Page 52 of A Fate In Moonstone

“A parent should want their child to be happy with the mate of their choosing, the one who brings out the best in them, celebrates them. It is a special kind of torture to watch your mate be with another for duty. Something I wouldn’t wish on anyone, especially you, Sapphira.”

My legs wobbled. His words, his observations.

“Sapphira!” my mother called from inside the palace.

I stepped back as if I’d been caught doing something wrong.

My foot slipped on the stone step and I was falling.

A strong hand grabbed hold of mine and steadied me.

His palm was hot like fire but didn’t burn.

He stared at my hand with a frown.

“I’m sorry,” I choked out. “Um, I have to go. It was lovely chatting with you, Desmire.”

He knew me and must know my power. He helped me with that knowledge.

I should’ve asked him what his core was, but instead I fled.

“Goodbye, Sapphira.” His voice followed me inside, but the male was gone when I turned to see him once more.

Mother found me a minute later and wanted to have tea in the throne room. We’d leave in the morning and needed to make plans.

I listened to her and the other queens chat. Talk about their upcoming work, next year’s festivals, and plans for Desiniri to visit without adding to the conversation.

All my thoughts were on Desmire and his words.

My time with Rune was painful, yes. Fighting the pull, and my engagement were tumultuous, but we’ve survived. We would make Celestine’s month timeline manageable. In the end, it would work out somehow. I had faith, trust in these feelings we shared.

But the interaction festered in me, causing me to think about Desmire, my parents, my engagement.

Then the fever came.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Fae get sick, but not severely and not for long. So, the fact that I had a fever, and my body ached as if my bones were slowly breaking wasn’t good.

After the first moment I vomited in Crystoria, my mother took me home. Our lead healer, Rista, couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me. She gave me many tonics mixed with some gooey plant I’d promised to never chew on again, and whatever ingredient Mother put in her calming tea. Which I’m pretty sure was a human drug because my room wiggled, and the bed talked while I rested.

Nyx remained close, her amethyst core was calming, and I felt better with her beside me.

Tor was in and out of my room. He brought me tea, sat in a chair beside the bed and told me about his adventure with my father. Apparently, they bonded and my father supported the engagement even more.

After four days of the fever, my bedroom was a never-ending visitor’s space. My mother came to check on me every hour. Father would come in, once a day, see if I was still alive, talk to Tor, then leave.

But the one face I didn’t see, the one I truly wanted hadn’t come.

How could he?

Rune, my mate was supposed to be indifferent to me, and I know he was going feral behind that mask.

Mostly because I could hear him snarling at soldiers while training with them through the window. Nyx said everyone was giving him a wide berth unless they were confident they could defeat him.

He spent his time in the woods, but not so far, he couldn’t hear me.

In the few minutes I was alone, I’d speak softly knowing he’d listen. I wasn’t dying, and I’d be better soon.