Page 34 of His Blue Moon Princess (The Silver City #1)

I open my eyes suddenly, feeling completely awake. I’m still in Damian’s embrace, and it’s still nighttime behind him. What time can it be? I wonder why I’m awake so early.

I don’t feel like moving, though. It feels so warm under the blanket, and I’m surrounded by my mate’s smell. We are so close... When we are next to each other like this, I’m not scared at all. On the contrary, I feel totally safe. So why do I get so scared when Damian wants me?

It’s our mate.

Very softly, I caress the dark tattoo on his neck. The Blood Moon Clan’s black crescent moon. Once I’m officially his mate, will I get one, too? Yesterday, a lot of the lieutenants had it where I could see it. I wonder where I would do mine. Liam, Nathaniel, and Bobo all have it on their chests, and Tonia has hers on her arm.

My fingers go down on his torso, careful not to wake up my man. Sometimes I forget he is six years older than me. He is a full, grown-up man while I still feel like a child. I don’t find myself desirable. I’m thin, with barely any curves, and small breasts. Not to mention my scar...

Maybe that’s my main problem. I don’t see how Damian, or any man, can find me attractive. Marcus considered me like a toy, an object for sexual satisfaction. Somehow, am I afraid Damian is the same?

While lost in my thoughts, I sense Damian moving next to me. He takes my hand that was wandering on his chest and brings it to his lips to kiss it without opening his eyes.

“Sorry. Did I wake you?”

“No. What are you thinking about? I feel your wolf is... worried.”

I don’t know how to say this... And I don’t want to worry him, either. We both stay silent for a while, and I would think he went back to sleep if it wasn’t for his thumb, gently stroking my hand.

“Do you think you would have loved me if it wasn’t for our bond?”

“Yes.”

His immediate and definite reply takes me by surprise.

“But we were just kids...”

“That’s not when I fell in love with you. I liked you as a child, I cherished you, but I really fell for you at the hospital, when we met again. As a man, attracted to a woman. How strong and fragile you were at the same time. I loved that,” he whispers gently.

“Really?”

“Yes. I told you. I can wait, but I still want you, Nora.”

“I thought that I’m... I’m not... desirable.”

He opens his eyes and moves, shifting to stand on his arms above me. He leans to give me a long, deep kiss. Slowly, his lips take mine over, and I respond unconditionally. When he stops, he is smiling again.

“Moon Goddess, you are desirable, Nora. That’s why I want you so bad.”

He goes down, landing soft kisses on my neck, and I feel one of his hands grabbing my waist gently. I let him do so without moving, just closing my eyes and enjoying this. Is it because it’s Damian that this feels so good? I’m shivering under his lips, but it’s from pleasure this time. I don’t feel any fear, just this slow fire burning on my skin wherever he touches me. I can tell he is hesitating, watching my reactions, but I really am not afraid the slightest this time. So, I put my hand on his neck, gently stroking his hair while his kisses keep coming.

I feel his large hand adventuring lower. He caresses my leg, my bare skin shivering under his fingers. Damian is deliberately acting gentle and cautious, and I love it. That fire under my skin is not calming down. I caress his cheek and come to claim a kiss from him. He seems a bit surprised, but he doesn’t resist. His fingers go up again, shifting from my leg to my waist, under the shirt this time. I gasp. I can barely breathe; this is so intense and thrilling. I claim more of Damian’s lips, and I feel his hand hesitate a bit before he starts fondling my breast. Oh, my gosh... Damian’s hand is really touching me this way, and I like it, I really do. So much that I hear my own breathing accelerating on its own, and my heartbeat quickens without warning. This is how it is supposed to be. Thrilling, intimate. Something we both really want. I gather my courage and start kissing his neck, right where his tattoo is. I can feel his reaction: a shiver of pleasure. His hand runs through my hair, grabbing it and playing with my curls between his fingers. The other hand leaves my breast, to adventure further down...

“Damian! Nora! Time for breakfast, guys! I’m starving!”

We both freeze, startled by Liam’s yelling. I completely forgot he slept here, too! This is so embarrassing! I blush uncontrollably, but Damian growls and takes his hands off me.

“I might really kick his ass this time…”

I can’t help but chuckle a bit at his annoyed expression. Liam is so... Oh, well. I still kiss Damian’s cheek quickly to stop his frowning. My mate growls a bit, but he eventually sighs and kisses me back.

He doesn’t get up right away, and instead leans on the side to look at me, his fingers still playing with my hair.

“You looked okay.”

I felt more than okay. I nod, playing with the little spikes of his beard with my fingers.” I think I’m getting there...”

“That’s good to hear,then. Stay in bed a bit longer. I’ll take a shower real quick and then we can feed that annoying brother of mine.”

“Okay.”

He gives me another kiss before going, a proper one this time. I can’t go back to sleep now, I’m still way too awake and excited! Instead, when Damian leaves the room, I reminisce about what just happened. I can’t believe we just almost...! If it wasn’t for Liam’s stomach!

The places where Damian’s hands touched are still hot. Is that what making love is all about? It felt like my heart was about to burst out! Yet, I think I wanted more, and it would have been okay not to stop there. Gosh, since when did I became so confident?

“Nora, Bobo’s here!” Liam yells. “He got you some clothes.”

Oh, right! I almost forgot about yesterday’s events. Most of my clothes must have been ripped out back then. Did Bobo manage to find something he could save? I get up and check myself in the mirror. Aside from being a bit red, I guess I look fine. The wrinkled t-shirt and messy hair can be attributed to the sleeping, anyway. I get out of Damian’s bedroom and find Liam and Bobo in the salon.

“Hello, sleepyhead. Hey, what’s with those rosy cheeks? Don’t tell me you and my brother got naughty so early?”

Gosh, that idiotic and nosy Liam! I ignore him and walk up to Bobo. He is in his human form, wearing some baggy pants and a hoodie. I go hug my best friend, happy to see him.

“Hi, Princess. I got you some new clothes.”

He hands me a large bag with some brand’s name on it.

“New clothes?”

“I figured you wouldn’t want anything that sicko might have touched, so Tonia did some shopping for you last night. You can just text her if you need anything else.”

He is right on that one... I don’t even feel like I could step into that apartment ever again. I inspect the bag’s content, but Tonia knows my tastes well. All those clothes are ones that I would have picked myself.

“Thank you, Bobo, this is perfect.”

I grab a set of underwear, a winter dress, and thick black tights to go with it, and head back to Damian’s bedroom.

“What about me? I don’t even get a morning hug?”

“Have you changed your mind yet about going to the Sapphire Moon Clan?”

“Nope. I still think this is a terrible idea.”

I had hoped he may have thought it over overnight. It seems like I was wrong. When I get back, Damian is out of the shower and busy buttoning his shirt. He gives me an interrogating look since he probably heard Liam’s yelling.

“You’re giving him the cold treatment?” He asks with a smile.

“Just for a while. Liam is too annoying, sometimes.”

“I can only agree with you on that...”

I take a quick shower and get dressed. I put on my favorite jewelry, the earrings Bobo got me, and Damian’s necklace. Once I’m ready, I join Damian, and we both head to the living room. Liam is busy playing on his smartphone, and Damian takes it from him.

“Hey! I was about to finish that level!”

“Liam, listen. You are accompanying Nora to work this morning. You just have two hours of classes, today, right?”

“Yeah. Can I skip those?”

Damian clicks his tongue, and Liam forgets about skipping.

“After you drop Nora off, you go to school, and then you head back to Nate’s restaurant. Got it?”

“What, I’m playing bodyguard now?”

“Exactly. We are still looking into what happened in that apartment and the intruder. So, for today, you are watching Nora too.”

“Yeah, yeah, got it...”

I am a bit surprised that Damian decided to ask Liam to watch me, too, but I don’t say anything. I don’t believe he would make any compromise, anyway. Moreover, this way, I can have Liam with me all day today and not raise any suspicions.

The four of us have breakfast downstairs in the Company cafeteria, like last time. I hope this doesn’t become a routine; I miss cooking for the guys. At some point, Damian’s phone vibrates, and he frowns.

“I have to go... You two, don’t leave Nora. See you later, Love.”

He gives me a quick goodbye kiss and runs off upstairs to his office. As soon as Damian is out of sight, I turn to Liam.

“Liam, please.”

“I said no, Nora! This is way too dangerous!”

“What is it?” Asks Bobo

I explain my plan to Boyan, though I don’t mention the Witch on purpose. It’s not hard to ignore the butterfly on my shoulder since Liam and Bobo can’t see it. When I am done, Bobo is frowning.

“I don’t like it either, Nora. This is risky.”

“Thank you! That is what I have been telling the Princess for two days now!”

I growl at Liam. Why does he have to be such a chicken now!

No matter how long I plead in the car when Bobo drives me to work, Liam is not changing his mind at all. When we arrive, I’m kind of mad at him, but it’s his turn to ignore me. So, I go to work as usual, while he goes to school.

The restaurant surprisingly functions just as usual despite yesterday’s events, just with a bit fewer customers. Meanwhile, I’m still thinking about how to go to the Sapphire Moon territory. I have a location, but I am not confident at all about crossing at least two werewolf territories to go there on my own. That’s why I was really hoping Liam would help me. When it’s finally time for my break, I go to the changing room, and, to my surprise, I get a text from Liam.

“All right, I will take you there. But be ready to follow my terms. This is going to be super dangerous.”

He said, yes! I re-read Liam’s text, but even with those conditions of his, that won’t stop me. I’m tired of being useless and overprotected. This time, with the Witch’s help, I can finally do something.

However, Liam is right. So far, I barely know anything about the Sapphire Moon Clan. I am not going to be reckless a second time, going there without any information. So, when I resume work, I try to interrogate Elise and Kathy as we keep working.

Fortunately, both girls’ act as usual despite what happened yesterday. Most of my co-workers had no clue about my background until now. After yesterday’s events and Damian barging in the restaurant yelling my name, some of the staff changed their attitudes towards me. Apparently, being the Alpha King’s fated mate is something scary enough that some of them don’t even dare ask anything of me anymore. I don’t really mind, though, since Chef Michel and Narcissa have no problem ordering me around as usual. I don’t feel like I’m working less or privileged, just that some of the staff members are wary of me. I try not to mind; it was bound to happen eventually.

Elise and Kathie didn’t hide how surprised they were, but that was it. A bit of questioning and gossip, and the day resumed as usual. So, as we are busy cleaning the tables, I try to ask them about the Sapphire Moon Clan, without really giving them the real reasons for it.

“Well, they are a very secretive Clan, you know,” says Elise.

“That is right. I heard they don’t really like interacting with other Clans... It is hard to approach them,” adds Kathie.

“That is what I heard. But don’t tell me no one knows a thing about such a big Clan?”

I grab a few dishes to bring back to the kitchen, and Kathie follows right behind with a handful of dirty napkins. While we walk, she keeps talking, trying to remember all she can think of with a cute frown on.

“My father said they came to Silver City when he was a kid. It was before the Black Moon Alpha, when the Snow Moon Clan was still around and the strongest Pack. Apparently, they had to fight a lot to finally find their place in Silver City. That’s probably why they don’t like the other Clans.”

“But they do get along with the Violet Clan, right?”

“Now that you mention it...”

We place everything we are carrying for the garbage boy to take care of, but instead of going out of the kitchen, Kathie takes me to the staff’s meeting room. Some guys from the kitchen staff are there, chatting and laughing around cups of coffee and some leftovers.

“Hey Mickey, you got a second?”

One of the guys raises his head and gives her a smile. “I even got a full minute for you, sweetheart.”

He stands up and walks up to us. Mickey is one of the sous-chefs usually in charge of cooking the fish dishes; I’ve helped him a couple of times. He stands at the door with his coffee.

“What’s up, ladies?”

“Mickey, didn’t your sister marry into the Violet Moon Clan? Nora was curious about the Sapphire Moon Clan; do you know anything?”

He frowns, a bit taken aback by the question, and turns to me. “What do you want to know?”

“Why do they hate the Blood Moon Clan so much? Or even the other Clans? I heard the Violet Moon Clan is the only one they trust, is that true?”

Mickey nods and takes a sip of his coffee before answering. “I don’t know the details, but my big sis said the Sapphire Moon came from the North about fifty years ago. They came here with a large pack, and though they had a lot of wealth, most of the Clans here treated them like rogues and made it hard for them to establish themselves here.”

“Except the Violet Moon Clan?” I ask.

“That’s the thing. The Violet Moon Clan was three times smaller back then, and they were struggling, too— fighting a lot with the others and everything. That’s how they grew to be damn good fighters. So, the only ally they found was the only Clan that was having it harder than they did. Both Clans helped each other and grew stronger together. The Sapphire Moon had money; the Violet Moon had warriors. You can do the math.”

Of course. Those two are the most important things for a werewolf pack to survive. If they had it, no doubt the Sapphire and Violet Moon Clans could make it. It also explains a lot their attitude towards the other Clans, if they resented them for giving them a hard time. Is that why they hated Damian’s father so much?

“You got business with them, princess?” He asks.

I jump hearing Mickey calling me that, but then I remember this is just what he usually calls me when we are not working. He is quite the sweet-talker and has a nickname for every female staff member here, except Narcissa. How ironic it is that mine turned to be that one...

“Maybe. I was wondering if I can get to talk with them...”

“That might be hard, they are as hard to approach as the rumors say. I get you are not a member of the pack yet, but I suppose they would consider you as a rogue with no background, and those guys value blood over anything else. My sister said they are acting kind of mighty, with the Royals and all.”

Oh, Moon Goddess, is that for real? I try to stop my hands from shaking. “What did you say? The Royals?”

“Yeah. You know, the werewolf purebloods? The Sapphire Moon is totally into that stuff. I heard they are loosely related to Royals, so they are really into it. They respect blood purity over anything else. It’s kind of old school, but...”

“That’s great!”

They both look at me with surprised eyes, but I’m so happy right now. This is exactly what I was looking for! Kathie and Mickey exchange a look before turning to me.

“That’s great?” Ask Kathie, looking lost.

“Sorry Kathie, I guess I will explain later. But thank you, Mickey, that is exactly what I needed to hear!”

I give him a quick thank-you kiss on the cheek and run off, leaving the two of them stunned. I go back to the changing room and try to calm down. The Witch’s butterfly acts just as excited as I am, flying all around me. Did he understand what Mickey said, too? I look for my wolf internally, and it’s not hard to feel her; she raises her head as soon as I do. She is so in sync with me these days, I forget she is even there sometimes.

“Liam! Liam, I just heard the greatest news! The Sapphire Moon Clan totally respect the Royals!Do you hear that?”

“Great. Now we can go, and I am the only one who is going to get killed. Awesome.”

I growl at him. Can’t he be a bit more enthusiastic?

“Liam!”

“Don’t yell in my head! This class is giving me enough of a headache as it is!”

“Are you still not done?”

“In ten long minutes. Anyway, when do you want to go to let’s-all-get-killed land?

“As soon as you can come? I don’t want to delay this any longer. Plus, I don’t work tonight, and Damian will probably be stuck with work until late.”

“You mean until he realizes we are gone.”

Well, I guess Liam is right despite his pessimism. Damian is really going to get mad at us… I won’t tell him that, though, so after I make him promise to come straight to the restaurant after school, I call Bobo. He is not happy about my plan either, and clearly concerned about my security, but he doesn’t stop me as long as he can come along.