His Blue Moon Princess
Chapter 46

He starts eating right away, but I'm still dumbfounded. "Wait, what Christmas party?"

But Liam ignores me and keeps eating, so Bobo is the one to explain. "It's the Black Corporation annual Christmas Party. They hold one every year for all the employees, including the subsidiary companies and all, so a lot of people attend. Most of the Blood and Velvet Moon Clans' people will be there, but they also invite people from other Clans." I had no idea this kind of event happened. I don't think the Jade Moon Clan ever was into any sort of big business like this, and Damian isn't too willing to talk to me about his company either.

"So, why would I go to this Christmas Party?" I ask Liam.

"Just go, and you will see what this is all about. But I should warn you, you are probably not going to like it."

Why wouldn't I? What is this mystery that I could solve by attending this party? Is Damian going to make an announcement of some sort? I don't think Liam chose this randomly or is warning me without a reason. I should probably go... And not tell Damian about it, though I really don't like the idea of doing such things.

"When is it then?"

"In a few days. December 14th."

"Oh, I got time then."

But Liam chokes and spits out a bit of spaghetti. I hand him a glass of water to help, but he drinks it quickly before turning to face me. "Nora, It's not just a next-door party. You can't go in like that. You are going to need an invitation, an escort, a dress, and some dance lessons."

Okay, now he is scaring me. I have never been to a party before, but I didn't imagine it would be such a big fuss! And dance lessons, seriously? I thought I was just going there to attend, not to act in a Ballet! For a minute, I'm wondering if he is not just making fun of me, but that doesn't seem the case.

I turn to Bobo, and he just nods. "Those parties are a pretty big deal. All the rich people of Silver City are going to try sneaking in."

Great... Which means I have a ninety-nine percent chance of being totally out of place there. I sigh. Why would I go through all this again? Just because Liam said so doesn't mean I will replace what I look for! What if I go there for nothing or worse, just go ridicule myself in front of a bunch of strangers? Liam sees me panicking and rolls his eyes. "Don't start panicking now, Nora. I can be your escort, for starters. They always send me an invite but I don't usually go. This way, my brothers won't suspect a thing."

"I can teach you the basics for dancing, too," says Bobo. "And for the dress, you surely have all you need in your wardrobe. If not, you can just ask my sister to go shopping. She probably won't make a connection with the party."

I nod to their suggestions, not really happy about it, though. I'm too scared and busy thinking at the moment. Can I really go to that party behind Damian's back? Gosh, I hope it will be worth it...

After dinner, Liam leaves, and I head straight to my room to talk to Elena. Bobo gave me her number earlier since it will probably be less intrusive than mind-linking. I'm on my own since Bobo decided to go to the gym upstairs. Turns out, despite being usually on the lazy side, he does have a thing for training, like his big sister.

I lay on my bed and take out my smartphone to call Elena, who answers after a few seconds.

"Hi, Nora."

"Hi, Elena. Are you free to talk right now?"

"Yes, it's just Danny and me. Is everything okay?"

"Yes, yes everything is... fine. How is Daniel?"

"He's recovering fast, like a werewolf. Lucky him."

I chuckle. I suppose she is thinking about both our inabilities to fast-heal... I hear someone talking to her in the background, but she just answers that she's on the phone with me. "Sorry, Nora."

"No, it's okay. I just wanted your opinion on something." "What is it?"

And I explain everything to her. How my relationship with Damian is confusing me, his attitude, what Liam told me. It takes a while, but I am finally pouring out everything I held in so far. For some reason, I feel a lot better confiding in Elena. Maybe it's because she is a girl or someone who is not part of the Blood Moon Clan. Also, it might be because I hope we are related, but I really feel some connection with her... I wish I know about that before I even know about being a Royal's child or not. Now that I know some of the truth about my birth, I'm desperate to learn more about my birth mother. If Elena and I really turn out to be related, she would be my only family left, other than Alec...

Once I'm done talking, she stays silent for a long while, then starts slowly laughing.

"What is so funny?" I ask, smiling, too.

"Sorry, it's just... Really, nothing is ever simple with those Black Brothers, don't you think?"

I can't help but agree.

"Are you and Nathaniel...?"

But I'm not sure how to finish this sentence. I'm probably not supposed to know, even less supposed to ask! I blush, realizing a bit late I'm totally intruding on Elena's privacy. But to my surprise, she just sighs.

"No... And yes... I guess it's complicated. For now, I need time to think, so I've been keeping Nate out of my life these days."

"...Are you okay?"

"I am. I just didn't think things would get so complicated. That's what relationships do to you, I guess? But don't worry, I'm okay. And I've got Danny supporting me."

I hear him answering her in the background, though I don't know what he says. But Elena ignores him.

"Anyway. To be honest, I would say you should trust Liam on this one."

"...You already know what this is about, don't you?"

"..Yes."

I figured so. After all, Elena was the first one to tell me not to trust Damian to quickly, so she probably had her reasons for that. I guess she will not be the one to tell me what all this mystery is about, anyway. I have to figure it out on my own. "Nora?"

"Yes?"

"Anything on the blood results?"

"Not yet. Tonia said it would take time. Apparently, gene-testing is longer."

"I figured so... Danny said the same thing. But I have something else, actually. Apparently, matching our blood test results is much quicker."

I stop breathing for a second. Is she for real? Already? I'm so not ready! I get up, fidgeting while trying to breathe again.

"Nora?"

"Sorry, I'm just so stressed all of sudden! Do you really have it? You know?"

"Yes. Daniel just got the results this afternoon. I wanted to see you in person to tell you, but now that you called me first, I really don't think I will be able to keep it in until then. But can you breathe first? You're scaring me a bit, and if you collapse, I'm way too far to help." "No, I'm okay! Just tell me, is it a match? Is it?"

I hear her laugh at the end of the phone, and someone is agitating some paper. Probably our results! Gosh, the suspense is killing me!

"Elena!" I beg, unable to wait anymore.

"Nora, it is! We are related!"

Oh, my Moon Goddess Mother.

It's for real. Elena and I are related! I can't believe it! I have another family member that close to me! And she is related to my mom, too, to my birth Clan! I feel tears coming up, and I replace myself smiling like an i***t. While I'm trying to catch my breath, I hear Elena is silently crying, too.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

"Why do you ask? You are crying like a baby, too!" She replies, half-laughing and half-crying, herself.

We both laugh and cry for a few seconds, and Bobo suddenly comes back in the room. Seeing me cry, he frowns and immediately runs up to me with a worried look. But I shake my head, whispering that I'm okay. I put the phone on speaker, letting him hear Elena,

too.

"Nora, there is more."

"What do you mean?"

"According to Daniel, the percentage of matching DNA can indicate how closely related we are, so he brought the full results. You and I have 13.3% of matching DNA."

Isn't that a lot? Is it? I have to calm my breathing again. I can hear Elena smiling; she is having fun with this suspense. Well, I can't take it. "Elena, speak!"

"We are cousins, Nora. First cousins! One of my birth parents was your mom's sibling!"

"...Are you kidding?"

"No, I'm not! Daniel just told me this much matching DNA can only be a first-degree cousin! Can you imagine? Your mother is my aunt! We are cousins!"

I can't believe it! I have a cousin! A cousin from my mother's side! I can't help but cry and laugh stupidly, and Elena is in the same state at the other end of the line. We don't even look alike, how could I have guessed we were so closely related? I did hope that we would turn out to be distant relatives, but this is unreal!

Bobo is happy for me, and he hugs me as I try to calm down. When I finally do, he brings me to sit with him on my bed. Once I finally calm down, I can see and think much clearer. So clearly, in fact, that I realize another detail. "Elena, do you know what this means?"

"Yeah, I thought about it right away. That means if you turn out to be, I would be a Royal's child, too."

"Could it be?"

"Daniel said so. I may not have as much as you, but I do have some Royal characteristics after all... Probably that my non-Royal parent was less pure or something? I don't know. But I will need to replace this out now."

I feel her tense up a little bit, and her tone as changed, too. Why do I feel like something is wrong, now...? I thought she wasn't really caring about the whole Royal thing? Not that I am, either, but... "Elena? What do you mean you need to replace out?"

"I know I said before it didn't really matter for me, but..." I hear sighing, and she whispers something with Daniel for a while. I can't hear it. I exchange a look with Bobo, and he actually takes the phone from me. "You can tell Nora, Elena. She won't tell anyone."

"Tell me what?" I ask, a bit worried now.

"Nora, I need you to promise me you won't tell anyone what I'm about to say. Especially not the brothers. Not even Tonia, or anyone else."

"Yes, yes I promise. What is it?"

"...I just learned it yesterday, before the battle. I'm pregnant."

Oh, Moon Goddess...

"Is it...?"

"Yes. Nathaniel's the father."