•unedited•

•Chapter Twelve•

The server makes her rounds again offering people refills, she stops in front of me and smiles down bowing slightly. A slight blush appears on my cheeks and I smile lightly before answering.

"I'm fine for now thank you though" I say.

She becomes very flustered by my answer and stumbles back bowing even more, "of course L-Luna-" she stops mid-sentence her eyes flickering to my left where Xander is sitting. Her terrified eyes move back to mine and she curtseys for the millionth time sending me an apologetic smile. "Sorry I meant Alice" she bows once more before scurrying out of the room.

I turn around in my seat to face my plate and realize everyone's eyes are on me, I let out an embarrassing snort and cover my mouth with my hand. "S-Sorry... nerves..." I glance over at Xander and notice his eyes which are glued to the far wall.

I let out a huff in exasperation, this whole situation is so confusing, I wasn't even supposed to stay for supper but Xander's parents insisted. I was about to take my leave after the major fight between Xander and the King but before I could race out of there Xander's Mom pulled me aside and insisted I stay for dinner so she could get to know me.

It confused me because what was there to get to know I was pretty pathetic, I was a sad soul filled with nothing but darkness my whole life no happiness filling that gap.

"So, Alice why did you decide to work here?" The Queen pipes up her beautiful clear blue eyes turning to meet mine, she smiles gracefully as she lifts her glass of wine and takes a sip her lips barely touching the rim.

The king clears his throat and I instantly remember the question, "oh, right. Well my grandfather has been sick and since he isn't able to work I've moved here to help him with the bills" I say taking my glass of water and chugging it totally aware of the three pares of eyes watching me.

"What happened to him?" She asks, seeming genuinely curious.

My smile falters slightly and I know Xander sensed it because he stiffens and clenches his fists which are at his side, "seizure" I say wanting to be finished with this topic.

She was about to ask another question when Xander interrupts saving me from a potential panic attack, "so who will be attending the ball tomorrow?" Xander ask's his mother steering the conversation in a different direction and I'm glad he did because I wouldn't have been able to last much longer.

"Oh, loads of people, Ms. Godridge and her husband Hubert, their three children Amelia their youngest daughter, Theandra the eldest and Charles the middle child..." The queen says getting lost in thought.

"They are lovely people, I think you'd especially like Theandra a wonderful lady looking for a potential bachelor to court her" The king says eyeing Xander with a knowing glare.

Xander scoffs and lowers his head his eyes fluttering over to me, "this meal is over I'll see you all tomorrow," Xander shoves away from the table and stands coming behind me, he helps me out of my seat and blush a ruby red when my hand stands into his warm grasp, his gazed down at me with his cold glare, "and I'll see you later tomorrow be sure to wear something acceptable" his eyes skirt down the length of my outfit then to the bandage still wrapped securely around my neck.

He bows once more to his parents then strides off down down unknown hallway, I turn awkwardly to his parents who are still seated at the table.

"Well I should be going but it was lovely meeting you both" I say curtsying then smiling at both the Queen and King.

The queen smiles back nodding but when I look to the king his face holds no emotion very much like Xander's when he looks at me, he simply removes his gaze from me and brings his fork to his plate.

I take my as my time to leave, I turn and walk swiftly down to the main loft my breathing becomes ecstatic at the thought of tomorrow and seeing Xander all dressed up I blush at the thought then my mind thinks back to my dream when I was held securely in his arms his warm embrace enveloping me.

I sigh and pull in my boots and coat, before shutting the door I swear I see a shadowy figure near the top of the spiral stair case staring down at me, I shake off the feeling of unease and close the grand doors behind me.

I yelp when I bump into someone standing behind me out side, I turn and am met with a large bulky chest my eyes flicker up and meet Leo's hard haze cast behind me.

"Miss you must get to your car, it is not safe at this time, he says and pushes me down the steps leading away from the beautiful castle, its majestic beauty making me not believe how I had the chance to work here.

"You don't have to walk me, I know where I'm going" I mumble quietly unsure if Leo heard me.

He grunts, "it's not safe at night, anything could be crawling out in the woods"

My gaze shoots towards the dark trees and goosebumps litter my skin, fear creeps up my spine and I move closer to Leo for assurance and hopefully protection if somehow something were to come out of the woods.

We finally make it to my car and I all but run to it and unlock the door, I open the door and am about to slip in, "oh thanks for walking me" I say glancing up at Leo, an emotion passes through his eyes and he stands straighter and nods. It was something like pride at being acknowledged by me.

"Just make sure not to stray far from the path, stay in the light and run from darkness" he says as I take a seat in my car.

I turn back to Leo to ask what that mean but he is already gone the darkness filtering towards me, I close my car door quickly and start it taking off down the winding road. The rest of the ride my mind never strays from what Leo said what did he mean by stay in the light and run from darkness. I had no clue.

➰

A loud ring wakes me, I open my eyes and squint at the source of the sound my cell phone vibrates on the night stand, I reach out and pick up, Melanie's name pops up I am surprised but I quickly swiping right to answer the call.

"Did you get your beauty sleep?" She asks with a cheeky tone.

I let out a yawn, "not enough actually" I say remembering to the night before the same nightmare invading my thoughts and ruining my so called night sleep, I spent most of the night staring up at my ceiling fan watching it spin, at one point during the night it got colder but I couldn't place why.

"Hello? Anybody in there?" Melanie giggles from the other side of the line.

"Sorry just really tired, why'd you call... I'm not late am I?" I sit up straight checking my alarm clock and realize it's only 7:30 in the morning.

"No nothing like that, in taking you shopping!" She says her voice growing more and more high pitched, I even have to pull the phone away from my ear when she finishes her sentence.

"I have work--"

"Nope no work today, Prince Xander gave you the day off... or I sort of kind of told him to give you the day off" I sense her smiling on the other end.

I grumble to myself, I have never been the one to like shopping mostly because I've never really done it. All my old high school friends always went with or me since I'd rather be in my room studying and reading, my social life was non existent.

"Come on... I know you have nothing acceptable to wear to a ball so why not? I'll be paying" she says urging me to come.

I roll my eyes and push the sheets off myself.

"Fine, but you owe me"

"Deal"

➿➰➿

Bleh... sorry for the crappy ending to the chapter lol 😂 I really didn't know how to end the chapter so there you go!
Also sorry for not updating I was really busy this week but since I have a four day weekend coming up expect some more chapters.

Next chapter we'll get to have some girl time with Melanie and get to know her a little better.

Ignore grammar and spelling mistakes and keep being awesome supportive readers.

Love ya!

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~TJ♥️