THE MOON COURT

Chapter 3

Charlotte POV 

When I finally wake up I find Erandri staring at me with a look of pure excitement. 

‘WHAT!” I say and she wiggles her eyebrows. 

‘Well do you feel any different? Do you smell anything like burnt oranges or vanilla?” she winks and then I suddenly frown and smell, but everything smells and seems the same. I realize what she is trying to figure out and roll my eyes as I sit up.

“Don’t be ridiculous, you actually have to be in the same room I think to smell or sense your mate!” 

“Oh Goddess! and Gideon’s room in the east wing...makes sense,” she mumbles as if disappointed. I search her expression and wonder. I grab her shoulders a little too excited. 

“Did he tell you something? Did you tell you we’re..” 

She pushes my hands off and hands me a cup of coffee. 

“No of course not, we haven’t even really spoken since he came back! This morning he was early at the training fields the I think he went into town to get the last of the fairy dust from the Fey’s. Gerard was eager to go as early as possible so who knows when they’ll be back! What an absolute bummer!” 

I basically down my coffee and jump out of bed and run to my mirror. 

“Don’t worry you don’t have a pimple in the middle of your forehead! That’s probably going to happen to me when I turn 21!” 

“Oh shut your mouth!” I say and then stare at my golden eyes as if seeing them for the first time and facing the reality that for the rest of my life I will look like this. 

“Do you ever wonder what it would be like to age like the others? I know our pack was the only one that wasn't affected by the time in this realm, but what if like the others we just start to age again in maybe twenty years or maybe less!” 

“Char, we were chosen as the pack to keep peace among the magical creatures! They started aging because they aren’t part of us and how can I say this without sounding snobby! “ She bites her lip and plays with the dark piece of hair that's fallen out of her bun. 

“The royal bloodline like the Moon Goddess explained was to keep us from experiencing more pain after we sacrificed so much and when your father chose my dad to be his second and your mother chose Bethany, Eric chose Gerard we became part of your bloodline. The claiming happened even before we were born and I wouldn’t question things we don’t truly understand!” 

“There's another thing I couldn’t understand and after seeing Gideon I was reminded of how much he looked like his father and..” I mumble and then my mother walks into the room. 

“You're wondering why I couldn’t heal Edward with my blood or gifts?” She says as if reading my mind and both Erandri and I go very still and only nod. 

“Why would you want to know that today of all days?” 

“I guess, seeing Gideon again made me wonder..” 

“The prophecy was coming to an end. Believe me when I say I tried, but when someone is already too far gone, it’s..” 

“He was long gone before the battle ended and the poison from the demons was too much,” Aunt Diane says softly as she comes in and places her hand on my mothers shoulder, the tears building in both of their eyes made me regret ever speaking about it. 

“Forgive me,” I say and my mother shakes her head. 

“For what? You did nothing wrong darling! I understand if I was in your position I would wonder too,” 

My mother says and takes my hand. 

“And if you girls were wondering I’m still mad Iris didn’t choose me as her second, but I guess Bethany kind of rubbed off on us,” Aunt Diane mocks and suddenly Bethany pops her head in. 

“I heard that! The best friendships start when you hate each other at first btw!” She says and then Erandri jumps on the bed. 

“I have  another question! What happened to the hunters? I know they helped Lance s*******r most of the respected packs on earth, but they are never mentioned in the last battle, why?” 

“Eric told me that Lance had most of them killed after he had enough rogues for an army,” Bethany explains and I see an expression cross my mother and aunt Daine’s faces as if they were reliving their parents deaths. 

“Ok girls that's enough! Today is not about living in the past!” Uncle Eric comes in holding baby Fredrick in his arms. Anastasia comes in behind him and rests her head on his shoulder and smiles at me. 

“Oh sweet girl! I can’t wait to show you your dress!” Anastasia says and Erandri and I share a look of pure excitement, because Aunt Anastasia might have been a descendant of the god of death, but she was sure as hell the best dress maker ever. 

I grab her in a hug and Anasatia like always slowly puts her arms around me as if still not knowing how to truly accept simple affection. 

“I can’t wait to see it,” I kiss her on her cheek and as if jealous, baby Fredrick starts to cry and demands that his father puts him down and then he is holding his mothers legs and pushing me away making everyone laugh. 

“Does someone want a tickle attack!” I say and he squeals in delight and hides behind his mothers dress.

“No time for that we have to get you ready!” Diane says and swats Eric out of the room with baby Fredrick laughing in his arms.  

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My blood red dress sparkles in a way that makes me realize I couldn’t hide even if I wanted to tonight. I pull on the sides realizing it felt like a second skin as it pools around my legs and covers my arms.

“Why does everyone else wear white?” I ask as my mother stands behind me in the mirror. My wild curls were styled unlike my mothers straight hair that was pulled back into an elegant bun. 

“It’s to symbolize our family’s bloodline Charlotte, you know this! No more silly questions we need to be down stairs in five minutes,” she says and I swallow and look at my hands. 

“I just got word that everyones has finally arrived!” Diane says and Erandri is close on her heals both looking striking in their white off shoulder dresses. 

“I can’t believe this is happening,” I mutter and then my mother takes my hand. Our golden eyes meet and I see tears building in her eyes. 

“I hope tonight will be the happiest night of your life,” she says softly and then theres a knock at the door and my father and Eric enter. They both stop when they see me and I smile awkwardly as I see the tear fall silently down my fathers cheek as he looks between me and my mother. He clears his throat and Eric shares a look with my mother.

“It’s time,” My father says and reaches for my hand as Eric pats him on the back. 

“Where is my wife?” Uncle Nicolous comes rushing in and when he sees Diane he does a double take and then grabs her in a passionate kiss making Erandri pull a face of disgust. 

She flicks her fathers ear making them pull apart and I can’t help, but wonder if Gideon will kiss me like that tonight. 

The thought makes my cheeks turn red  as I take my fathers hand. 

“I want to speak to my daughter alone just for a moment,” 

Everyone leaves the room and my mother holds my fathers other hand and then we grip each other in a fierce hug. 

“I know many things will happen tonight, but remember that you are loved and are worthy in every way Charlotte, in every way,” my father kisses my forehead and then we’re walking out the door. 

As they open the door everyone stares and I swallow down the pile I feel build up in my throat. Where is he? Where is Gideon? I don’t smell anything in the air, everything smells the same. 

My father and I open the dance floor and I smile up at him even though my mind is racing as my eyes flicker toward the crowd searching for him. 

As the song comes to an end I hear people gasp as someone swings open the main door. The man holding the door is dressed in all black standing out between the ocean of white.

My eyes collide with his and my breath catches in my throat as Gideon lifts his head.