Page 15 of Calling of the Crown

Slowly, I nodded, too. “Losing someone dear after so much time together can’t be easy. The memories that haunt you because they’re just that now—memories—is probably excruciating. But you still have those memories. You had time together. You had a chance to really know and love that person. I didn’t.

“I will never know my mother’s touch. I will never know my father’s voice when he’s telling a joke or when he’s cross with me. I will never, ever get back the memories that could’ve been. Because this war—the one that has stolen so much from you—stole from me, too. I wasn’t raised here in what should’ve been my home. I know nothing of who I am because of this war. So no, I may not understand your kind of loss, Angus, but I struggle with my own kind. Pain is pain. Let’s not make a habit of comparing each other’s.”

His furious dark eyes slowly clouded over with remorse. Seconds ticked by before he whispered, “Forgive me, Your Highness. I didn’t think about your situation before I spoke.”

Fighting the ache expanding in my chest, I said, “I only want the best for Water Fae. I want the best for Land Fae. I want every child to know their mother and father. I don’t want them to spend their whole lives wondering who they are and where their true home is. I want for no one to hurt the way you do because they lost someone they loved to war. So from this moment on, we’ll work to heal, to forgive, and to make my childish fantasy a reality.” I quickly got to my feet, and I refused to look back as I barreled toward the door. “This meeting is over.”

Chapter Eight

DEEP BREATH.

In.

Out.

In.

Out.

I shook my hands as if I was trying to release the lingering tension and emotions from the meeting I’d just left. Every muscle in my body was coiled tightly and burning with stress, and I rotated my neck and shoulders in a futile attempt to expel the growing strain.

“Bria, wait.”

I turned to see Rune jogging down the hall. He caught up to me, and the moment he reached me, he gripped my hand and pulled me through the nearest door—another meeting room from the look of the massive table.

Rune shut the door behind us and reached forward to cup my cheeks. “Bria, you are amazing.”

I gave a half-hearted, humorless laugh. “I don’t feel so amazing right now.”

“That’s exactly how that asshole wants you to feel. He wants you to feel beaten down and unsure so he gets his way. Don’t give him that power.”

I gripped Rune’s forearms tightly, and feeling his warmth seep into my palms grounded me like an anchor in the raging sea.

I fought to hold on and not drown in all the chaos I was feeling as my gaze burned into his. “Tell me I’m fine.”

His thumb stroked my cheek. “You’re fine, Princess.”

“Tell me I’m doing the right thing.”

“You are absolutely doing the right thing.”

“Tell me I’m not hurting you by asking for Water and Land Fae to get along,” I whispered.

His eyes widened slightly, and slowly, he asked, “You’re afraid you’re hurting me by trying to end the war?”

I sucked in a breath and squeezed him harder. “I’m afraid I’m hurting you and every Fae involved by asking that.”

“Bria, what you’re asking is what we all need. Our Kingdoms, both Water Fae and Land Fae, have been broken, hurting, and angry for a long time. It’s time we settle things once and for all, and I’d much rather do that with as little death as possible than by annihilating one another. What you’re asking of all of us will be hard, maybe even impossible, for some, sure, but my God, life will feel so much better than it does now. I want to live in the world you envision. Not the one Angus does.”

I held Rune’s unwavering gaze, and as his steadfast determination showed through, I found myself nodding. This wasn’t a mistake. This wasn’t some scheme on my part to hurt Water Fae like Angus thought. This was a chance for people to finally heal from old wounds alongside one another.

“Thank you, Rune,” I whispered, pressing my face against his solid chest.

“For?”

“For believing in me.”

He crooked a finger under my chin to tilt my head back far enough to place a kiss on my forehead. “Always,” he said against my skin.

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