
ADESSA.“The first team: Prince Vaidas. Alpha Kael and Alpha Draco… The second team: Alpha Leon, with…” The Game Master’s voice faded because my mind got stuck with Vaidas, Draco, and Kael on the same team. I was worried the first two would gang up with Kael, and that was not right. But before I could voice my concern to anyone who would dare to listen, Esriel leaned closer and whispered. “Relax. It’s better that he’s on the same team as them.”“Do you know the next challenge?” I asked him. He nodded. “It’s the task Esaias was asked to manage, but since that fraud prince was not really thrilled by this game, he asked me to help him.”I bit my bottom lip, suppressing myself from smiling because he called him a fraud prince. But he was right. The youngest of them certainly had no interest in this game, as our father often scolded him because he never listened during discussions. “Each team needs to protect their treasures within 48 hours, which the challenger needs to steal. The ste
KAEL.I was not bothered about nakedness, but I knew Adessa would be, as I would never want her to be naked in front of many other men. However, I had no option but to move forward, wearing only my shoes. “Can I share my clothes with my Alpha?” Landon asked one of the men watching us.One shook his head in reply before speaking. “Whatever he has with him are the things he would take to the next challenge, so no, you can’t share anything.”“What do you mean, next challenge? Is it immediately after this or tomorrow?” I asked as I tied my shoelace.“After this. Wait for more instructions.” He said this before turning his attention away from us, signaling that this conversation was over. I looked at Landon and found him looking at the other Alphas around us, particularly Draco and his Beta, Roman. Roman was handing him his dagger. I hissed lowly. I left mine at the manor. I thought Draco wanted to help me, but it didn’t seem to be the case. If he really wanted to, he should have told m
ADESSA.“Relax, you looked constipated,” Esriel whispered as he sipped his wine, and I couldn’t stop myself from squinting my eyes at him.I felt betrayed. Aside from the fact that I had no idea what Kael had picked up from underwater, as the cameras were too far, it bothered me that he was the only one who arrived at the riverbank with his full clothes on while the rest were naked. And seeing that after the challenge, the rest of the Alphas were putting their clothes on while my husband remained naked with only his shoes on was pissing me off. “What’s the first clue?” I tilted my head to the right to ask the King politely, even if I was internally furious. “I don’t know.” He replied, and I didn’t want to believe him. Earlier, on our way here, I was able to corner Esriel and ask him where he got the clue. He said Father told him out of nowhere. So I wondered why he didn’t want to admit to me he knew what it was. “Esmond is the one assigned to the clues for this task,” Father added
KAEL.As soon as I received my signal, I dove into the waters. I was fifth to the last, and I could only hope there was still something left for me to take. Aside from the fact that I only had limited time to get to the other side, knowing Draco and Prince Vaidas picked the first and second spots was not helping my confidence.I had already swum almost a hundred meters, but I still couldn’t see any gemstones.I saw a gold coin—something ordinary humans or shifters had no access to—but I doubted Adessa would ever consider money or gold a treasure. But what if it wasn’t her who chose these treasures?But still, I ignored it and swam past it. I also chanced upon a bronze goblet. It took me a while to decide whether it was something related to what we used for breakfast. It certainly looked like the cup we shared earlier, but I was sure this task was prepared even before breakfast, so I swam past it as well. I went to the surface to breathe before diving back in, and after a while, I fin
KAEL.Fuck! Fuck!There were more clues, for sure, not just the one given by Adessa.They were still outside, and I could see them taking off their boxers or briefs. Some already had nothing under their pants. From the expression on their faces, I knew they were celebrating because I was still fucking fully clothed. Only my Beta bore a different expression—he looked defeated, just as I felt. But there was no time to feel sorry. I tried to raise the window beside me, but it was locked. My gaze went to the driver, and I saw his window was open. I hastily grabbed my shoes off my feet and slipped my hand between our seats, throwing my shoes outside.“Hey, you can’t do that!” The driver snarled at me, and I just raised my hands up in surrender as I sat back. He abruptly nodded his head, like he was apologizing, and dropped his gaze. He probably realized I ranked higher than him. I breathed heavily as I waited for someone to throw my shoes back in, but it looked like no one from the outs