Page 93 of Ties of Starlight

“Why would she want to kill you?” Nyrunn raised an eyebrow and then added, “I mean, outside the obvious.”

Dare Nyrunn believe? If Idonea hadn’t gone into a blind, violent rage… Would Idonea believe it?

“She was a Moon Elf.” Olaug lowered his gaze to Idonea’s again. “I realized in the fight and managed to break the illusion, but it was too late. She was the one who killed me in front of you, and I watched you fight her before you got the upper hand and saved yourself by killing her before she could finish the job. It was self-defense. Just because I would rather be executed for treason than marry you doesn't make you a murderer.”

Idonea nearly fell into Nyrunn as she staggered back and he caught her, keeping her upright as she reached behind her to grab at him. Her eyes were wide and her breathing shallow.

As much as Nyrunn wanted to believe Olaug’s version…

Nyrunn narrowed his eyes. “Why wouldn't my uncle tell anyone it was an attack from the Moon Elves?”

Olaug shrugged. “Might it have something to do with the fact he killed an innocent girl by rushing into the situation—a girl he was disturbingly obsessed with and most of us knew it—and it would be an embarrassment to him and the royal family if anyone ever knew how badly he’d botched it? How his prejudice and twisted desire mixed with self-loathing for having it caused him to blame her and kill her? Better to let the dead girl keep the blame, especially when she has human blood that can easily take the blame.”

“So...” Idonea rasped, placing a hand over Nyrunn's as she stepped out of his grip. She looked up at Olaug, eyes shining. “You leaving had nothing to do with our past deaths? There was nothing I could have done to make you stay?”

Nyrunn held his breath.

“Look, we both know how this goes every single time. Isn’t it about time we try to break this endless cycle? That’s all I wanted when I ran away. I can’t come back as the next groom if I’m not the groom in this life.” Olaug huffed. “I’m sick of it. Every time we try, I get bored, you'reyou,even in different variations, you’re still you, and aren't you tired of pretending like we like each other, much less love each other?”

“I did love you,” Idonea whispered. “We're soulmates.”

“We're cursed.”

Idonea stepped back. She looked at the window, at the moonlight streaming in. Then she turned to Nyrunn and said, “We have to go if we're going to make it back in time.”

“Idonea—”

But she was already heading for the door. He sighed and said, “I'll be right behind you.”

She looked over her shoulder and whispered, “Goodbye, Olaug.”

What was going through her head?

“By the way, who did you end up forcing to marry the mongrel?”

Nyrunn’s fist connected with Olaug’s jaw, and as the other man stumbled, Nyrunn grabbed him. He slammed Olaug into the wall.

The other man’s head cracked against the wooden beam, and he cried out. Nyrunn leaned in as Olaug struggled, unable to break free as Nyrunn hissed, “Disrespect your queen again and I won't be merciful.”

Nyrunn dropped Olaug, letting the elf hit the ground. Nyrunn turned on his heel, heading after his wife before he threw over his shoulder, “And thank you for being such a coward and standing her up. She's in better hands now.”

As soon as he stepped outside of the tavern, the crowd parted for him, and he saw Idonea sitting on top of her steed already, waiting for him, and he couldn't read her expression. His wall was blocking her off from him as much as it blocked him off from her. She patted her horse's neck. “We have a ceremony to finish, Nyrunn; come on!”

He mounted beside her and they took off, without a second to waste.

Chapter 32

Idonea was grateful they were riding so hard and fast there was no opportunity to talk.

Mostly because she didn't know what she would say. She didn't know what to make of it all. And part of her really didn't want to try and figure it out at the moment. It was all too much.

What mattered now was getting to the Constellation Pool and finishing her duty as Gytha's chosen. She brushed her fingers over the necklace.

But she couldn't avoid thinking about it entirely. About what would happen afterwards.

The second she touched the necklace, she felt Nyrunn's eyes on her, but he didn't try to speak over their horses’ thundering hooves. His wall was still up.

She didn’t know what that meant.

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