Page 90 of Ties of Starlight

What if she wasn’t even capable of it?

And even with the one man she had loved with everything in her…

“Do you?” she whispered, and it was like she'd hit him. Better than her snapping and killing him.

That was the catch.

Because even if she was capable of loving him, could she even trust herself with him?

“Or are you just like Bror? I'm a fascination to you, and you won't rest until you finally possess me or are free from me. You went further than your uncle ever did in your efforts to have me.” Whatever it took to make him finally give up on her. “You don't know what love is.”

Nyrunn pulled back, his voice a rough whisper as he said, “No. Idonea, you don't.”

And then he was sweeping out of the tent this time.

Then his emotions were gone, hidden behind a wall and out of reach.

Idonea watched him go, the cracks in her heart deepening into a familiar feeling. She sank onto the bed, burying her head into her hand as the sob came crawling out.

This one she knew well, her heart in pieces on the floor. But this was worse than all the times she’d caught her so-called soulmate in the arms of someone else. She’d never known it could be worse.

Chapter 31

Nyrunn ignored the gasps and the whispers of the villagers as he came racing in on horseback. Better everyone was surprised, so long as news of his arrival didn't spread to his target before he got a hold of him.

He knew this was a desperate, foolish errand fueled by his jealousy, but he’d been on his horse before he could stop himself.

Nyrunn glanced around, ignoring them all as he looked for the elf that had been assigned to monitor Nyrunn’s target. He was dressed down, but Nyrunn recognized his face when he saw him standing in the shadows.

His spy spotted him, raising an eyebrow before inclining his head toward the local tavern.

After having delivered the news to the king personally, it wouldn’t be hard to guess what Nyrunn was there for.

The sun was setting, which meant the Star Elves on a normal schedule were just getting back into their day after the usual Midday Rest.

Nyrunn wasted no time in storming into the tavern, thedoor slamming into the wall. Only those closest to the door heard the slam given the loud carousing that was filling the air and making it nearly impossible to even hear someone who was only three feet away. A few who had their wits about them dropped to a knee, or into a deep curtsy. But the elves at the back had hardly noticed him, deep in their cups and conversation.

Nyrunn knew him just from the back of his head. Plus, the elf maiden on his lap was a dead giveaway with everything Nyrunn knew about the cad.

“Olaug.”

Nyrunn's voice cut across the noise, sending the tavern into complete silence as he approached.

The elf turned in his seat and blanched to see his king looking ready to run him through.

“Your Majesty,” Olaug sputtered out as he and his companions staggered to their feet; the girl on his lap hit the ground in Olaug's haste to bow. Her skirts tangled in her legs and when she tried to rise to curtsy, she just tripped and hit the ground again, Olaug making no move to help her. Nyrunn almost felt bad for the girl.

“Everyone else, out now.”

When no one moved, Nyrunn snapped, “That was an order!”

The whole tavern launched into motion, scrambling for the door. Everyone but Olaug rushed to leave, whispering to each other about what the king was doing there.

When the door shut behind the last of them, Nyrunn turned to Olaug, whose hands were in the air, ready to rise to defend himself. As much as Nyrunn wanted to give him a good physical thrashing, he was prepared to restrain himself.

Finally laying eyes on him again, though, Nyrunn could not even seem to find the words to stringtogether everything he wanted to say to the faithless coward who was the cause of his wife’s suffering and twisted view of everything.

Olaug shifted his weight from foot to foot before finally clearing his throat. “So… I take it you got my letter?”

---