Page 5 of A Fate In Moonstone

Laura seated her guests with a large cinnamon roll on a plate and then noticed me. “Ah, there’s my number one customer. I knew you’d be in today, so I made your future favorite.” The plump Fae with curly bronze hair pointed to a table for us to sit at. Then she strolled past her display, whistled while she fiddled around, and came out with two new pastries on green plates.

“This one’s a stress eater. Keeps me busy and I love her for it,” Laura said to Rune then wrapped her arms around my head and kissed the top with a loud smack.

Once released, I inspected the gooey red fruit on a flaky crust. “This looks good.”

“It’s a cherry cheese pastry. I learned the recipe from my trip to the human realm last week. The things those mortals do with sugar should be a crime.” She laughed and quieted enough to inspect my guest before nudging my shoulder with her hip.

“Is this the guy? He’s handsome. No doubt you’ll make beau—”

“He isn’t the guy.” I cut her off from saying something that would make me want to crawl under the table and die.

“Well, that’s a shame,” Laura said then leaned down to whisper in my ear. “It’s not too late, girl. He looks like he’d keep you up for a night or three, if you know what I mean.”

Rune’s icy stare was locked on my face. The right corner of his lips lifted, and I did want to die. Fae had excellent hearing. Laura knew that.

The whole kingdom was excited about the potential future wedding. But the baker knew a little more because she had access to me via fueling my stress eating habits.

She baked, I talked, and she kept my secrets. It was a perfect arrangement until now.

“If you’d like something else, don’t hesitate to ask. It’s on the house,” she said and walked off, leaving me fighting the urge to toss a pastry at Rune’s face.

He took pity on me and lifted the pastry closer to inspect and sniff. “What guy?”

“I’ve got a date later,” I said through my first heavenly bite and then groaned. Laura was right, this was now my favorite of her collection, hands down.

Rune took a bite and chewed thoughtfully before clearing his throat. “He’s not for you.”

I choked.

“How would you know?” I scoffed and finished the pastry before licking my fingers clean.

Rune’s stare narrowed on my mouth then looked me in the eyes.

Was he suggesting what I think he was?

“You’ve got a warrior core. Few males can hold that fiery spirit in their hands and not choke out the flames.”

I rolled my eyes despite that being exactly my experience thus far. His words were too close to my fears, and I needed to brush them off. Only that’s not what came out of my mouth.

“Oh, and you know what to do with someone like that?”

My chair scooted closer, slowly. I looked at the ground. Did I move it? Was there an earthquake coming?

He leaned closer. “From one warrior to another.”

I didn’t say a word.

“You feed her fire,” he murmured, “and bask in the flames.”

My blood burned, and my mouth dropped.

Rune, the semi-stoic male in front of me tilted his head to the side. His gaze scanned my expressions, pointed ears listening to my heart beating rapidly.

Then he shot out of his chair with a black sword in his hand and pointed behind me.

Chapter Three

Rune didn’t speak, but the smirk on his lips that I’d gotten accustomed to curled into a sneer.