Rejected Luna Queen

Nolan’s POV

As I made my way through the winding corridors of the palace, my thoughts still spinning with the whirlwind of emotions from the night before, I noticed an unusual commotion outside Nesta’s room. My pace quickened, and a sense of dread filled my chest.

Several maids stood in the hallway, whispering anxiously among themselves. My mother, looking disheveled and worried, was speaking in hushed tones with the physician I had personally b ht into the palace.

But what made my heart nearly stop was the sight of Rowan, my brother, standing just outside Nesta’s door. His face was etched with concern, a stark contrast to the tension between us.

Ignoring the maids‘ startled glances, I pushed past them and entered Nesta’s room. The sight that greeted me made my blood run cold. Nesta lay on her bed, seemingly unconscious, with a damp cloth resting on her forehead.

Her face was pale, her breathing shallow. My mother and the physician were hovering over her, discussing her condition in urgent, low tones.

Rowan stood at the foot of the bed, his hands clenched into fists, looking every bit as helpless as I felt. I hate that he is there with us but there is nothing I can do. Not with his subjects present here.

“What happened?” I demanded, my voice rough with panic and anger. “Why is she like this?”

The physician looked up, his expression grave. “She has a high fever, Your Highness. We are doing everything we can to bring it down, but it appears to be quite severe.”

I moved closer to the bed, my eyes fixed on Nesta’s still form. “Why wasn’t I informed sooner?” I shot a glare at Rowan, who met my gaze with a mix of guilt. and frustration.

“She fell ill quite suddenly,” my mother interjected, her voice trembling. “Maria came to find me, and we called for the physician immediately. There was no time…”

I clenched my jaw, trying to control the rising tide of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. “And why is he here?” I spat, gesturing towards Rowan. I couldn’t hold it after all. “What does he have to do with this?”

Rowan’s eyes flashed with anger, but he remained silent. My mother stepped

gering a grede hand on my army. She looks confined at my outburst

sn’t know he fucked me mat

was here because he was concerned about Nesta, just like you. This is not

Forgery arguments. Nolan. We need to focus on her.”

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. She was right. Nesta’s health wow the prey: The tension between Rowan and me could wait. I turned back to the physician. What can we do to help heft

We need to keep her cool and hydrated” he replied. “She needs rest and close ring. I’ll stay here to oversee her condition.”

I modded, my heart aching as I loo Nesta’s pale face. She looked so fragile, so different from the fiery, resilient woman I knew. The guilt gnawed at me, knowing that my actions, my words, and my decisions had played a part in her current

Til stay with her.” I said firmly. “Whatever she needs, I’ll make sure she gets it.” My mother gave me a sympathetic look, her eyes softening. “Nolan, you should rest too. You’ve just returned from a trip, and you need to take care of yourself if you want to help her

Tm not leaving her, I insisted, my voice leaving no room for argument. I’ll stay by her side until she gets better.”

Rowan stepped forward, his expression softening slightly. “We can take turns, Nolan. She needs all of us right now.”

I looked at him, the anger and resentment still simmering beneath the surface, but for Nesta’s sake, I nodded. “Fine. But I’m not leaving this room.”

The physician continued his work, adjusting the damp cloth on Nesta’s forehead and checking her pulse. I sat down beside the bed, taking her hand in mine. Her skin was hot to the touch, and I felt a surge of helplessness wash over me.

“Please, Nesta,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “Please wake up. I need you to be

As the minutes turned into hours, I stayed by her side, refusing to leave. The room was filled with a heavy silence, broken only by the occasional murmur of the physician and the soft sounds of Nesta’s labored breathing.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

My mother and Rowan stayed nearby, offering support in their own ways, but my focus was solely on Nesta.

I had to believe she would pull through. I had to believe that our bond, our connection, would be enough to bring her back. And as I sat there, holding her hand. I made a silent vow.

No matter what it took, I would make things right. I would protect her, care for her, and show her that she was more than just a mistress to me. She was everything.

Hours turned into a blur as I stayed in Nesta’s room, refusing to leave her side.

The physician gave me a list of things to do: keep the cloth on her forehead cool, ensure she stayed hydrated, monitor her temperature, and talk to her, keeping her mind engaged.

I followed each instruction meticulously, hoping that every little action would help.

I dipped the cloth in cold water again, v ing it out before placing it gently back on her forehead. Her skin was still hot, buit felt like the fever was finally starting to break. As I sat back down, I took her hand in mine, tracing circles on the back of her hand with my thumb.

“Nesta,” I began softly, “you have to fight this. You’re stronger than this fever, stronger than any of us.” I paused, hoping for some sign that she heard me. Her breathing was still shallow, but it seemed steadier than before.

The room was quiet except for the soft sounds of her breathing and the occasional rustle of the cloth. I cleared my throat, deciding to keep talking.

“You know, when I was a kid, I used to sneak out of the palace all the time. There was this one spot in the woods, a little clearing where the sunlight would come through the trees just right. It felt like my own secret world.”

I glanced at her face, looking for any sign of awareness. Her expression was

unchanged, but I pressed on. “One time, I took Rowan with me. We were just kids, and he was scared of getting caught. But I convinced him it would be an adventure. We stayed out there all day, just playing and exploring. It was the first time I felt free, like nothing else in the world mattered.”

A small smile tugged at my lips as I remembered. “Of course, we got in so much trouble when we got back. But it was worth it. Those were the best days of my life.”

I watched her face closely, and for a moment, I could have sworn her lips twitched, just the tiniest bit. It was almost imperceptible, but it gave me a surge of hope.

“Did you smile, Nesta? Did you hear me?” I squeezed her hand gently. “I’ll tell you more stories if you want. Just keep fighting, okay?”

I continued to talk to her, sharing more memories from my childhood, hoping to coax more responses from her. I told her about the time I tried to build a treehouse and ended up falling out of the tree, how Rowan and I would race through the woods, and how we used to play pranks on the palace staff. With each story, I hoped to reach her, to remind her that she wasn’t alone.

Hours passed, and the exhaustion began to weigh on me. But every time I thought about leaving her side, I remembered the way her lips had almost smiled, and I stayed.

The physician checked in encouraging me to keep a ularly, noting the small improvements and g what I was doing.

“Nesta,” I said softly, brushing a strand of hair away from her face, “you’re going to be okay. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.”

I leaned back in the chair, still holding her hand, and closed my eyes for a moment. The weight of everything was pressing down on me–my feelings for her, the complications with Rowan, the pressure of my responsibilities–but right now, none of that mattered. The only thing that mattered was Nesta.

As I drifted in and out of a light sleep, I felt a gentle squeeze on my hand. My eyes snapped open, and I looked down to see her fingers moving slightly. Her eyes were still closed, but it was a sign. She was coming back to me.

“Nesta,” I whispered, my heart pounding. “Can you hear me?”

Her eyelids fluttered, and she let out a soft moan. I leaned closer, desperate for more signs of awareness. “It’s okay, you’re safe. I’m here.”

Her eyes opened slowly, unfocused at first, but then they settled on me. She looked confused, but she was awake. Relief washed over me, and I couldn’t help the tears that filled my eyes.

“Welcome back,” I said, my voice thick with emotion. “You scared me, you know that?”

She gave a small, weak smile, and I knew then that she was going to be okay.