Page 70 of Awakening

Emrys breathed quietly, desperately pushing away all the emotions threatening to swallow him whole. Trystan glanced at him, and instead of looking away, Emrys held his gaze. It was by far the wrong thing to do.

“Have you ever seen the moonflowers bloom in the celestial gardens of Kaldwyr Palace?”

Trystan shook his head. “I’ve never been to Kaldwyr.”

“That is where I should like to pledge my heart and life to you. I can imagine no more perfect a place to take our vows than being surrounded by the moonflowers as they bloom under the full moon and in the presence of the stars. Will you marry me there, tonight, my heart?”

The question weighed heavy on Trystan’s heart. In the labyrinth, he’d fallen in love with Myrddin. He couldn’t shake those feelings now, seeing Emrys before him, but he also loved Marc. The man fate had chosen for him.

Schooling his expression into something he hoped was impassive, Emrys nodded. “I know the place, Trystan. Aside from the garden’s breathtaking scenery, to take your vows there on this night would honor the moon goddess.”

The moment the words fell out, Emrys regretted it. A heartbroken look from Trystan tore through Emrys like nothing he’d ever felt, but he couldn’t let Trystan see how affected he was by it.

It wasn’t fair of Trystan to blame Emrys for what he felt. The dark magic of the labyrinth had left him cursed with memories and emotions Trystan would need to learn to live with. Emrys would always be his dearest friend, but Marc was his cymara. He had to marry Marc, and perchance once they bonded, fate—or maybe the moon goddess herself—would ease the pain in his heart.

“Trystan?” Marc said.

His heart fluttering, Trystan slipped the silver ring on his little finger and looked into Marc’s eyes. “We’d better leave now if we’re to make it to the celestial gardens before moonrise.”