Moon Guardian

Chapter 29... The Lions Den

You guys are the best readers anyone could ask for. *Sniff*

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She'd rehearsed it a thousand times. She would walk in- no glide in, on a breeze, casual and simple she reminded herself, she'd sit opposite him and they would talk, make jokes and conversation and then, then she'll just say the words, like they were nothing.

"Lucas and I are getting married." Easy as pie.

Resolved, Luna poised her hand to knock.

"You look like you're about to enter the lions den." Startled she jumped. Behind her, with his hands in his pockets, his eyes gleamed green and mischievous.

Nathaniel. She squinted in annoyance, "How long have you been standing there?"

He pushed away from the wall. His hand ruffled her hair playfully, "Long enough to hear about your engagement."

How did she not notice... never mind. She shook her head as though to clear its thoughts, "Well you're the first to know then. I was planning on telling Theo..." her sentence trailed off with a smile, slow and thoughtful.

His eyes narrowed, "No."

"But-"

"No. Not on your life, papa's, Emily's or even Monique."

"Coincidentally, Martha baked me a cake with," she added with flourish "a batch of chocolate cookies." She shrugged nonchalantly "But if you-"

He smiled, a brilliant toothy grin. "Would I ever leave my sister in her time of need?" without further ado, he pushed the door open. "Theo!"

He didn't look up, but they knew he was listening. Black wisps of hair curtained his features and draped his shoulders. He needed a haircut, Luna noted.

"What is it?"

For a beat, neither of them spoke then both sentences flowed out at once.

"We have something to say."

"Luna has something to tell you."

On hearing Nathaniel's words she turned to glare at him. "What!"

He shrugged. "What?"

Theodore sighed, "What?"

They turned to face him, and for a moment, he could have sworn they'd been born of the same womb. "Luna..." Nathaniel pushed his little sister forward slightly, "was coming to see you, something of great importance."

"That I know absolutely nothing about." He added as an afterthought.

Curse him. Luna steeled her shoulders, "Lucas and I are getting married." The words came out rushed a little guilty. Why was she guilty? She was getting married.

His shoulders stiffened.

"I see. That's good news." he said as he looked up at her.

She felt a weight lift off her shoulders, and her mouth curved to reveal a full-toothed smile. "It is isn't it? I'm so happy. I can't wait to tell papa, and Emily, Martha will be beside herself!"

She rushed to him, placing a flurry of kisses all over his face, cheeks, mouth, then dashed out, probably to give papa the great news.

"That was... wow." He'd forgotten Nathaniel was there.

"She went from nervous to over the moon in less than a second."

"Nervous?"

Nathaniel couldn't help the smile, Theodore looked genuinely confused. The man had no idea. Damn clueless "idiot."