Page 45 of The Fractured Prophecy

I gasped, raising my head to find him standing over me. He squatted to be closer as I scooted back against the tree, wiping at my eyes with fierce strokes.

“How are you here?” I asked, cloaking myself in illusion so he wouldn’t see me so broken. He had to love me, but how could he if I was a mess like this?

He took my hand in one of his and reached up to stroke my cheek with his thumb. “You don’t have to hide from me, Rune. It’s okay to be scared, or angry, or sad.”

“I—” Stunned, I let the illusion of perfection fall away and stared up at him wordlessly. The damage was done. He’d already seen me. Would he leave now?

“I like the real you,” he said, scooting in to sit beside me. He wrapped a strong arm around me and pulled me in close where I could rest my head against his chest and breathe in the scent of comfort.

“Why?” The word came out in a whisper. “I don’t like me very much.”

His embrace tightened, and he pressed a kiss to the top of my disheveled head. “That’s a shame. Because I see only things to be proud of.”

“Like what?” I challenged, turning to look up at him.

“Like how strong you are. I didn’t see it at first, so I understand why you wouldn’t. But not just anyone could go through the things you have and retain their sanity.”

My throat felt suddenly thick. Was I sane? All I could do was shake my head.

He smiled. “You’re beautiful of course, but you also have a spirit that is gentle and loving. You crave peace when most people in your situation would be fueled only by anger. It’s so clear in the way you avoid conflict.” He looked up, pointing toward the scarlet birds still visible in the branches overhead. “You find beauty even the most challenging places.”

My lip trembled, and the floodgates opened. Torvo pulled me in and cradled me until I was spent.

“Princess, sometimes imperfections are the most alluring things about us. Look at me.” He tilted my face up until I was no longer hidden. Then he leaned down and placed a soft kiss on my lips that sent tingles down to my toes.

“How are you here?” I repeated, wondering if I’d somehow conjured an illusion of him like I had Nyah. He was too perfect, after all.

“It’s my magic, Princess. I had to wait until Nyah slept so I could slip into her dreams. When you hadn’t resurfaced in so long, I felt I had to check on you.”

“Dream magic,” I whispered in awe. How had I forgotten what he could do? He was a prince of Astridon.

“Aren’t you happy with Nyah?” I asked, that old feeling of jealousy constricting my chest.

“Of course I am,” Torvo admitted, then forced my chin up again. “But I miss you. I wish both of you were free at the same time.”

I bit my lower lip so I wouldn’t say something he’d hate. Something like, you’ve always preferred her, I don’t blame you. It wasn’t his fault she was everything I ever wanted to be.

“Is everyone safe?” I asked instead.

“Safe enough,” he said with a shrug, searching our surroundings with furrowed brow. “Tell me, Princess—how did you know what my kingdom has become?”

My shoulders fell. “I had hoped I was wrong, but I know what my father does. Everything he touches turns to ash.”

“Everything except you.”

My breath caught at the intensity of his stare. Gods, he was beautiful. I must have done something right if someone like him saw goodness in me.

“I see I needn’t have shielded you from the truth at all. Forgive me for thinking I had to.”

“It would mean so much if you would share everything with me,” I said, reaching up to stroke his face. “I hate being kept in the dark.”

“Then I promise to shine light on you as often as possible,” Torvo said, and the way he set his jaw made me believe the fervency of his words.

He’d kept things from me in order to shield me. What else was on that list? I felt the blush at the same moment the thought occurred.

“Have you seen my dreams?” I had to know the answer even though I may die of embarrassment. Had he seen what I wanted to do with him?

For the first time Torvo seemed uncomfortable. He averted his gaze as he shifted on the ground beside me. “Only glimpses.”