The Vampire's Luna
Chapter 18: Lady Antebellum - Need You Now

Chapter 18: Lady Antebellum - Need You Now

Talon tilted his head, smile fading to something thoughtful. "You’re looking at it from your perspective. You think he’s sacrificing freedom. But he doesn’t see it that way."

She looked at him, confused.

"He’s not giving up anything, Luna. He’s gaining you. That’s the prize to him. Not the crown. Not the palace. You. He’s gonna love being groomed for the throne if you’re beside him. Even if you drive him crazy. Especially if you drive him crazy."

She didn’t answer. Couldn’t. Her heart stuttered somewhere between guilt and awe, because she wasn’t sure if she was worthy of someone choosing her that completely. Not when half of her heart still burned quietly, secretly—for another. fre ewe bnove l.com

And still, her eyes drifted back to Kyllian—sweaty, laughing, beautiful—and she wondered, was it possible to fall in love with someone simply because they believed in you more than you believed in yourself?

"He always had a thing for you," Talon said, shrugging. "He just never thought it would become an... arrangement."

Luna’s eyes slowly shifted back to Kyllian, who was now crouched down tying a little boy’s boot. That’s the man I’m marrying, she thought, swallowing the lump in her throat. She had chosen him—out of duty, yes—but the choice had been hers in the end. And now, she needed to figure out how to get Damien out of her mind before her marriage vows became a twisted love triangle with no survivors.

Kyllian deserved a clean slate, not the shadow of another man looming behind every kiss or soft moment. She owed him that much.

Just then, her eyes narrowed.

A young woman in tight training leggings and a cropped tank top sauntered across the courtyard. The kids instantly perked up at her presence, but it wasn’t them she was focused on. No, her destination was clear—straight to Kyllian.

Luna watched as the woman casually patted a child’s shoulder before drifting closer to Kyllian. She leaned in to speak, her mouth a bit too close to his ear, her fingers playfully brushing his chest as she laughed at something he said.

Luna’s jaw tightened.

"Let me guess," she said dryly, not even glancing at Talon this time, "that was supposed to be your Luna before me?"

Talon cleared his throat and took a strategic half-step away from her. "No one was promised Luna," he said, hands raised.

"But there’s more to them, isn’t there?"

Talon hesitated, and that was answer enough.

"Let’s just say..." he began with a tight smile, "he wasn’t exactly a monk."

*****

Kyllian drove them back to the palace, one hand on the wheel, the other resting with ease on the center console, inches from hers. Luna sat stiffly, arms crossed. She couldn’t believe she’d actually survived the marriage preparation classes without strangling the sex ed instructor.

The woman had no filter.

But worse than the classes was her own body.

Her traitorous, curious, confused body.

Because every time Kyllian made a joke in that deep, teasing tone of his, or "accidentally" brushed her arm, or looked at her like he knew exactly how to touch her and where—her core lit up. She blamed the classes. Had to blame the classes. What else could explain the fluttering in her belly every time he leaned in close.

She looked over at him now, his jaw ticking as he focused on the road, and for a fleeting moment, she wondered what he’d do if she leaned over and kissed him. Right there in the car. Right now.

She blinked, horrified by her own thoughts.

The road stretched ahead as the car left behind the countryside. Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her dress as the looming reality began to set in—by tomorrow night, she would be Mrs. Rykers. A wife. A Luna.

Her life as she knew it was ending. And another was waiting, unknown and wide.

"We’ll be back here tomorrow night," Kyllian said, cutting through her thoughts. "You don’t have to look so sad."

"What?" she blinked, caught off guard.

"I’m just joking," he smirked, eyes still on the road but amusement tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Luna rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the small smile that broke through. "Actually... I’ll miss Talon."

Kyllian chuckled, glancing at her briefly. "He’ll be at the castle later tonight to help with the arrangements. Don’t worry, you’ll get your Talon fix."

She nodded, pressing her forehead to the cool window. The scenery blurred past, but her mind remained static. She felt the air shift slightly as Kyllian’s tone softened.

"Are you nervous?" he asked.

"About going back to the palace?"

"No," he said gently. "About marrying me."

She turned to look at him then. She wasn’t expecting the question, but it was fair. Still, instead of answering directly, she arched a brow. "Actually, I have a question about that. Word around the pack is... you’re a bit of a stud."

Kyllian let out a laugh that echoed in the small cabin of the car. "A stud, huh?"

"Well, yes. How many women am I going to be competing with?" Luna asked, lips pursed, arms folded.

"None," he replied without missing a beat.

Luna squinted at him, clearly not buying it. "Lies. Talon said you hadn’t exactly been living like a monk."

"Did you expect me to?" he quipped, flashing her a grin. "Besides, your question was who are you competing with. And the answer is still none. I intend to honor my vows. Fully."

She scowled, folding her arms tighter. "It’s not fair. You’ve had experience. I haven’t."

"You want experience? I’ll stop the car and give you some right now."

Luna’s head whipped toward him, eyes wide. "You wouldn’t dare."

His smirk grew. "Don’t tempt me, Princess."

She turned back to the window, cheeks blooming red. But her lips twitched. "I think you’re enjoying this too much."

"I know I am," he grinned. "But I also think you’re jealous."

"I’m not jealous," she muttered.

"Yes, you are," he teased. "You’ve been thinking about all the things I’ve done and now you’re curious. Wondering what it’d be like. With me."

She gasped, appalled. "I’m not!"

"You’re blushing."

"I’m sunburnt!"

"There’s no sun."

"I’m not jealous, Kyllian,"

Kyllian glanced sideways, one brow cocked, a knowing grin playing on his lips. "I think you are. I mean, I would be. If you’d been with other men."

She turned to him fully, curiosity flaring. "Why?"