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“We’re all here for you,” Ryn said, rubbing his eyes. “And you deserve to know what the hell is going on. You’re his mate as well. Why should you be the only one giving? If he isn’t interested, for whatever fucked up reason, then you deserve to know. Keeping you in the belief that you’ll end up together is just cruel if he never intends for that to happen.”

“You’re right,” I whispered. “I’ll tell him tonight.”

And many hours later, I was doing just that. The bedside lamp was extinguished. The magic that made it glow now asleep and waiting for me to bring it back.

The door opened shortly after, like all the other nights. Only tonight everything would change.

He disappeared under the bed, whatever his form was, was now hidden from my view.

I sat up, like usual, and took in a steadying breath. “I had hoped talking to you like this every night would make you want to meet me,” I began, feeling my chest open and my heart beat in fear of what was to come. “But it’s been two months now, and I have to face the reality. It’s clear you want nothing to do with me. I apologize for boring you each night, I promise not to do it again. I might not be what you’d wanted in a mate, and I respect that. That is the only reason I could think of for you not to show yourself to me.” I chuckled, but I sounded broken even to my own ears. “And here I am, bothering you again with my talking.” My eyes were stinging with tears, and I lost the battle, letting them fall. “I don’t even know your name,” I choked out as I slid under the covers and cried.

I didn’t care that he heard me falling apart. I was beyond caring. I’d already bared my soul to him each night and him not even showing himself was hurtful enough. I felt like a fool. He’d made it clear from the start he didn’t want to know me. Why, I had no idea. Yet, I’d spent each night talking to him like I mattered, like he wanted to know how much I liked those red berries. He never once wanted to know me and had likely slept through each night while I talked and talked, thinking he actually cared. I was so utterly foolish and now my heart was breaking. I had no one to blame other than myself for that.

What would I tell my fathers when I returned? That I couldn’t make my mate want me? That I’d forced my company on him even when he’d made it clear he had no interest in me from the start? Shame filled me, and I felt sick to my stomach as I continued to mourn the mate I would never get.

Suddenly, the mattress dipped beside me, and then arms snaked around me. Sweet apples and sunshine filled my senses. My mate was hugging me! His body was shaking and I realized he was crying as well. “Forgive me,” he whispered, tone low and broken. “Please.”

I turned in his arms, finding his face in the dark. I held it in both hands, wiping away his tears. He was beautiful. His eyes looked dark, but I couldn’t tell the color. The same with his hair. But he was stunning even as tears slid down his cheeks. My beautiful mate.

Even though it was hard to speak, I needed him to know I didn’t hate him. “There’s nothing to forgive,” I sniffled. “You don’t have to be with me if you don’t want to. Just please tell me why so I can have closure.” It was the hardest sentence I’d ever spoken, but I meant it. Closure was the only way forward for me now.

He cried harder, hiding his face in my neck as I stroked his back. This would likely be my only time touching him, and even though it hurt, I wanted to savor the feel of him this close, breathing in the amazing scent of sweet apples for one last time.

We stayed like that for a while, both of us working through our emotions, but I wanted that closure, and I wasn’t about to let him slip through my fingers.

“Tell me why,” I pleaded.

He sighed and sat up, rubbing his eyes. I missed him immediately. He belonged in my arms, but I couldn’t force him to remain there, not when he didn’t want to be mine.

“I’m betrothed to someone else,” he whispered.

What?! “How?” I asked, my tone just above a whisper.

He sighed again. “My full name is Prince Arthur Remundus Ravenguard and I am to marry the king of Trenun, our closest allies.”

My mate was royalty like me, something I’d yet to tell him, saving it for when I could see him face to face.

“And you love him,” I finished, knowing this was why he’d not wanted to get to know me. His heart was already spoken for.

He shook his head. “I’ve never even met him.”

I couldn’t stand having this conversation in the dark, so I turned and flicked the bedside lamp on, the magic flaring the lighting ember back to life and shining a glow throughout the room. My breathing stalled as I finally saw Arthur. His light brown hair and deep blue eyes, filled with longing and hurt.

“How are you betrothed when you don’t know him?” I asked, trying not to drown in his eyes.

He averted his gaze and whispered, “arranged marriage.”

Anger unlike any other rose within me. “Did you have a say in it?”

He shook his head. “My father made the agreement while I was still a child.”

“So, if you had a choice in the matter, you’d choose me?” I asked, needing to know.

He nodded, biting his bottom lip. “I’ve wanted nothing else since I first saw you. And when you started talking to me—” his voice cracked and another sob escaped him. “Staying away from you is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, but they’ll hurt you if you ruin this arrangement. I know they will.”

I scoffed, taking his face in both hands, searching his eyes for anything. All I found was the same heartbreak I felt in my very soul. He didn’t know I was a prince, but it was about time he did. “My dear Arthur, I am a prince of Dule, and no one is going to touch either of us.” And with those words spoken, I leaned in and captured his lips with mine, praying to all the gods that it would be enough to seal our mating bond.

Chapter Five