Forever Luna

Authority

noun ~ the power or right to give orders or make decisions

NOVA

The 'tearoom' was similar to our garden room. A large glass table seated eight wicker chairs, each decorated with a cream pillow and ribboned back. The moment we entered the room and chose a seat, servers scuttled into the room and placed down tea kettles. My nose curled, wishing I took the name of the room literally.

"Excuse me." Pheonix muttered.

A woman paused, her body tense as she turned to face Phoenix. I watched with a frown, wondering why he was cornering her.

"Yes, Alpha?" She bowed her head.

"My mate cannot stomach tea. Do you think you could bring her some warm cordial?"

"Y-yes, Alpha." She glimpsed at me. "Any flavour?"

My lips parted with an answer, but Phoenix beat me to it.

"Fruity. Blackcurrant or summer fruits." He stated. "Please."

Her eyes widened, unable to limit her eye contact as she stared at him. As if realising what she was doing, she dipped her head and scurried from the room.

"Still scaring the maids, Phoenix?" Alexandar teased.

Phoenix turned to face the fable, his shoulders rolling with a shrug. "It is hard to fight a reputation."

"Yes, but that reputation protects you." Alexandar points out. "It is a thick armour."

"It isn't a way to befriend somebody." My mate shakes his head.

"People are going to see through the cracks in your amour, Phoenix." He stated. "Perhaps that is a reason you are having issues."

My mate's jaw tightened, his fingers flexing around Belle's chunky little leg. I knew he wouldn't hurt the babies, but Alexandar was agitating him. Despite Phoenix's calm, quiet nature, he always drew the line at insulting and blaming people for actions out of their control.

"I will soon put anyone who questions me into their place." My mate stated. "You would be one of those people to remember that, Alexandar."

The king tensed, his jaw flexing at my mate's threat. They held eye contact for a few seconds before Alexandar dipped his gaze to his mug. He picked it up, diffusing the tension as he took a sip.

Phoenix lost some of his tense posture, but I couldn't help fixating on the way Alexandar gave up the dominance trait so soon. I was certain that the realisation the king just submitted to him was why Phoenix was still tense. Now he was agitated for a whole other reason.

The king shouldn't give up so easily. Even I knew that. Heck, even glancing at Kelsey by the door, I could tell she knew that, too. James was at the other end of the room, facing the window, but I heard him shift his weight, clearing his throat softly.

The server from before entered then, a warm glass of blackcurrant in her grasp. She placed it before me with a gentle bow, and I thanked her kindly. It was enough to diffuse the tension, and I gently bounced Freddy on my knee as I took a sip of my drink.

It was an odd taste, but pregnant me loved it. Phoenix was way too attentive and knew practically everything about me. Every twitch of my nose, curl of my lip or crease of a frown, he knew what it meant.

Theia cleared her throat. "Shall we move on?"

"I think that's a good idea." I agreed.

I knew it was time for me to feed the twins, their faces curled up with anger. Now they were on solids they didn't need milk so much, which was oddly a blessing for my pumping skills. Today, however, it was going to be straight from the tap. I could tandem feed easily, but I felt awkward in front of the damn royal family with my boob out, and covered myself as I fed Freddy.