The Luna Queen's Rebirth (Ellie and Dominic) novel Chapter 545

Chapter 545

Ellie’s POV

I found Dominic later, after Hanna’s healers had dealt with the rest of the sick guests, sitting by himself in the gardens.

He was on the stone bench by the fountain, his elbows braced on his knees, head hanging as strands of dark hair fell into his face. The cherry tree swayed in the breeze above him, scattering pink petals across the pebblestones.

“There you are.” Supporting the weight of my belly with one hand, I walked over to him and sat beside him. “I was looking for you all over. Why did you run off like that?”

“Sorry.” Dominic lifted his head, and I saw that his eyes looked tired and dull, his cheeks hollow, like the night had taken a lot more from him than his dignity. “I just… needed some air.”

“That’s understandable after what happened. But walking off like that while people are chanting your name isn’t the best look, I’ll admit.”

“I know.” He passed a hand over his face, weary. “I wanted tonight to be perfect. I had it planned down to the minute. And look at it, Ellie. It’s ruined.”

“It’s not ruined.” I put my hand on his shoulder and offered him what I hoped was an encouraging smile, although it felt thin and watery. “And even if it were, it’s not your fault. It’s Monroe’s. Didn’t you hear the crowd at the end? They were chanting your name. I think you’ve got more support right now than you’ve had throughout the entire campaign.”

“I know that, too.” He picked at a thread on the knee of his trousers, which were torn up in places from the whole ordeal, the silk ruined. “But that’s not what I meant.”

“Oh. What did you mean, then?”

His jaw ticked. For a moment, he was silent. Then: “There was someone else I wanted to impress tonight. Just one person, more than anyone else. And that got ruined, too.”

I blinked, trying to think who he might be talking about. There had been five hundred guests, give or take, in attendance tonight. Alpha, Lunas, dignitaries from across the continent. My brother, historians, academics, scientists…

“Who?” I finally asked.

He didn’t answer with words. Rather, he reached into his breast pocket-the same pocket he’d been patting all day, the same one he’d checked on his way up from the lawn tonight like something might have grown legs during the fight. He pulled something out and turned to me, holding it flat on his palm.

A small velvet box.

My heart stopped.

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