12. Chapter Twelve
Chapter Twelve
Rune arched his eyebrow and his lips pressed together.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” I grumbled. “Don’t go pointing fingers at me when you are just as guilty for flirting.”
Never had I gone from laughing to raising my voice in such a short time.
He laughed, but not in a way to ease the tension. “You’re young. You know nothing. If you do know what’s good for you, you’ll stay away. Marry and fuck my brother. Pop out charming kids and get the hell away from me.”
My anger died, and in its place something else brewed. Something sour.
“You really didn’t know who I was, did you?
” He didn’t have to answer. I saw his eyes flash wide for a second before he hardened his face again and I kept talking.
“Why say all those nice things, spend the day with me, and ask that favor if it all led to me dousing that fire as ‘your brother’s wife.’” My lips trembled and that sour feeling burned up my throat and in my eyes.
Why did I say that?
What was happening? This was too emotional, even for me.
He flinched and I turned away.
“Just stay away from me, Sapphira. You’re better off.”
He walked away, then took off into a sprint so fast I lost sight of him.
What just happened?
I stared at the fallen tree where Rune made me laugh moments ago. Our whole interaction was an opposite to the one we had before. What was real? Everything inside me, deep in my core ached for his presence. I wanted to run after the warrior and yell, and fight with him. For him.
Why be around me if all he wanted to do was keep his distance?
The answer came instantly and I sighed.
Tor.
He may not have known who I was on that day in these woods, but he knew now. The princess who was practically betrothed to his brother. An untouchable woman.
Despite the draw we both shared, he was right. I needed to stay away. Otherwise, I’d find myself doing something stupid like fighting him or kissing his stupid smirk.
A splash came from the creek, and a pair of yellow eyes watched me from the water.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m leaving.”
The creature blinked and I wasn’t willing to stick around to see how far they could crawl on land for their prey. I left for the palace, this time taking my time to clear all the jumbled thoughts in my head.
There was another ball tonight. My father wanted a do-over since the last was ruined by the attack.
No one blinked at the declaration this afternoon. We frequently held gatherings in the palace as it was a perfect opportunity for business talks, clandestine affairs, and merriment.
The Fae got rowdy after the moon rose. Being sensual was in our nature. The tension usually broke, drunk Fae caused trouble covertly, and you’d find couples, or groups tucked away pleasuring each other.
Mother usually left for her quarters before the wild hours started, but my father thought it proved our kingdom was prosperous to provide safety for such happenings to occur without judgements.
Hopefully Tor and I would leave beforehand.
Although, as I stepped into view of the kingdom again, I wondered if that was the true intentions of trying the ball again. Perhaps my father wanted Tor and I to be surrounded by the sinful energy of others so that we’d give in and move this relationship along faster.
I wish I knew why it mattered so much. If it were about my happiness, you’d think I’d have a say. What did Father know that I didn’t?
Nyx waited for me as I walked into the palace and immediately told me all the gossip I missed while out on my stroll. My thoughts were still on Rune, Tor, and the ball tonight as she talked aimlessly.
“He turned her down,” she babbled on, “which of course he did because he has you. But somehow it was still unexpected.”
“What?” I said, shaking my head to make sense of her words. “Who turned down who?”
“Prince Torin. He turned down Salvia. Such a shameless flirt. She tried claiming you and her were best friends and that you okayed her dancing with him all night at the ball.”
My eyes rolled. I was not friends with that Cat Fae.
“I mean, monogamy is a thing and all but we both know not all royals stick to it. If he said yes, I was ready to kick his ass,” she said and I gave her a sarcastic look.
Nyx was no fighter. The worse she’d do was yell at him. Maybe stick him with a sewing needle or sketch him poorly in her book.
“Okay, well, I’d give him a piece of my mind,” she amended, “and then you could kick his ass. But it doesn’t matter because he said no. That’s pretty great in my opinion.”
We wandered through the stone passages on the bottom floor and walked up the back way to the royal hall.
“You have very low expectations of males and relationships.” I opened the door to my room and flopped onto my bed.
What a day.
“Yes, because males aren’t trustworthy and I’ve yet to see one that stays true.”
“My parents have stayed together a long time,” I countered and regretted it instantly.
“I may not be able to prove it, but your dad goes on a lot of long hunting trips. They barely touch or look at each other like they like each other,” she said with a softer voice, knowing I hated hearing her observations.
She was right, but I didn’t want to think about it.
As far as I knew, Queen Olyndria and King Lachan’s marriage wasn’t arranged, but I knew they weren’t mates either. Mother was fine while he was gone. Happier even.
My knowledge of healthy relationships were slim.
I tried to keep faith about my future marriage regardless.
“Supposedly mates are different, though. Have you felt anything for Tor signaling that sacred bond?” She laid beside me and I shook my head.
The mating bond was like a tether. A powerful force pulling two people together, keeping them inseparable. Life worked in balances, and mates were part of that balance. Hence another strike in the column proving that my parents weren’t mates again.
“Well, maybe when you kiss or have sex it’ll pop into place,” she said and who knew, maybe that was true. It would make things easier if he were my mate.
“Or you two end up married as planned and your mate comes along. Then you could be the royal with the affair. No one would blink an eye.” She spoke true, but that didn’t mean I’d want to be in such a messy love triangle.
My body sank into the bed, and I exhaled loud enough that Nyx stopped talking about affairs and mates.
“How about we just have fun tonight?” she said as she sat up and pointed a finger in the air like she was mentally jotting down on a list. “We’ll wear hot dresses, of course.
Drink a little and dance the night away.
Play with Tor if you want, but let’s just enjoy it. Who knows when the next ball will be.”
“All right. No focusing on males, and marriage. Let’s just have fun.” I needed the weight on my shoulders to go away, and for one night I could do exactly that.