Legend Of The Moon Princess
Episode 54

The dinner party itself was a bit boring. The only alphas I knew were Uncle Roy and Uncle Raphael. At least they brought their sons with them. It was so funny seeing them grumble about me not only finding my mates so quickly after coming of age, but also being lucky to be mated to the kings of three different races. In general vampires and werewolves usually had a mutual dislike of each other, and werebears were normally neutral in all conflicts like that because they felt it was not their issue. Jeremiah was correct that we didn’t need a formal ceremony for me to be known as the queen of the vampires. When Anthony made it to Royal Moon, he wouldn’t look at me or Jeremiah.

I had to give Anthony my first command as the vampire queen. It was to still treat me the same way he always has since joining our pack. There was still so much to learn about each one, but my mates said that we would worry about it later. We still had the actual ceremony in the morning so Riley and I turned in early.

*I am not a fashion person since I am more of a tomboy, so I researched what would be a nice dress style for a coronation type thing.*

Riley woke me up a few hours later, since we had to be ready by dawn. The dress Queen Lisa had prepared for me was pretty nice. It went down to my knees with an empire style cut and an open back. It was navy blue with a little bit of silver and instead of straps for my shoulders, it ties around the back of my neck. Riley brought over some silver flats for me. No matter how much Queen Lisa wanted me to wear heels, I detest them with a fiery passion, so I brought my own flats. “Thank you, Riley.” I said, as I slipped them on.

The dress that mama got Riley was so adorable for someone with her hair. It was a baby blue sundress with white flowers on it. With her pink hair flowing down her back it looked like cotton candy. “No problem. I still don’t know why women torutre themselves with those things.” She said as she pointed to the silver heels Queen Lisa had prepared. “I know.” I said. I brushed my hair and put it into a slightly messy bun while leaving a few loose strands of hair to face my face. Almost like a ballroom hairstyle in the movies for the princess. Riley waved her hands around and waters rose up from the water pitcher. The water became solid and sat in my hair like fresh dew drops on the grass, making my snow white hair shimmer and shine like I was wearing a thousand diamonds, strung in my hair.

“Wow, how did you do that?” I asked her while looking back and forth between her and the mirror. Riley just shrugged her shoulders and smiled. “It is a little trick that Aunt Ren taught me. I combined my water breathing with my wind magic, turning it into an icey vail. I put enough magic energy into the ice, so it won’t melt for the next 24 hours, but this should keep you cool while looking nice.” I pulled Riley into a big hug. “Oh thank you. This is perfect for today.” I told her as I squeezed.

There was a knock on the door. “My little moon, are you ready?” Mama’s voice called out. Riley went to open the door. “Yes mama. I am ready.” I said. When Riley opened the door I saw my dads and mama look me over. Mama was not much for crying, but she had tears in her eyes. “Oh sweetheart. You look beautiful.” She cooed as she hugged me close. “I like the diamonds in your hair.” Papa commented. I giggled and Riley smiled. “Actually papa, this is an ice vail that Riley made for me. Show them Riley.” Riley nodded and lifted her hands again. Grabbing more water from the water jug on the table, she weaved the same kind of ice crystals in mama’s dark braid and an ice rose in the chest pocket of each of my fathers.

They were as impressed with it as I was. “Wow, that is pretty neat.” Daddy said. “Yes and it feels like it is chilling the air right around me.” Dad said. Riley smiled but shook her head a bit, as if clearing it. “Riley? You ok?” Mama asked, going to her side. Riley nodded. “Yes, I just haven’t done something like this in a while. Using up a lot of magic was a normal thing back in Edolas, but since being here I haven’t used it as much. So it just took a little bit out of me.” I gasped. “Oh Riley, I am so sorry. I didn’t know that.” Riley shook her head. “No, that just means that I have gotten a little lazy with my magical training. I will have to amp up my own training when we return to Raven Moon.” Riley insisted. “Ok, but promise you will take it easy for at least today?” I asked. I saw something flash in her eyes, but she quickly smiled. “I will try my best.” She said. ‘I guess now we know how dad feels when we are stubborn.’ Artemis said quietly. ‘Yup.’ I replied.

Riley says she is going to see Kai before the ceremony. So I head down to the banquet hall with my parents. EJ, TJ, Anthony, and Tobias were already there. They looked nice in their suits. My brothers were in silver suits while the other two were wearing black suits. “Wow, little sis… You look stunning.” EJ said as he hugged me then twirled me around. “You truly look wonderful, M’lady.” Kai’s voice came from behind us. I turned and saw him and Riley smiling. I was caught a bit off guard. It was rare for Kai to even crack a small smile, and he was now standing here with a smile that matched the one Riley always wore. He was dressed in black dress pants with a clean white button down dress shirt and a tie that was as red as his hair. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. “Wow Kai. I have never seen you smile so big before. Today must be special indeed.” I commented. Kai scratched the back of his head with a nervous laugh. “Riley told me that for today I needed to smile so you would be happier.” He said in a nervous tone.

Something inside tugged in my mind. In the short time I had known the twins I never once saw Riley threaten her brother or complain about him not smiling much. I will just keep an eye on them today. They may not have been to a ceremony like this before and are nervous. Riley did seem a bit on edge this morning. “Okay. Well let us get going.” I said.

We walked outside and the garden was decorated beautifully. Most of the guests were already seated. It almost looked like a human wedding. Dad and the twins stayed with me while everyone else went to go sit down. Jeremiah and Drake were standing by the stage, and each dressed in black suits. Though Drake’s bulky muscles seemed to stretch his suit to its max. Their eyes flashed with desire and l**t when they saw me at the end of the aisle. Luca stood on the stage with his parents. His suit was navy blue with silver that matched my dress perfectly. Queen Lisa and King Alfred were also matching, but their outfits were both silver with navy blue accents on them.

After all the guests in attendance had been seated, dad linked his arm with mine and led me to the stage. All eyes were on me now. I gripped my dad’s arm a bit tightly. ‘Relax, my little princess.’ He said in my mind. ‘I’m nervous dad. What if I trip or mess up?’ I started to babble as he walked me down the aisle. He lightly chuckled. ‘Sweet heart, I would never let you fall. I may have messed up when you first brought Jeremiah home with you, but I would never let you fall. Besides, sometimes a little mistake can be more useful than a clear plan.’ ‘How is that?’ I asked. ‘You will understand it one day.’ was all he said. Once I was on the stage. Dad handed me to Luca and bowed to us, then to the current king and queen before going to his seat.

Luca and I turned to his parents. The elders had brought the Royal Moon claiming cup and a silver box. Luca’s father opened the box to reveal a beautiful looking silver dagger lying within. King Alfred picked up the dagger and cleared his throat. “Luca Christopher-Lee Higgins, do you solemnly swear to rule this kingdom with a wise and righteous mind, to the best of your ability until your final breath?” King Alfred spoke in his loud alpha tone the whole time. Luca took a deep breath. “I promise to do so.” He answered in his own alpha tone. King Alfred then cut his palm with the dagger and allowed his b***d to drip into the claiming cup. Then as he sliced into Luca’s palm, he spoke… “Then I, Alfred Ronald Higgins, hereby pass the title of King, to my eldest son Luca CHristopher-Lee Higgins. Under the eyes of the Moon Goddess, may you live long and rule justly.” King Alfred then gripped his son’s hand in his and mixed their b***d within the claiming cup.

A slit wind rushed through the garden, as everyone felt the shift in power. “Now son.” The former king said as they released their grip. Now that Luca was the alpha and king of his pack, he had to induct me into the pack before Queen Lisa could pass the title of queen to me. Luca turned to me and smiled. “Melody Rose Jackman, Daughter of Alpha Leo, Alpha Zero, and Alpha Hero, will you join the Royal Moon pack as my mate, my life, my love, and as my luna?” His voice was clear and full of power. I raised my hand to him and smiled. “I would love nothing more.” He smiled and took the dagger that his father was still holding.

(L=Luca and M=Melody)

L: “Do you accept me as your alpha?”

M: “I do.”

L: “Do you swear to serve and protect this pack to the best of your abilities?”

M: “I do.”

L: “Do you swear to uphold our pack laws while serving as Luna of the Royal Moon pack?”

M: “I do.”

With that Luca sliced my palm open and grabbed it with his still bleeding hand. He squeezed my hand, mixing our b***d and allowing it to fall into the claiming cup. I felt the transition as my old pack link was cut and replaced with the new one. Once Luca released my hand, he handed the dagger over to his mother. Queen Lisa took it and faced me. She smiled kindly at me as she sliced her palm open.

“Melody Rose Jackman, Luna of the Royal Moon pack, do you solemnly swear to rule this kingdom alongside your alpha and king, with a wise and righteous mind, to the best of your ability until your final breath?” She spoke in her Luna tone. I cleared my throat and smiled. “I promise to do so.” I answered. Queen Lisa grabbed my hand and mixed our b***d into the claiming cup. “Then I, Lisa Lyn Higgins, hereby pass the title of queen, to my eldest son’s mate and luna, Melody Rose Jackman. Under the eyes of the Moon Goddess, may you live long and rule justly.” I felt a surge of power fill me. Luca and I turned to face the alphas of our kingdom. “May I formally present the new king and queen of the North America werewolf kingdom… King Luca and Queen Melody!” Luca’s father spoke to everyone in attendance. Everyone clapped and cheered, then they bowed their heads in respect.

“Now to seal the bond of the new king and queen, we ask each alpha and luna to come and drink from the claiming cup.” Lisa said as she handed the cup to Luca first. Luca took a drink from the cup and passed it to me. I followed suit and took a drink from the cup. The tangy metallic taste of b***d filled my mouth as I did so. When I brought the cup down I noticed my dad standing next to me. He reached for the cup and I handed it to him. He took a drink and passed it on. I then noticed that all the alphas and their lunas had formed a line. As each alpha and luna took a drink from the cup, I felt a link open to their pack’s mind link.

I held a hand to my temple. Lisa placed her hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry dear, you will be able to block them out like a regular mind link, but this is how the king and queen are linked to all of the pack leaders in their kingdom.” She said with a smile. I smiled and nodded back. Once the final pack alpha and luna drank from the cup, Luca held my hand. “Now we shall celebrate!” He announced. Cheers erupted from the crowd.

A few hours later…

I sigh as I finally sit down. My legs and back are all sore. I think back after we started the brunch and party. The ceremony itself took about two hours to do and we started at 7am, as the sun was rising. For the last two and a half hours Luca and I had been meeting and greeting all the alphas that we didn’t formally meet last night at dinner. I told Kai and Riley that they could go mingle and eat if they wished about an hour ago. I felt bad that they were following me around everywhere, but something doesn’t feel right. I was half expecting them to be their normal stubborn selves and refuse to leave my side, but they both smiled brightly and headed for the food table. Plus Kai’s smile is starting to creep me out a bit. EJ and TJ came over to me holding some food and drink.

Being my sweet big brothers they held them out for me. I smiled. “Thank you so much. I am starving.” I said as I took the plate from EJ and the glass of punch from TJ. “So how does it feel to truly be a royal pain in our asses?” TJ said with a grin. I rolled my eyes and smirked at him. “I am not so sure yet. I will let you know after I settle in properly.” I said while innocently batting my eyelashes. My brothers and I bursted out laughing. Drake, Jeremiah, Anthony, Luca, Carter, Zezar, and Tobias all came over while I was laughing and joking with my brothers.

“Baby girl, have you noticed anything strange about Kai and Riley?” Drake asked. “I have.” Jeremiah said while scanning the garden for them. I spotted them at one of the tables that was filled with different kinds of appetizers and desserts. “Yeah, same here.” My brothers answered in unison. I nodded. “Mostly that Kai is smiling a lot more than he normally does and that he and Riley seem to have loosen up today.” I said. Drake nodded. “What have the rest of you noticed?” Drake asked Jeremiah and my brothers.

“I went over to see how Kai was feeling, but he called me Terrance.” EJ said. “Yeah and Riley keeps calling me Ethan.” TJ said. Drake nodded. “Maybe they are just trying to have fun, and it is normal for people to mix you two up.” Anthony said. EJ and TJ shook their heads. “Not with those two. They are very serious with their job as Mel’s guardians.” EJ told him. “Plus they knew all of our names the day we met them. They never once mixed us up.” TJ added. That was true. They said they watched from afar and learned what they thought would be vital to serve me properly as they put it in the beginning.

“What about you Jeremiah?” I asked. “I thought you, Drake, and Luca would have realized it, but I guess we all got sucked into the ceremony this morning. Neither Riley nor Kai have their swords with them.” Jeremiah said. I gasped and then looked at them again. Jeremiah was right. Usually the twins would have their swords strapped to their backs at all times. The only time I had seen them without it besides right now, was when the twins were sleeping. EJ then clenched his fist together. “That is not the twins.” He growled out. “What do you mean?” I asked him. He was still looking towards the twins. “Look at what they are eating.” He said. Terrance and I looked back at the twins and saw Riley stuffing her face with bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers and Kai was eating a slice of cake. Then I got what EJ ment.

~Flashback~

(Riley)

We were having a picnic, just the two of us and Riley ate some spicy sauce and started breathing fire. Riley downed all the drinks we had, then she looked over at me and smiled while scratching the back of her head. “Sorry about that. I can’t handle spicy food.” She laughed.

(Kai)

As we walked around the mall we got some ice cream cones. “What flavor would you like Kai?” I asked him. He shook his head. “No thank you. I don’t like sweets all too much.” He said with a cool small smile before he joined Riley nearby.

~End of Flashback~

“That is right! Riley can’t eat spicy food and Kai doesn’t like sweets.” I commented on EJ’s observation. “Now there are questions that need to be answered.” Jeremiah said, his tone becoming a bit dark. “Yeah, like who the hell are they?” TJ said, tightening his fists together. “And where the hell are the real Kai and Riley?” EJ said through his gritted teeth.