Page 64 of Forgotten Fate

“I never thought I could feel this strongly for anyone, Miri, but you—”

A knock on the door interrupted our conversation, and I smothered a groan. “Hang on!” I yelled to the waiting guards who would escort me to cabinet that morning. Leaning forward, I kissed her soft lips again, and she cupped my face eagerly.

“One of these days, you’re going to have to play hooky from the Council of Ministers meeting,” she told me.

I laughed and brushed the top of her nose with my lips. “We’ll have a long honeymoon,” I vowed. “I’ll take you far away, and you’ll be so sick of me, you’ll be begging me to come home and get back to work.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

“You’ll see!” I insisted.

“Hurry home,” she whispered, and I promised I would.

Straightening myself, I fixed my tie and headed out of the suite with a final glance back at my bride-to-be, drowning in our upcoming wedding plans, and my heart swelled with pleasure.

Although the bond hadn’t snapped in the way I’d heard about in lore, I was beginning to believe that Mirielle was destined to be with me, and I with her.

I think she’s my mate. I think I found my mate.

Chapter21

Mirielle

In my mind’s eye, I envisioned the archway under which I’d walk in three days’ time, crossing between the black and white rose bushes on the cobblestone path beneath my feet.

The past two weeks had filled my days and nights to the brim with guest lists and catering arrangements, the help coming out of the woodwork in the most unlikely sources until my ideal wedding was planned to perfection.

Tavia and Millie had split their day with me, ordering last-minute arrangements between their work shifts. The maids were almost as excited as me about the upcoming wedding, a fact that Tavia reminded me of every morning.

Their help and enthusiasm were infectious, and I was glad I had them, even if my future sister-in-law and the castle’s enchantress held me at arm’s length still.

It’s really happening. I’m marrying the love of my life. And he’s an Alpha King.

The builders had already begun constructing the archway, but their work had concluded for the day. So far, everything was exactly where it was supposed to be, but I couldn’t shake the knot in my gut that told me that something was going to go terribly wrong.

Pre-wedding jitters,I told myself again and again, my hand extended to brush gently over the leaves of the rose bushes, careful not to prick myself with any of the thorns.

“Will it be good weather?”

I jumped at the unexpected voice and question, the hairs on the back of my neck rising for reasons I couldn’t quite place yet.

Turning, I found myself facing a pleasant faced fae, his smile gleaming against a slightly weathered face. He was older but not too old, his smile doing nothing to alleviate my mounting apprehension at seeing him there. My heart began to race, and I stepped back.

“Pardon?” I asked.

“The weather. For your nuptials. Is it expected to be good?”

I took in his clothing, the black slacks and shirt, his shoes faded. He wasn’t in uniform, and I didn’t recognize him. Yet he was familiar somehow. His voice…

“I think so.” I gulped the lump in my throat. “Who are you?”

He ambled closer, never losing his smile. “You don’t recognize me?”

I shook my head, eyes narrowing as I studied his face, searching the back of my mind. So many bodies had come and gone through the castle over the past days. It was impossible to keep them all straight, but somehow, I didn’t believe he was one of them. “No. I don’t know you.”

“Think hard, my dear. Look closely.”

I moved back more as he extended his hand. My head whipped around as I looked for my guards, but for the first time since I’d arrived at the castle, no one was following me.

---