Page 39 of A Fate In Moonstone

“I’ll meet you here in three hours.” I wanted to talk without potential audiences, and this cave seemed perfect. Rune nodded with a yawn.

“Maybe get some more sleep. You had a rough night killing enemies.” I winked and darted from behind the waterfall.

Nyx was standing at least a hundred feet away with her head in her hands when she noticed me.

“Okay. Thank goodness.” She exhaled, then groaned.

“Your father wanted to have breakfast with you, but I made up a lie that you had a sour stomach to buy time. But it seemed important so we’ve gotta get you ready or my ass is getting a disappointed look from your parents.”

She wrapped her hand around mine and we started walking.

“Why are you smiling? You know they could technically order me away. One bad fashion call, or not waking you up at the proper time, Nyx is gone.” My friend waved her free arm around dramatically.

I smiled. They wouldn’t ship her off. Even if they wanted to, I wouldn’t allow it.

The only way Nyx could leave was if she wanted to. Even then, I may bribe her with pretty dresses and baked goods.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Tor’s mouth dropped when he saw me in the dress Nyx picked.

“Hey,” he said and pulled me in for a kiss I couldn’t avoid. His touch didn’t light up my senses, and the stark difference between his and Rune’s body touching mine was like night and day.

“Sorry I slammed the door in your face,” I blurted out in response to our last interaction. “I was not well.”

Tor smiled and kissed my forehead. So touchy today.

“You look better. Want to have a drink on the balcony before your father’s lunch banquet?”

I slowly peeled back from his embrace. “I have a meeting. Princess duties.”

Unfortunately, I was getting better at playing word games.

Clicks from high heels echoed in the room, and my mother sauntered over with her blue robed advisor, Ryka.

“Prince Torin, perfect timing. My husband would like to speak with you,” she said and when Tor bowed, she winked at me.

All hail the queen.

“Of course, your majesty.” Then, to me, he said, “Hurry back.”

Tor grabbed my hand and pressed a kiss to my knuckles. He didn’t look back while he followed my mother to wherever my father was and I briskly shot out of the palace doors.

Making sure no one was watching, I climbed up the snug path beside the waterfall into the cave, my dress making it a little more difficult than it should be.

The male wasn’t in the spot where I left him earlier.

“Rune?”

Maybe I was early?

“Sapphira.” His low voice came from the darkness of the cave and I smiled. “You came.”

My knees wobbled at hearing his voice. I shouldn’t be here. No one knew I was here, but I had to see for myself. I had to know what this was between us.

“I did.” I searched for the scarred male in the dark but couldn’t see him. The cave probably went on for miles and without a torch, I’d be screwed. The ground rumbled beneath my feet, and for a moment, fear licked my spine. Dying in a cave would not be pleasant.

Warm breath caressed my neck, and it stilled my erratically beating heart.