After Alissa felt a little better, she loosened her grip over Lucianne, and the queen got the cue to let the woman go. After Alissa met Lucianne’s comforting orbs and offered her a firm nod and a smile as a sign of gratitude, Lucianne returned her gesture before turning towards Desmond.

Desmond approached her with a wide grin and extended his hand before he said, “Sup, queen? The name’s Desmond Derulos.” 

Xandar’s eyebrows raised for two reasons. One, for the informal way Desmond was speaking to Lucianne, who was, in Xandar’s eyes, the most powerful creature in the kingdom. Two, for the very reason that Desmond Derulos was the infamous...