Claiming His Luna

Cercei’s POV

“Pleasure to meet you again, My Lady,” the way he accentuated the word ‘again’ with a sly grin grated on my nerves. Nevertheless, I dared not offer even the faintest hint of displeasure. After all, here we were, inside his territory, asking for his help.

There was not a single word that escaped my lips; not even a flicker of my brows betrayed my thoughts. The only thing plastered on my face right now is seriousness as I scrutinized him closely, searching for any distinctions that set us apart.

Holding negative thoughts about him and passing judgement while we were both involved in similar schemes felt a bit self-centred. Deep down, my loyalty still belonged to Lucian, making me feel less treacherous than him. However, claiming this loyalty seemed feeble after everything I’d done secretly, running away and betraying Lucian once more.

Still, my blood boiled at the mere sight of Lord Drogo. A traitor to the North!

“I assumed you both must be tired from your journey. Escaping the Red Mansion must have been quite a challenge, wouldn’t you agree?” he taunted boldly. Anger gnawed at me as my teeth clenched.

“Yes, it was,” I quickly replied. “You’ve been there many times. I’m sure you noticed how heavily guarded it is.” I couldn’t help but respond, and I detected a hint of amusement on his face as he tilted his head slightly.

“Oh, yes, I’ve been there a few times,” he replied with a double meaning, maintaining eye contact and wearing a fake smile, or so I thought. My fists had clenched without me realising it, but Vienna steadied it with her grip.

I turned to look at her, her eyes silently urging restraint. And so, I acquiesced, inhaling deeply to regain my composure.

“Yes, Lord Drogo, we are indeed tired and would greatly appreciate some rest,” Vienna spoke with unruffled composure.

“As you wish, my lady,” he gestured toward his group of servants, who quickly gathered before us.

“Escort Alpha Remus’s daughters to their rooms and ensure their comfort,” he commanded, and they nodded in unison before ushering us away.

The gaze between Lord Drogo and me remained unbroken throughout this exchange, even as Vienna began to lead me away.

“Put on a fucking façade of nice behavior,” she hissed, her words urgent and scolding me.

“He’s a traitor!” I hissed back.

Vienna cast a furtive glance around to check if the servants were listening, but they all had their heads bowed, trailing behind us. She remained silent and followed suit.

They ushered us into a spacious room illuminated by emerald-hued crystals, creating an otherworldly atmosphere. A massive crystalline structure in the room’s center stood among the unfamiliar objects. Could it possibly serve as a seat? How could anyone find comfort on such an unconventional throne?

Lord Drogo, a member of Northern royalty, possessed immense wealth, causing him to betray Lucian. A hidden tension knotted my jaw as I contemplated the audacity of someone inside Lucian’s territory, a possible threat to him. Could it be that he desired to seize the throne and lead the North if Lucian failed to become a great Alpha King?

“Hey, what are you thinking?” Vienna whispered near my ear, which wrenched me back to the present.

“Nothing, just a bit tired,” I replied quickly without looking at her.

“Pull yourself together, Cercei. We’re here now, and Lord Drogo promised to assist us until we escape Northern territory,” Vienna’s voice held a harsh edge.

I stayed silent until we entered the room they had provided.

Inside the room, two grand beds stood beside ornate tables, a luxurious bathroom, and a breathtaking panoramic view. Under different circumstances, it would have been a place of wonder and joy.

“Leave us,” Vienna instructed the servants. As soon as the door closed behind us, she approached me swiftly.

“What the hell was that, Cercei?” she started, her tone frustrated. I rolled my eyes and strode away, wanting to rest by one of the beds closer to the window.

“He’s a traitor,” I retorted as if it were the definitive answer she wanted to hear.

“He’s the one helping us!” Vienna shot back, her voice strained, teeth clenched.

“He’s not doing it out of kindness; it’s for your father,” I quickly replied in a loud voice. Lord Drogo is no fool nor a saint. I don’t know why he’s disloyal to the North, but one thing’s for sure: he wants power from the South to defeat Lucian.

“It doesn’t matter. We must maintain politeness,” she growled, clearly vexed by my attitude. For the nth time, I rolled my eyes and perched myself on the bed.

“I am playing the part of ‘nice.’ If I weren’t, his heart would already be separate from his body,” I stated with chilling detachment.

“What’s gotten into you? You’re supposed to be the composed and compassionate one,” she uttered, her disappointment was noticeable, striking me to the core.

I couldn’t believe what I’d just said. I’m not usually this irritable. What’s happening to me?

“Fine! Do as you wish,” I gave up, looking tired.

“I’ll play nice,” I added swiftly, at least until this ordeal ended.

“Good,” she sighed and retreated to the bathroom.

I gazed at the closed bathroom door, a musing smile curling my lips at how the roles had reversed. Now, Vienna was the composed and level-headed one while I became stubborn.

Meanwhile, I pondered why I was easily annoyed and constantly angry. I’d also become more sensitive lately, experiencing frequent headaches and occasional stomach aches. I often fell ill, especially in the mornings or when exposed to unpleasant odours, like the overwhelming scent of food that recently bothered me.

I lowered myself gently onto the soft bed, appreciating this one aspect of our surroundings. This expansive, cloud-like, feather-strewn bed was the sole pleasing part of our dire situation.

It felt all the more luxurious, considering I had spent the past two days sleeping on literal tree roots. The sensation of the mattress enveloping my tired body was similar to being cradled by the heavens.

It didn’t take long until I was completely asleep. My entire existence shut off as I fell into a deep sleep.