CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Astrid
After waking up to an empty bed, I walk down for breakfast, but I come to a stop when I see Rave standing there with Vale and Vera. He throws his head back and laughs at something his son says while Vera looks on in amusement. Her normally pinched expression is relaxed, and I can’t lie, seeing them together as a family hurts. My stomach twists painfully, and I absently rub the mating bands at my wrist, twisting my fingers around them.
I’m the intruder here.
How am I meant to find my place here?
Not wanting to interrupt them, I turn back and decide to skip breakfast, instead heading outside to get some fresh air.
“You okay?” Soren asks, his brow furrowing as he takes in my solemn expression. His blond hair is disheveled like he, too, has just gotten out of bed and hadn’t bothered to tame it.
“I’m fine.” I sigh, wringing my hands.
“Come here. You look like you need a hug,” he murmurs, pulling me into his arms. “I know none of us are your favorite people right now, and we all deserve that. But Rave is my best friend, and he told us he would tell you when he’s ready. It’s fucked up, I know. And I want you to know that I’m sorry.”
“I know it’s Rave’s fault and no one else’s,” I admit, sighing. “But I feel betrayed and almost like I don’t belong here anymore. I don’t know. It’s changed everything.”
This isn’t something I can just forgive because it’s a big fucking shift in my mindset and how I feel about my place here.
He kisses the top of my head. “He knew he was fucking up by lying to you, but I didn’t think he knew how bad it would be. He loves you, Princess. I never thought I’d see the day he loved someone like this. I think you have to realize he never knew if he would meet his fated mate. None of us do. So, he planned his life without factoring that in. He’s raised Vale like he’s going to be the next heir. He never planned for you, but that doesn’t mean he’s not grateful he found you. You brought him to life. I’ve never seen him so happy, so at ease…” he pauses and adds, “… and now miserable, but he did that to himself.”
My lip twitches. “He really did.”
“You should have seen him while you left yesterday. He was basically looking for a fight, so I took him to the border to kill some vampires,” he adds, looking over my head. “Speaking of the devil.”
I feel his magic before I see him.
“You both need to talk to each other and lay it all on the table,” he says quietly, letting go of me and stepping back.
I nod. “You’re right. I need to yell at him and get it all out… give him a piece of my mind. Maybe throw some magic at him and watch him suffer.”
“That’s not exactly what I meant—”
“Is everything okay?” Rave asks, coming to stand next to me, his sandalwood scent hitting my senses. He looks sexy as sin, and I can’t help checking out his muscled thighs in the leather fighting pants he’s wearing. His black tunic is rolled up at the sleeves, showing off more corded muscle. He lifts his hand to brush a curl off his forehead, and my eyes stare at the veins on his arms, which are also somehow extremely attractive. His eyes darken when he feels my arousal through the bond, and I clear my throat. “Everything is fine, why?”
He tilts his head to the side, his nostrils flaring slightly. “Just wondering what other reason Soren has to have his arms around you.”
I roll my eyes and put my hand on his chest. “He was comforting me. If that is a crime in your eyes, then you have a fucking problem.”
His head snaps toward me, and his gaze rakes over me as if making sure I’m okay. “If you need comfort, you come to me. Now what’s wrong?”
“I can’t go to you when you’re the one who has hurt me,” I reply, throwing my hands up in the air and storming away.
I stop when Vale spots me, his blue eyes lighting up. “Astrid! There you are.” He runs over and hugs me, his little arms wrapping around my waist. “Do you want to go fishing again? We shouldn’t go at night this time. Apparently, that wasn’t a good idea.”
Rave follows me, his eyes gentling when he sees his son embracing me. I clear my throat. “I’m sure your mom or dad would love to take you fishing.”
He lets go and looks up at me, a line forming between his brows. “I didn’t ask them. I asked you.”
“Asked her what?” Rave questions, resting his hands on his son’s shoulders.
“For Astrid to go fishing with me again,” he says, tugging on my hand.
“I can go fishing with you,” Rave says, his icy-blue eyes darting to me. “I’m sure Astrid has other things she wants to do.”
The only thing I want to do is get the hell out of here.
“It’s okay,” Vale replies, his shoulders slumping. “Maybe tomorrow, Princess?”
Did he just reject his father for me?
Sighing, I wrap my arm around his shoulders. “All right, come on then. Let’s go catch some fish, but after that, I need to train.”
“Yes!” he cheers, jumping up and down excitedly. “I’ll go and get the rods.”
Rave and I watch him run off.
“Don’t feel like you have to—”
“I don’t,” I cut him off. “He’s a good kid, and he broke me out of my prison, so I kind of owe him.”
“Astrid—”
“I’ll be back later,” I reply, turning away.
He grabs my arm and pulls me back, kissing my lips.
“One step forward and two steps back,” he whispers against them, cupping my nape and pulling me to him. “I love you, and I’m not going anywhere.”
“Neither is Vera,” I reply dryly, and his eyes flicker with anger. “You want her gone from the castle like she was before? Then consider it done.”
He lets go of me just as Vale runs up with a bucket and two rods. “Let’s go! I’ll carry everything so you don’t have to. Dad says that’s what a gentleman does.”
Fucking hell. This kid is going to steal my heart.
“I can carry something, Vale,” I say, my lips twitching in amusement.
“Nope,” he says, shaking his head. “Bye, Dad! Don’t worry, she’s safe with me.”
Yep, consider my heart stolen.
“I know, son,” Rave calls out, watching us both head to the lake.
“Where have you been?” Vale asks once we head into the dense forest. “I tried to look for you yesterday.”
“My dad lives in the Incubus Kingdom, so I visit him sometimes. I only just found out about him. I have two brothers, too,” I explain.
His eyes widen. “I always wanted a brother. Maybe you and Dad will give me one. Or a sister.”
I’m now one hundred percent sure he’s working with Rave as his wingman.
“He’s sad when you’re not here,” he adds, and at this stage, it’s basically emotional blackmail.
“You don’t need to worry about your dad. He is fine,” I say, smiling at him.
“And what about you?” he asks, and I wonder if this kid is going to be a therapist instead of a king one day. “Are you still angry that my dad had me?”
My stomach twists, and I stop in my tracks, leaning down and looking him in the eye. “Let me tell you something, Vale. Don’t ever think that, okay? You are a really special little fae, and I’m so lucky to have met you. And also, maybe stop listening to adult conversations because you know more gossip than you should.”
He shrugs with an impish grin. “My mom talks loudly.”
I’m sure she does.
“We’re going to be great friends,” I tell him with a wink, and he beams. “You don’t need to worry about anything, okay? Now let’s go and catch some fish.”