Page 76 of Destined for the Fae King

“At least we agree on that.”

“Ugh.” I roll my eyes. “You really hate me, don’t you?”

“No.” He drops his arms with a sigh. “I don’thateyou, Mira.”

“But you don’t like me.” That’s obvious enough.

He shakes his head and walks my way. “I don’t dislike you either.”

“Really?” I arch one brow. I know he can’t lie, but his attitude sure fools me.

Tharin stops beside me. “My first duty is always to the prince, and since your arrival, you’ve complicated that.”

That’s true enough. “Because you’re guarding me and not him?”

“No.” He rubs his jaw. “It’s safe enough in the court, and the prince is a capable male anyway. But I’d be a terrible guard if I didn’t keep him safe from his own inclinations.”

The way he looks me head to toe speaks volumes.

Warmth creeps up my neck and rushes to my cheeks, forcing me to look away. “You sent Fia the other night, when he was in my room.”

“I did.”

The smugness of his tone makes me grit my teeth.

Tharin grabs my arm, and I gasp. He holds it up, the king’s bond mark inches from my face.

“Don’t forget this,” he says. “While you bear it, you are pledged as a potential bride to the king. His and his alone until he releases you.” He gently shakes my arm in emphasis. “To be with anyone else is treason.”

“And after?”

“If the prince’s vision comes true, you’ll be more dangerous to him than ever.” His lip curls, and he drops my arm like a sack of garbage.

“Why? The king isn’t interested in humans. Maybe he’d be happy for his brother and me to be together. One less obligation for him.”

“You’re a fool if you truly think that.” The utter disappointment in his appraisal makes me flinch. “To be bonded to a human is power. That he hasn’t bonded a human before now for that alone is mind-boggling.” He leans in closer, nearly right in my face. “Vasilius likes power. He enjoys being king. And more than anything else, he does not like to share.”

My hands clench into fists. I notch my chin higher in challenge, but Tharin just turns and walks away.

“Then the vision must be wrong,” I call after him. “Or there must be a way to change it. I’m already not the king’s favorite, and I have no desire to change that. You’ve seen enough of this competition. Surely you agree. He won’t pick me”

Tharin halts. Turns. “You’re correct that the king appears to favor Lady Bailey. His advisors have approved her as well.”

I suck in a sharp breath. Approved her? As in, this competition may be nearing its end?

He shakes his head. “I see that hope in your eyes. Squash it. For Lysandir, if not yourself. The prince’s visions have never been wrong. I won’t believe otherwise until the king is wed to someone else and you share a mating bond with the prince.”

Two things he seems certain will never happen.

“When both of those things come true, I’ll have your apology,” I say, refusing to let him have the last word.

“Ifthose things ever come true, I’ll give it gladly.” His expression softens. “Lysandir is my prince, but he is also my friend.” He pauses, letting the statement sink in. “I want his happiness as much as my own. More, perhaps. If you could bring him the joy he seeks, the companionship without the risk of betrayal and treason, I would welcome it with my whole heart.”

A knot forms in my throat, and I swallow it down, along with the bitter spew of words I’d been forming only moments ago.

Instead, I simply nod in acknowledgement. He returns the gesture.

The tension between us has lightened as we continue our trek through the woods. Anything near us is long gone after our heated debate.

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