Page 45 of A Fate In Moonstone

He liked to train. He liked to fight and help the guards that weren’t as skilled. I watched him the most.

“Sapphira.”

My solitude was over and I sighed.

Climbing along the roof, I finessed my way back down to my open window where Nyx stood waiting.

“I need to know what’s going on.”

She did.

“Yesterday, you left after the banquet, then Tor occupied the rest of your day.”

He did. We walked around the gardens and he even pulled me close to dance with me despite no music playing.

I eyed the turquoise bracelet he gave me on my nightstand.

“Then you asked me to cover for you all night while you went into the woods,” she added.

I did and I spent my night with the beast. My core called to me while snuggling in his furry arms, and that’s when we realized I could shift him back to Fae form. He wasn’t as tired, or in pain with my help. We kissed and watched the stars move across the sky before it was time to return to our separate lives.

“I’m hurt you haven’t allowed me the opportunity to support you as your friend. You know you can—”

I silenced her with a tight hug.

“You are my friend, and I just needed a moment. There’s just… so much.”

“I’m here.” She always was. I knew I didn’t have to say everything, and she’d accept it. But I wanted to.

I gripped her hand and pulled her over to the bed to sit with me.

“Rune and I have been fighting this pull since we met.” She nodded as I spoke. Already guessing most of this, because apparently, we weren’t very subtle if you were watching, and she was.

“It’s my job to anticipate your needs.” She rolled her eyes.

“He’s just always been there. Pushing me, wanting more for me, and when you went to get Tor for me to surprise with lingerie, Rune showed up to say goodbye, saw me, and—”

Nyx’s eyes grew wide. “You fucked.” Her smile spread and I shook my head while laughing.

“No, but it was hot, and I just couldn’t deny how badly I wanted him.”

I told her about the conversation with my mother, the search for werewolf Rune, Harron’s deceit, and that Rune was my mate. She gasped and cursed in the appropriate spots in my story. When I finished, she fell back into the mattress and covered her face with her hands.

“Oh, the tension, the angst. What a mess, Sapphira.”

“Yeah.”

She sighed. “So, you’re supposed to just pretend you’re going to marry Tor while your mate watches?”

“Yep. So whatever evil Celestine warned us about doesn’t get hasty in their plans. I wish I knew who was lurking in the shadows. Threatening my kingdom.”

“Maybe we could investigate. We’re smart, capable females. And you’re a scary warrior. I’m hot and can distract them with my breasts while you take them out.”

I laughed and Nyx just stared at me with an arched brow. She wasn’t kidding. I know she wasn’t but the image of Nyx flashing an evil force so I could kill them was too much. All the tension I’d locked up tight in my body flooded out of me.

A knock on the door broke through my giggle fit. Nyx popped up to answer then opened it for Tor to step inside my room.

“Tor, I thought you were still hunting.” I stood and walked over to greet my fiancé.