Page 46 of A Fate In Moonstone

“We arrived moments ago. Don’t tell your father but he’s not a great shot. I stole one of his arrows and killed a deer he tried for and claimed it was his.” Tor smiled and the tingles in my hands were silent. I shook my head. What a suck-up.

“Which brings me to a question.” He gripped my hand and out the corner of my eye I saw Nyx keeping busy, but her head was tilted in our direction.

“He asked me to journey with him on his voyage. It’ll only be a few days. How do you feel about me going?” He watched my frozen face, and I prayed he didn’t see deeper into my eyes, the relief filling me.

I loved Tor. He was kind, funny, and just easy. Safe. I loved him like I loved Nyx but not my soulmate for life. So, with him gone, pretending wouldn’t be so hard. No touching, no kisses, no dancing around while his brother watches.

Relief left my chest, and guilt rolled in.

I was a horrible Fae.

“Do you want to go?” I asked. If he wanted to, then my guilty conscience wouldn’t feel so bad. At least, that’s what I told myself.

“I do. I don’t need to win your mother, or you. Your father seems to be coming around, but I’d like to build up the relationship further. Only helps, right? But this is of course, if you’re fine with me leaving.”

“I am. I hope you have a good time.” Truth, all truth. I hope he was happy and loved every minute of his adventure with my father. Then my stomach clenched remembering where they were going.

“Just be careful, okay? You’ll be near the evil king’s lands. My father swears he is safe from the king’s terror, but just… be watchful.”

“Of course.”

Nyx coughed from behind me, her hands in my wardrobe.

“This is actually lovely timing. Sapphira is going with her mother to Crystoria while the king is away. She will be busy with princess things. Plus, a little separation makes the heart stronger.”

Tor kissed my hand and smiled at Nyx. I, however, remained still. My mother was going to Crystoria, but I wasn’t. Nyx was buying me time alone, away from the kingdom while Tor was away.

“We leave tomorrow morning,” Tor said. “Have dinner with me tonight?”

“Oh, Princess, I forgot to tell you mother asked for you,” Nyx cut in. “Probably to go over the trip plans and all.”

“Thank you, Nyx.”

Tor watched my friend, his gaze searching, but his lie detector wasn’t going off in either of our bodies. Nyx was telling the truth after all.

“Well then, this is royal life. I know it well.” He sighed and leaned in for a kiss. “In case I don’t see you before we leave.” His lips pressed against mine, and I tried to muster up the passion, the want for him. But I knew it fell flat.

Tor retreated, gave me a soft smile, and a goodbye before he left the room.

Nyx waited a few minutes after closing the door. I stared at her until she shrugged her shoulders.

“What? I bought you guilt free time away with your mate. No one in Crystoria knows about the engagement, so you won’t have every eye in this kingdom on you.”

She did me a solid, but I still gave her shit anyways.

“I still feel guilty, though.”

She tossed a red dress across the room to my bed. “Oh, I bet. That prince doesn’t seem like a bad guy. A little smart mouthy, and overly charismatic for my taste. Like he’s the Heart Tree’s gift to the realms. But in the end, you can’t get in the way of mates. You’ll lose if you try.”

I watched her grab more clothes, then a bag from the back of the wardrobe.

“Prince Torin has been playing a losing game since those brothers stepped foot in the kingdom, he just didn’t know it.”

She was right. But it didn’t mean I wanted to play another game behind his back. I’d be good, even in a different kingdom with Rune. Because of course he’d come with.

Nyx held two lacy things in her hands. “So, since he liked the lingerie before, should I pack a few more, or would that be too cruel?”

I laughed.