Rune’s gaze dropped to the bracelet on her wrist, and for a moment, she saw it. The flicker of doubt. Of fear.
His mask fell back into place. “I will never harm you. You are my queen.”
“I never wanted to be your queen!”
Something shifted across his face, but it vanished beneath his sneer. “You certainly used the title when it suited you. Well, what is it going to be? Wear the crown and all it entails, or give up the plaything waiting in your chambers?”
Alora scowled. Her gaze darted toward the table, spotting the bowl of ripe pomegranates gleaming like blood-red jewels. She stormed toward it.
“What are you?—”
She hurled one at him. It struck his shoulder with a wet thud and juice splattered down his tunic.
Rune blinked, his eyes widening angrily. “You forget yourself?—”
“That’s for being an infuriating, selfish, insufferable arrogant brute!” Alora shouted, throwing another. The second one hit him square in the chest. “That’s for kissing me!”
He dodged the next one, shadows flickering in irritation.
“This is for attempting to trick me into your stupid courtship traditions!” Alora hurled the final pomegranate at his face.
Rune caught it cleanly, the red juice running between his fingers. “Careful, songbird,” he drawled, his tone silken. “One might take this as an invitation.”
Oh, he truly kindled her wrath.
Alora flung the empty bowl next. He ducked, evading it by inches before the bowl crashed against the wall. Her fists shook, her chest heaving.
“That…” she murmured. “is for making me feel like something that should never have been born…”
Even if he didn’t look at her as her father did, she still felt like a monster.
The edges of Rune’s arrogance melted away. The shadows around him slowed, folding into stillness.
The moment hung, breathless, charged until he exhaled. “I’m sorry.”
She froze. The apology threw her completely off guard. Her anger faltered, flickering like a candle in the wind.
“That was never my intent.”
She scoffed faintly. “Then what was?”
His gaze fell to her clenched hands, still trembling, still faintly glowing.
“To show you,” he murmured. “To make you see what you are capable of. A part of you has been hidden away your whole life. A truly beautiful part I could never have foreseen.”
Her throat tightened because for the first time since she arrived, he was at last being genuine.
Rune shook his head, stepping closer. She didn’t move back when he reached her, holding his gaze as he wiped the tears on her lashes. The touch was unexpectedly tender.
Her mouth trembled. “You said I didn’t belong.”
Rune’s brows curled at the sight of her tears. “That is the second lie I have ever regretted.” He sighed as his fingers trailed down her chin to her neck. His voice was barely a whisper now, roughened by something unguarded. “I know monsters, Alora. And you are far from it.”
Her guard wavered. It was rare that he called her by name. The sound of it made all of her still.
“Then what am I?” she whispered.
Rune was quiet a breath. “I wish I knew. Every instinct in me says you are more than this world meant to allow.”
