46. Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Six
Rune stopped touching me twice in the past three hours.
Once when I had to pee, and I’m surprised he didn’t linger in the bathroom, and the other was when I packed.
Waking up to finding me gone scared him. Then he went on to scare everyone else.
Magrithia didn’t tell me how or where she found me, or how I got there. Claimed that wasn’t necessary information. I’d disagree, but honestly, I was tired.
Standing at the portal, I waited for Magrithia to hand the items of my fate over, but she kept them tight against her chest. “I’ll bring the dagger and the book to your room.
You can’t be seen with them for now or Verin may piece together your plan.
And you mustn’t tell your your mate or his brother any of this, or what you have to do.
They can’t know or all will be lost in great tragedy. ”
I walked through the portal, the guards brought me back, and I told everyone what I could. I met Magrithia, she told me some stuff, and that’s it. All other details, I couldn’t remember. Tor of course knew I lied, but his lips remained zipped.
I doubt everyone accepted my answers completely, but if I wasn’t giving them up then, they knew it wasn’t happening.
It felt like a knife twisting in my gut with every omission I muttered to Rune. He’d been desperate, nearly inconsolable searching for me.
Which is why I didn’t fight Magrithia’s final words.
I knew why I couldn’t tell Rune.
Everything I had to do put my life in harm’s way. Taking out my core to separate the poison from its power source was a direct violation against his need to protect me. I had to do this alone, or I’d lose him. He’d follow me into death if he had to.
I’d protect him, even if he hated me for it.
So, I let him touch, and sniff, and carry me as much as he needed to feel in control again.
“You smell better,” he mentioned for the tenth time today.
“I feel better. I think coming here was a good idea despite not finding out the location of the tree.”
I wish I had, but meeting Magrithia was more important.
Living to fight Verin and find the tree later took precedence over dying in the attempt. Live first, battle later.
Tor didn’t say much as our group walked through the palace where Ryka was waiting with a new portal. Neither did Nyx. My disappearance had everyone shaken, and the fact that I said I wanted to go home left everyone confused. Join the club, my friends.
My aunts wished us goodbye with a kiss on the forehead.
I hoped I’d see them again one day.
Nyx and Tor walked through the portal first. I tried to move but Rune pulled me back for a kiss.
Everything in me wanted to throw my arms around him and tell him to run. To take us away from everything.
I eyed the shimmering magic before us. To walk through that portal was to play the game again. Tor was playing along, and I know it wasn’t easy for him. But it had to be done. Even if Verin poisoned me, we needed to pretend I wasn’t aware of it.
The kiss was over and he lightly nudged me to go first.
Of course, the king and queen were there to greet me. My friends were talking up a storm with their court masks up as armor.
“I’m back!” I announced and my mother rushed over to caress the sides of my cheeks. Her brown eyes scanned me for injury, both mental and physical.
“Sounds like you had a short, yet productive trip, little gem.” Verin walked over and gave me an awkward one arm hug.
“Yes. Not as productive as I wanted but I borrowed some books from their library to keep me busy.” I yawned and not for show.
“You’re looking a little tired. Perhaps some rest is in order,” Verin said, a slight lift to his lips that should have turned down with the tone of his words.
Tor stepped up and lifted a hand for mine.
“Yes. I think we both need a little cuddle time to recharge.” The prince lifted my hand for a kiss and positioned himself between Verin and I. Well done, Tor.
“I’ll be working with the soldiers,” Rune mumbled then left without speaking to anyone else. Tor’s grip tightened on my hand. A warning not to look at my mate and frown. Give no signs.
I think I managed when Verin gave Tor a slap on the shoulder and told him not to be too rough with me before nap time.
“We’ll catch up once you are feeling rested. I’ll bring you some tea.” Mother smiled softly and I bit back the sigh threatening to escape.
So many conversations. So much to do.
I wanted none of it.
Yet, I knew there wasn’t a choice.
Mother ordered Nyx to assist her with something. I tuned it out as Verin welcomed us home once more before departing for whatever evil plans he schemed.
Tor guided me up the stairs and once inside my room, he released me and stood there while I plopped onto the bed.
“I know it’s a lot to ask. But I need you to trust me, and trust that when I lie, it’s for good reasons. Reasons I may not tell you.” I yawned, the dull ache at the back of my head started to spread.
Stupid Verin and his stupid poisons.
Tor watched me with his head slightly tilted before walking over and sitting on the mattress at my side. Silent, his expression neutral, and causing my chest to tighten.
“I don’t want you to hate me.” I don’t know why that came out first. I was sorry for all the deception, and just everything. My kingdom, my family. He didn’t ask for any of this.
“Hey.” Tor leaned over at the same time my arms went up. I scooched to make room, and he laid on the bed, us facing each other in a horizontal embrace.
“I don’t hate you, Sapphira.”
All the emotions I’d pushed away in the past twenty-four hours flew out of me.
“You should,” I said but I wasn’t sure it came out that way between sobs.
“I wish you’d have told me sooner. But I get it. You and I were pushed together, and we became friends, and liked each other.” He squeezed me tight, then relaxed. His thumb rubbed little circles against my spine.
I breathed into his chest, tears leaking from my eyes onto his shirt.
Despite my trembling breaths, he kept talking. “I know we would have made it work and been happy.”
I nodded, because it’s true. Everything would have worked out.
“But even in the short time I saw you and him together, I see it.”
I sniffed and looked up into his deep blue eyes.
“Rune and I were never close. I was surprised to see him here. Now it’s easy to see why. Maybe he didn’t even know why he traveled from home, but I do.”
The shaking in my body slowed, and the tears weren’t far behind.
“His cores knew something waited for him in Crysia. And knowing he’s the one your heart chose makes me feel better. There’s no one else I’d trust to protect you more than him.”
Whether wrong or right, I leaned up and pressed a kiss to his lips.
“You’re a good male, Tor.”
“Yeah, yeah. A real prince charming.”
He pulled me close again and I was forced back into the nook between his shoulder and neck. I had to admit it felt nice. This easy feeling of being with Tor but without all the pretending.
We were friends, and he was there for me. It meant more than I’d ever be able to say.
“I hope your mate appears and sweeps you off your feet before the war comes. You deserve happiness.”
Lips pressed against the top of my head.
“Sounds good. But until then, I’ll just have to live vicariously through you. So don’t fuck it up, okay. Give us non-mated folk something to get excited about.” Tor chuckled and I couldn’t help but settle further into the mattress.
“Get some rest, Sapphira. All the battles will still be around tomorrow. I’ll crack the window and tell Rune he can sneak through once the sun goes down.”
Sleep was already pulling me under when I murmured. “Thanks, Tor. You truly are the best. I’m glad I met you.”
I didn’t hear if he said anything when the weight of sleep became too much and I lost the fight.
Until I woke up moments later with the need to vomit.