Alpha King’s Lost Luna by Aubrey Pepper

Chapter 40 Dinner with his stepmother

CA SSANDRA

Erika was preparing to leave for the evening when we heard a knock at the door. It was the end of the day, so I was surprised by the sound.

Who was there at this hour?

“I’ll get it,” Erika said in a helpful tone, and before I could stop her and do it myself, the maid went to the chamber door. On the other side stood-a se rvant dressed in the royal family’s colors.

“Hello,” I addressed him, and I took a step forward. “Can I help you?”

“Lady Adalyn and Mistress Margaret sent me to deliver a message,” the se rvant said politely. “They wish to invite you to dinner, Miss Ca ssandra, as a token of their gratitude for curing the Alpha King and Prince Marco.”

I was instantly taken aback.

Adalyn and Margaret wanted my company?

This was a trap. It had to be. Why else would the pair of vicious and vengeful women seek out my company?

The room fell silent as I considered my options..

There was no part of me that wanted to go through with this. And yet, despite my suspicions, I knew I couldn’t deny their invitation. The se rvant wasn’t asking me if I wanted to come, he was simply the messenger sent to retrieve me.

Adalyn and Margaret wanted something from me, that much was certain, and I knew they were both capable of going to great lengths to get their way, sol needed to cooperate.

“Can you watch Finnick for just a while longer?” I requested and Erika nodded wholeheartedly.

“Of course, Miss Ca ssandra,” she said, and then she gestured forward. “Now, go along. It’s best not to keep your company waiting.”

tone said what we both were thinking- Adalyn

stared into the mirror and made sure I was presentable. After I ran a quick comb through my

for Erika,” I instructed Finnick, and I gave him a small smile. “I’l be back later this evening.”

nodded politely.

curly hair, I turned back to the se rvant. He held the door open for me,and then we stepped out into the hall. The moment the door closed behind us, a lump formed in my throat.

a deep breath and forced myself to find some calmness. I

to a dining room on the first floor. I was a little surprised that we weren’t dining in the larger chamber, but I wasn’t about to complain. I normally ate with Finnick

I set foot in the room, I could feel an awkwardness in the

streaks of

table at the center of the room. When my eyes met theirs, a shiver traveled down my spine. Their steel-like gazes were chilling and

was going

was I here?

Margaret greeted me in a sickly-sweet tone. “So nice

guided me to the seat opposite of Adalyn. “Thank you for inviting

with a slight tilt of her head. “It’s nothing compared to what you’ve done for our family. Treating my son and grandson in such a short amount of time. They’re lucky to have had you

nothing,” I murmured.

the air. “Nonsense. Don’t be, dismissive, healer. Your quick thinking saved both of their

stepmother continued on, I could feel Adalyn glaring at me from across the table. I was certain she wanted to interrogate me and ask what L was doing in Asher’s study every day, but there was no chance of that happening with Margaret in the room. The older woman was too much of a force to allow that kind of indecency,

sair when Margaret finished and sipped at her wine.

rvant, a

refilled Margaret’s glass, and then came around and filled mine and Adalyn’s. I wasn’t much for wine, but I politely smiled anyway when she

I whispered. The se rvant nodded and then quietly snuck out of the chamber

moment, and then

in the glass. “Why did my son

that was it.