Page 7 of A Fate In Moonstone

The tips of my fingers were an inch away when reason reminded me that I couldn’t.

I retreated but his hand wrapped around my sleeved wrist.

My heart pounded against my sternum.

“You can,” he said so softly, and I wanted to.

Except telling him that I’d take some of his power could lead him to knowing who I was. What if he changed? What if he thought of me as a power thief or worse?

“I can’t. But not because I don’t want to. I’m sorry, Rune.”

He dropped my wrist and I hadn’t noticed how close we were until that moment.

My gaze zeroed in on his lips, and I licked my own. “Keep talking, please. I like your voice.”

I didn’t move away, and neither did he. We opted to keep the mere six inches between us even with the magnetic air drawing us closer by the second.

His throat bobbed and icy gaze watched me through hooded eyes.

“He wanted everyone to know I was cursed,” he rumbled. “To fear me and stay away.”

Staying away was the furthest thing I wanted to do.

He growled low in his throat and I moved closer. What was happening to me? I was meeting my future husband tonight. I needed to cool the air. The thick and burning desire wafting between us was mouthwatering.

Quick Sapphira, close your eyes. Sever the connection.

I closed my eyes and cleared the lump in my throat. “I don’t think you’re cursed.”

Not that I knew him well enough to truly make the claim. But even with whatever dangerous beast inside him, I felt it in my gut.

I’ve never believed in that type of magic. Cursed people. Everyone had the opportunity to choose whether they were good, bad, or somewhere in the middle.

Speaking of good, I was currently being a bad girl with Rune. I really shouldn’t get so heated on the precipice of my engagement. Prince Torin would be here soon.

I opened my eyes and mouth to speak but he got there first.

“I must go.”

My insides twisted hearing those words coming out of his mouth.

“Me too.”

Rune turned forward to look at the waterfall and his jaw tightened. “To your date,” he said and my body sagged.

“Yeah. Whether he’s right for me or not, my parents want me to give it a go, so I’ll try.” You’d think being an adult would give me the right to do as I please but being a princess and the only royal heir of Crysia changes things. I had to think of my people, not just myself.

I stood first, at a loss for words. Why did parting feel so wrong? My chest ached, and that lump I’d cleared from my throat was back.

Rune faced me and pushed a lock of hair away from my face. He seemed purposefully careful not to touch my skin. “Do me a favor and don’t lose your fire.”

He turned and walked away without waiting for me to speak. I could say so many things, and he’d hear me even as he wandered back toward the shops.

I could promise to do his favor.

I could tell him to come back and kiss me.

But neither came out.