16. Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Sixteen
I wanted to be anywhere but at this wooden table with my parents, Tor, and his brother.
Tor’s eyebrows flew up when we stepped into the dining hall to see his brother sitting on the right side of the king, sipping wine at the end of the rectangular wood table.
My mother’s pink lips lifted as we sat in the empty seats. Tor sat across from his brother, and I on my mother’s left side.
Her hip length hair was braided to the side, and the crystal spikes on top of her head were gone. I take it this dinner wasn’t supposed to be a formal one like I’d assumed.
“You look beautiful. How was your ride along the river?” she asked while my father clapped for the servants to bring in the food now that we were all here.
“It was lovely. We saw a herd of unicorns grazing and watched them for a while.”
The day was perfect if you took away the thoughts bouncing around my head between wanting this life with Tor or running away like the wild unicorns from domestication.
“Unicorns. Feisty creatures, just the way I like them.” Father winked at his wife from across the table.
“Your kingdom is very diverse. The landscapes, the people, the creatures. It’s an honor to witness such—”
My father waved his hand at Tor, interrupting him, and scoffed. “While true young prince, you can stop kissing the ring. We’ve already approved the engagement whenever you two lovebirds decide to make it official.”
A blast of heat warmed my cheeks before I felt the ground rumble. Rune wasn’t looking at me, but his jaw clenched. I glanced around and no one seemed to notice the ground vibrated.
King Lachan pushed his straight hair behind his ear and tilted his head toward Rune. “Now, where were we? Yes. Prince Rune. Word of your training and power are spreading throughout the kingdom. You’re quite the indomitable warrior.”
The male grunted but didn’t say anything else. I sipped the blue wine from the glass, gaze darting between my father’s and the warrior.
“He’s a legend in our land,” Tor said between bites of a sausage.
The king looked at the two brothers with a curious eye. It wasn’t a look I saw often, and I wondered what he was up to. You could practically see the wheels turning in his head.
“Perhaps since your father does not want you, once the alliance is set in stone, you will stick around. We value an ally with such gifts in our kingdom,” he mused, while Rune eyed the food, listening to the words dripping from the king’s mouth but not giving his full attention.
My father watched Rune. I wonder if the smile growing on his lips was from anger or the thrill of someone to conquer.
“Warriors like yourself are hard to come by, perhaps I should have given my daugh—”
“Prince Tor. My daughter tells me you are an excellent hunter with a bow.” My mother interrupted her husband with a polite grin. She was too late. Father was about to say he should have given me over to Rune instead of Tor and the whole room felt heavier.
Everyone kept their attention elsewhere while Mother sent metaphorical daggers toward the king. Rune stared at his plate. Tor was biting his lip, and I was seconds away from running out the door.
Tor lifted his glass and looked all of us in the eye. “Nice to know my family isn’t the only one keeping things interesting. You royals are making Crysia feel more and more like home in the best ways. We’ve got something really great here.”
I stared at my future fiancé with wide eyes.
Then the laughter came. First from me, then my mother, and father. Rune didn’t laugh, but the right corner of his lips lifted the tiniest bit.
Tor tossed water on the situation, and I admired him for it.
“Nicely done, my boy. You’ve got the makings of a great king,” Father complimented and the rest of dinner was of a lower temperature.
Mother was thinking of taking a trip out to Crystoria soon depending on the engagement timeline.
Father claimed he had business in another kingdom to the north to handle.
I shot him a look and he lifted his hands, promising he’d be safe near the badland’s portal where King Verin, the only man who tried to conquer Crysia, resided.
It was dangerous for the king to venture so close without a bunch of guards. He swore he’d take his personal men with him as a precaution. With complete confidence he said King Verin wouldn’t harm him. My hand didn’t tingle or freeze. He told the truth.
Rune mostly remained silent through the meal and dessert. He muttered one word here, another there if spoken to. My parents left him alone, choosing to get to know Tor better.
Whenever Tor made me laugh, I’d feel the weight of Rune’s gaze on me. Watching me.
Nyx would kill me when she saw the rips at the bottom hem of my shirt from gripping the material tightly. It took everything I had not to look at him more than was required.
We hadn’t spoken a word to each other since that night in the training area. I’d placed him in the dark crevices of my mind, and so far, it worked.
“I’m surprised he showed,” Tor said as we walked out of the dining hall together.
He wasn’t talking about my parents obviously.
“Oh?”
Tor ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m honestly not sure why Rune came to Crysia.
We aren’t really close. He’s over a century older than me.
Our father kicked him out long before I was born.
” He shook his head and stopped at the railing of the stairs.
“He’s always ignored me. I don’t know. He probably just came here to get away from our father.
Although, he can leave at any time. I don’t know why he’s still here. ”
My body warmed with false assumptions like he’s staying for me.
I didn’t know Rune enough to say whether him being here was because of their father or not.
There was more to the warrior than everyone saw.
I knew it, deep within my core, and I kept that locked up tight inside.
Talking about the male would lead to admissions I feared to release.
I placed my hand on his. “I’m sorry my family is… ya know. Meddlesome.”
“Mine’s the same. Your parents seem alright. They just want you to be safe and secure. I want that too.”
Those words should bring me peace, but they don’t.
Tor gripped my hand and gave my knuckles a quick kiss. “Do you want to go for a late-night stroll?”
Did I?
“I think I’ve had enough fun for the day. I’m ready to take a nice soak in my bath and get some sleep before you tire me out tomorrow,” I teased, hoping the soft laugh helped the rejection sting less.
Tor’s blue eyes darkened, and nostrils flared. It only lasted a second, but my cheeks were already turning hot. His head titled and that flashy charming smile grew on his face. Oh boy.
“Do you need any help? I’m pretty good with a washcloth.” He waggled his eyebrows, completely serious.
Images of that future rolled through my head.
We’d head up to my room together, lips clashing every chance we had on the way.
Tor would spread hot kisses all over my body, and I’d love every second of it before we slid against each other in a fury of sweet lovemaking. He’d make sure I came before taking his pleasure. Hands would roam, and our breathy groans would fill the room.
He’d gladly take a bath with me, then perhaps we’d explore one another again in my bed before falling asleep curled around one another.
Simple, easy, and yet…
“I’d love that another time. I’m quite tired from today,” I answered and of course Tor was sweet with his second rejection of the night.
“We’ve got time.” He leaned close and pressed a single kiss to my lips.
“Goodnight, Sapphira.”
“Goodnight.”
The walk to my room was a blur. Like I’d been in a mental daze with each step.
I should have taken Tor up on his offer. I was touch starved, and he was my intended.
I should have, and I didn’t.