I Am The Luna Queen

Chapter 9- I Expected Better

Hazel’s POV

A loud bang jolted me awake, like someone had kicked the door open and let it slam against the stone wall.

I groaned, burying my face in the pillow for half a second before the annoyance fully hit me.

Sunlight was already pouring through the windows, bright and unforgiving. My head throbbed a little from the crazy night, but the second I remembered everything—slapping the king, kneeing him in the balls, making him sleep on that tiny couch—a slow, satisfied grin spread across my face.

Then I heard her voice. That high, syrupy, nails-on-chalkboard voice.

“I knew it. I knew you wouldn’t touch her.”

My eyes snapped open. I knew that voice. The psycho lady in black from yesterday…the one the maids had been so scared of. The King’s mistress. Liora.

Something dark and wicked twisted inside my chest. It felt good. Dangerous. Like a spark catching fire.

I pushed myself up, the heavy blanket sliding down my shoulders. I was still naked underneath, but I didn’t care. I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood, stretching slowly like I had all the time in the world.

Liora was already halfway across the room, hips swaying like she was on a runway and we were all supposed to applaud. She wore a tight black dress that hugged every curve, hair perfect, lips painted blood-red. She walked straight to Nicholas….who was now standing by the couch in nothing but low-slung boxers—and wrapped her arms around his neck like she owned him.

He hugged her back.

Of course he did.

I rolled my eyes so hard I swear they almost got stuck.

She turned her head, still clinging to him, and looked me up and down with this smug little smile. “You really think the king would want to touch a woman like you?”

I put a hand to my chest and gasped, all fake shock and wide eyes. “Oh, what a pleasant surprise to see you again. You’re the mistress, right?”

Her smile froze. Her eyes flared with rage. “How dare you—”

I tilted my head, cutting her off with a sweet smile. “How did you survive that?” I pointed straight at Nicholas’s crotch, barely hidden behind the thin fabric of his boxers.

The room went dead silent.

Liora blinked, confused for a second, then her face turned scarlet when she realized what I meant. Nicholas’s jaw dropped. He stared at me like I’d suddenly grown two heads.

Liora recovered first, tossing her hair back with a nasty little laugh. “Only a real woman can handle Nicholas.”

I burst out laughing—loud, genuine, head thrown back. When I stopped, I shook my head like I felt sorry for her. “No, no, you’ve got me all wrong. I wasn’t talking about handling him. I meant… for a king, I expected better.” My gaze dropped pointedly to his boxers again. “You’re kind of… small. For a man of your stature.”

Nicholas made a choked sound. His face went from pale to red in seconds.

“I wasn’t even wet,” I added, yawning dramatically, covering my mouth like I was bored already.

Liora’s mouth fell open. “You stupid b***h—how dare you talk about the king like that!”

I pointed at her, grinning. “Ah. Now I see it. Now I get why he keeps running back to you.” I let my voice drip with fake pity. “You’re the only one who’ll accept him. What a shame.”

Nicholas finally found his voice. “Watch your mouth, Hazel.”

I turned to him, eyebrow raised. “Watch my mouth? Sweetheart, I’m just saying the truth.”

Liora took a threatening step toward me, fists clenched, eyes blazing like she wanted to claw my face off. For some reason, something deep inside me hummed—hot, angry, alive. It wasn’t fear. It was power. I didn’t flinch. I didn’t step back. I just stared her down, smiling like I was daring her to try it.

“You’ve been lying to him,” I said softly, but loud enough for both of them to hear every word. “That’s why his ego is so big… when down there is so very, very small.”

Nicholas looked like he’d been slapped again. His eyes were wide, mouth tight, fists balled at his sides. Liora looked like she might actually explode.

I shrugged, grabbing the top bedsheet and wrapping it around myself like a toga. “Well, I guess this is the part where I give you two lovebirds some privacy.”

I started walking toward the door, barefoot, sheet trailing behind me like a cape. The floor was cold, but I didn’t care. I felt electric. Untouchable.

Halfway there, I stopped. Turned back with a wicked little smile.

“Oh, by the way,” I said, voice light and casual, “I’ve seen much bigger. And much better. Maybe you should ask around…see how the other guys got so lucky.”

I winked…actually winked…then pushed the door open and strolled out like I owned the entire damn castle.

The last thing I heard before the door swung shut was Liora screeching, “That stupid b***h!”

I grinned so wide my cheeks hurt.

Oh, honey.

You have no idea just who you’re dealing with.