Page 83 of A Fate In Moonstone

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.