Chapter 53: Chapter 53
Trevor’s eyes widened slightly as Maria locked her lips with his. He had also burned with an intensity to kiss her, but he doubted, thinking he may be moving too forward.
He wrapped his hand gently around her waist as he tasted every bit of her mouth. Her hands were wrapped around his shoulders. Their lips moved, savouring every bit of each other.
They disconnected, and Maria paused to catch her breath.
She looked away shyly. "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to..."
He silenced her with another kiss, this time more intense than the former. When he shifted his lips from hers, he looked at her in the eyes and his voice came out as a whisper. "That was amazing, Blossom."
He still called her Blossom even after finding out her name was Maria. The name stuck to him.
He cupped her face gently by the cheeks, caressing it delicately.
"You’re in heat, aren’t you?"
Maria looked away, her cheeks slightly reddening with an evident blush.
"I’m sorry,"
Trevor chuckled and held her soft palm. "It’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s perfectly normal."
He reached out to wrap his hand around her waist, and she shifted uncomfortably. He got the message, she wasn’t yet ready for the proper mating and marking. He didn’t want to rush her and didn’t push further. He would mate with her whenever she’s ready.
A knock sounded on the door and he took his hands off her waist. Both of them adjusted themselves to sit properly on the bed.
"Come in," Trevor called out.
Devon walked inside. His gaze lingered on Maria for a while, and his expression seemed like he was surprised about meeting both of them still together in the room.
He quickly composed himself and addressed Trevor. "More people have contacted the blight. There were a few wood choppers in the forest who didn’t hear about the rule that no one should go there."
"Call the nurses and get them to safety then."
"That’s not all, Trevor. The people are outside the castle." Devon paused and let out an exasperated sigh. "They want you to address them. They say they have questions to ask about the returning blight. Should I tell them to leave as you’re not feeling well?"
"No. My Luna would handle it." Trevor looked at Maria.
Devon arched his brow, slightly confused. "Luna?"
"Yes. Maria is now my Luna and the one in charge." Trevor responded without hesitation.
"Alright," Devon said after a long pause. He turned towards Maria. "Luna Maria, do you mind following me to attend to the matters on ground."
She turned to Trevor who gave her an encouraging nod.
"Sure," she said, and stood to follow Devon.
As they approached the crowd of worried rogues, Maria grew nervous. How was she going to pacify them when her own chest also ached?
Devon addressed them. "Listen to her. Trevor made her Luna."
"Luna?" Their murmurs broke out from the crowd.
Maria couldn’t make out exactly what they were saying about her, but she hoped they wouldn’t disapprove of her. In a few minutes, the mumblings died down. She noticed Kelin standing at the front, smiling at her with those bright eyes.
She took a deep breath before beginning to address them. "I know all of us are sad about what is happening, but I can assure you that no one would be harmed." She paused for a moment, and their attention was still fixed on her. "You don’t have to worry about your sick friends and family who have gotten the blight. I would make sure every sick person gets treated."
The rogues nodded their heads in agreement.
A voice tore through the crowd. "What of the king? Is he well?"
"He is recovering." Maria said in response.
She answered a few more questions from the people. As she communicated with them more, the nervousness she felt earlier left her body. She felt more confident while speaking to them.
When the people dispersed, Alice walked over to her and handed her a list. "These are the homes of the people that need supplies. Some have caught the blight, while others were already sick before the blight came. Trevor used to oversee this."
She took the list from Alice and scanned through it. "I’d do it. Bring out the supplies, let’s distribute it to them."
By midday, she was already known as Luna Maria.
She organized small groups to distribute the food and herbs across the rogue fortress. Her legs walked until they trembled, lifting baskets, checking on the sick and soothing the worried ones.
"We’ll get through this." Maria told them. "The moon goddess has not abandoned us."
By dusk, almost all the day’s duties were finished. As she walked back to the castle, Devon met her and took the empty basket. "You did well today. They needed hope, and you gave it to them."
Maria gave a small weary smile. "I just did what I needed to do as a Luna."
The compliment made her feel more confident in herself as a leader.
Night had fallen completely by the time she headed to Trevor’s chamber. A candle burned by his bedside table. He raised his head as soon as she entered. "Devon said you worked all day. I’m so proud of you."
She suppressed a blush. "I just helped deliver food and herbs."
"You did more than that. I heard they’re calling you Luna Maria already.
She placed her palm on his forehead, checking his temperature. It was lower than before. Trevor shifted slightly and winced at the slight pain in his lower limbs as he sat up.
His voice was lower, and sounded more intimate. "Maria, you should stay here tonight?"
"Stay here?"
"Yes, in my room. We are mates, we shouldn’t keep sleeping apart."
Maria’s nervousness surfaced. She had wanted to share a room with him, but was too shy to ask. The memory of their kiss lingered in her mind, making her face brighten into a smile. "Are you sure?"
He reached out, brushing a thumb against her knuckles. "I’m sure."
Maria hesitated briefly before slipping off her shoes. She climbed into the bed. His arm circled her waist gently, and he pulled her closer until her head rested against his chest.