Alora stood at the threshold of the balcony, clutching the sheets around her. Her hair was tousled, her lips still kiss-bruised, and her eyes…
Confused.
And hurt.
“Anymore?”Alora asked, voice barely above a whisper.
His mouth parted, but no words came.
Sunnëva’s gaze cut to him, a knowing look in her gaze. And he realized too late this had been her plan. She winked and vanished in a burst of frost.
Rune cursed under his breath.
“That was her, wasn’t it?” Alora asked again, her voice sharper now. “The Goddess of Death.”
Swallowing, Rune slowly turned. “Yes,” he said at last. “Her name is Sunnëva.”
Alora’s jaw clenched, her eyes flashing. “Why did she come to see you?”
He opened his mouth, but words failed to provide a better answer than, “We… were friends…once.”
“I saw you with her, Rune. You called hersweetling.”
And it occurred to him then how the picture must have looked to her.
Rune winced. “We used to be… more. It was brief. A moment in time. She was merely a pawn in an old game. I swear it.”
Alora stared at him like he’d crushed her.“A pawn?”she repeated scathingly.
Shaking her head she scoffed in disgust and stormed into the antechamber.
“Songbird, wait.” Rune hastened after her, following her to the stairs. “That was a long time ago. Well, it lies in a future not yet lived. We stand in the past before it. One could argue that it has not happened yet?—”
Alora whirled around, standing a few steps above him. “Did you know Sunnëva was meant to be your brother’s bride?”
That was the question he hoped she wouldn’t ask.
Rune lowered his gaze, shadows rippling at his feet. “I am vile, Alora. I never hid that from you.”
A long silence dragged between them.
“Were you lovers?” she asked in a smaller voice.
He shut his eyes.
She turned away with faint scoff.
“Wait!” Rune took her wrist but let go when she hissed, snapping her small fangs. He winced, stepping back. “It was… a complicated situation, love.”
She stood with her back to him, claws clenched at her sides. “Why,” she said quietly.
Rune swallowed hard. “Because I despised my brother. I despisedeverything… after I lost you.”
She turned then, slowly, eyes shimmering with tears. “So, you tried to replace me?”
Guilt coiled in his gut weighed heavily in his stomach. He climbed a step, but she stepped back. Tears spilled down her cheeks. The sight carved his chest wide open.
“I must go.” She wiped her cheek, looking away. “I need a moment.”
