Page 26 of A Fate In Moonstone

It was my turn to look at his mouth longingly.

“I liked his kiss,” I admit, “but it wasn’t the lips I wanted.”

Rune’s chest rumbled, and that sound lured me closer. His lips parted, and I wanted to breathe him in. His scent, his sounds. They were intoxicating.

But then he let me go, his body tense, and expression hardening by the second.

“Goodnight, Sapphira.”

He didn’t wait for me to say anything, let alone goodbye.

Truthfully, what was there to say? We were playing a losing game from the beginning. We just didn’t know it.

I wanted Rune, and he wanted me. His harsh words, his snarls, only proved it now. He was pushing me toward his brother anyway. Whether it was his sense of duty or something more. He willingly wanted to fight this pull between us otherwise I’d be locked against his lips right now.

I let him walk away and felt his every step all the way toward his room at the end of the palace hall near the forest.

Rune wanted to fight this, so I would too.

Tomorrow.

Tonight, I’d return to my chambers, allow myself to think about Rune’s icy gaze on my lips, and how his warm hands felt touching me. His power flooded my sense and before I could break something valuable or, hell, cause the palace to sink, I marched back to my room and locked the door.

I wanted no one to bother me while I allowed the sensations to run wild while I thought of Rune’s strong hands. His power tangled with mine.

“Heart Tree help me,” I said as I lifted my dress, and closed my eyes, damning my heart as images of Rune’s smile and stupid growl fueled my fingers toward a forbidden bliss.

Chapter Fifteen

Tor hopped off his black unicorn, Mars, with a triumphant grin. “Ha, I won. What is my prize, Princess?”

My horse Serphan slowed and huffed at her challenger. Perhaps she was asking for a do-over or could be talking shit in horse-speak. My pants tightened as I swung my leg over the saddle and lowered myself to her side.

Mars and Serphan walked to the river to drink, leaving Tor and I beside one another. The sun warmed my skin and I closed my eyes to bask in the light.

“You’re so beautiful,” Tor whispered beside me and I smiled.

“As are you, Prince.” I strutted over for a kiss.

“I like this prize,” he murmured as my arms wrapped around his neck softly. We’d kissed many times in the past week, and it was painfully obvious that he wanted to please me, but I was a tad… much.

Tor wasn’t exactly gentle in our heavy lip sessions, and that was good enough for me. He made me laugh, and I felt safe, wanted.

He pulled back and smiled. “I got you something.”

My arms fell to my sides as he stepped away, his hand reaching into his gray pants pocket.

My chest clenched, and my breath stilled. He wasn’t proposing, was he?

Loud thumps from my heart beating echoed in my ears. I was frozen as he pulled out something blue in his hands. My body sagged and I slowly released the air in my lungs. Whatever he had pinched between his fingers was too large for a ring.

“For you.”

He lifted a silver and turquoise bracelet.

The gem came from his core. I softened for this charming prince. Ever since arriving in Crysia, Prince Tor was perfect.

My parents enjoyed him and he was fun to be around. Nyx lifted her nose at him from time to time, but I didn’t pay that any mind.