Page 31 of Ties of Starlight (Tethered Hearts #2)

N yrunn ignored the gasps and the whispers of the villagers as he came racing in on horseback. Better everyone was surprised, so long as news of his arrival didn't spread to his target before he got a hold of him.

He knew this was a desperate, foolish errand fueled by his jealousy, but he’d been on his horse before he could stop himself.

Nyrunn glanced around, ignoring them all as he looked for the elf that had been assigned to monitor Nyrunn’s target. He was dressed down, but Nyrunn recognized his face when he saw him standing in the shadows.

His spy spotted him, raising an eyebrow before inclining his head toward the local tavern.

After having delivered the news to the king personally, it wouldn’t be hard to guess what Nyrunn was there for.

The sun was setting, which meant the Star Elves on a normal schedule were just getting back into their day after the usual Midday Rest.

Nyrunn wasted no time in storming into the tavern, the door slamming into the wall. Only those closest to the door heard the slam given the loud carousing that was filling the air and making it nearly impossible to even hear someone who was only three feet away. A few who had their wits about them dropped to a knee, or into a deep curtsy. But the elves at the back had hardly noticed him, deep in their cups and conversation.

Nyrunn knew him just from the back of his head. Plus, the elf maiden on his lap was a dead giveaway with everything Nyrunn knew about the cad.

“Olaug.”

Nyrunn's voice cut across the noise, sending the tavern into complete silence as he approached.

The elf turned in his seat and blanched to see his king looking ready to run him through.

“Your Majesty,” Olaug sputtered out as he and his companions staggered to their feet; the girl on his lap hit the ground in Olaug's haste to bow. Her skirts tangled in her legs and when she tried to rise to curtsy, she just tripped and hit the ground again, Olaug making no move to help her. Nyrunn almost felt bad for the girl.

“Everyone else, out now.”

When no one moved, Nyrunn snapped, “That was an order!”

The whole tavern launched into motion, scrambling for the door. Everyone but Olaug rushed to leave, whispering to each other about what the king was doing there.

When the door shut behind the last of them, Nyrunn turned to Olaug, whose hands were in the air, ready to rise to defend himself. As much as Nyrunn wanted to give him a good physical thrashing, he was prepared to restrain himself.

Finally laying eyes on him again, though, Nyrunn could not even seem to find the words to string together everything he wanted to say to the faithless coward who was the cause of his wife’s suffering and twisted view of everything.

Olaug shifted his weight from foot to foot before finally clearing his throat. “So… I take it you got my letter?”

Nyrunn bit out, “You're a disgrace.”

“You don't understand, Your Majesty—”

“Save it.” Nyrunn lifted his hand and Olaug stepped back. “I'm not here about that.”

“I'm sorry I ruined the ceremony, but our people can last another two hundred and fifty years—”

Did he ever stop talking?

Nyrunn cut him off, voice frigid. “The wedding went on.”

Finally, Olaug was silent, just staring at Nyrunn. He blinked a few times, then straightened up with a weak, fragile laugh. “Oh. Perfect, see? You didn't need me.”

“I'm here for answers.”

Olaug glanced around the empty tavern and then out the windows, which were full of the previous occupants all peering inside. “You're not here to arrest me?”

Nyrunn crossed his arms. “Answer and we'll see.”

Olaug let out another weak laugh. “Alright, Your Majesty, ask away.”

“Why?”

“Why did I leave? I told you in my note. I couldn't marry her.” But Olaug’s eyes betrayed his honesty as they darted to the ground. There was more he wasn't saying.

Did he remember everything?

“No. I read your letter. Why does she love you?”

“Idonea?” Olaug scoffed. “I mean, I was a captain. I've always been well respected. Part of a noble family. Handsome. I make friends no matter where I go. I could go on.”

“You're vain. And selfish. And faithless.”

“So?”

Nyrunn could see the crowd outside the tavern window shift, everyone trying to eavesdrop on the conversation. He lowered his voice. “What hold do you have over her?”

Was it part of the magic bringing her back? Or was it all Idonea?

This visit was a gamble, but with the comet appearing in the sky the next day, Olaug was Nyrunn’s last chance to break Idonea out of this insanity and make her see reason. If they left that night, they’d reach the Constellation Pool as the comet appeared, and hopefully have enough time for Idonea to see this cycle was already broken beyond repair and to free herself.

Even if she didn’t do it to be his.

If the one she did love begged her to free him, she would.

Nyrunn hoped.

But, if he was going to bring him back to do what his letter hadn’t, he needed a few answers first.

“How should I know? Also, what does any of this matter?” Olaug’s voice pitched up. “This is what you tracked me down for?”

Nyrunn reached forward, and in a flash, he had his hand in Olaug’s shirt, jostling him. “I don't answer to you. You answer to me.”

“Don't you think if I could have gotten rid of her ages ago, I would have?” Olaug raised both his hands up to his head as he tried to stumble back, but Nyrunn wasn’t letting him go. “Her starry-eyed adoration is fun at first until her newness wears off and you actually look at her. Just standing near her made my skin crawl.”

Nyrunn's fist was about to make contact with Olaug's jaw when a hand wrapped around his wrist and a familiar voice cried out, “Nyrunn, no! ”

The weight dragging him back forced Nyrunn to release Olaug, who immediately scrambled back.

At his side, clinging to his arm with everything she had, was Idonea. When had she gotten there? He’d left their camp immediately after their fight. She must have followed him, or dragged the information of Olaug’s location out of Frode. Or Frode told her himself so she'd come racing after him to protect Olaug.

Olaug straightened back up as his eyes landed on her, seeing his so-called soulmate for the first time since abandoning her. His hands were still up in the air, ready to protect himself.

Nyrunn glared at Olaug, hand still curled into a fist. Idonea hovered in the corner of his eye, staring up at him. “Idonea, you shouldn't be here.”

“Neither should you,” she whispered.

He relaxed his fist and she let go of his arm. Instead, she held his shoulder as Olaug eyed them.

When Olaug didn't speak, Nyrunn snapped, “I shouldn't be surprised you have nothing to say. You didn't bother leaving a note for her. But even now that you’ve had so long away, do you still have nothing to say for yourself to the woman you abandoned who loves you beyond all understanding?”

“I think my lack of attendance to my own wedding said enough.”

Nyrunn nearly lunged at him again, but Idonea quickly slid into the space between them. Her back was pressed flush to Nyrunn’s front as she threw her hand out behind her. Her soft voice had its own strength as she said, “Olaug.”

He stiffened, eyes narrowing.

“What was it?” She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and exhaled before opening them again. She stared straight at him. “What did I do wrong?”

Olaug scoffed, lowering his hands to his sides as he glanced over her. “It wasn't anything you did. You were what was wrong.”

Idonea being between them was the only reason Olaug wasn't speaking though a mouthful of loose teeth.

“Do you remember?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Do you? If you did, why would you want to be with me? I've made myself clear time and time again.”

Olaug remembered?

Idonea's tears spilled over as she tried to hold herself together, and Nyrunn put his hands on her shoulders to steady her. “I'm so sorry —I didn't mean to—”

“What are you talking about?”

“Inga and Olvir,” Nyrunn spoke up, glaring at Olaug. “You remember that?”

“You know?” Olaug blanched before glaring at Idonea. “You remembered and you told him ?”

“Take that tone with her again and I will make every death you've ever experienced a pleasant dream in comparison.”

Olaug stepped back. “Yes, I remember our last lives. What I don't understand is what you are apologizing for, Idonea.”

Idonea reached up, wiping at her cheeks as she whispered, “I killed you.”

Then Olaug laughed.

Idonea froze as she stared at him. Nyrunn didn't really know what to do with this.

Finally, Olaug stopped, and then gestured at Nyrunn. “You believe that just because his creepy, demented uncle wrote that in his account? He completely left out his obsession with you, and it didn't occur to you there was more he left out?”

What was he trying to get at? He couldn’t mean—

“I remember you and the girl were dead and the dagger was on the ground, and I was covered in your blood.” Idonea pressed her hand to her stomach. “What else could have happened?”

“You didn't kill me.” Olaug rolled his eyes. “When you came across us, she pulled out a dagger. I admit, not my finest moment, letting her seduce me, but—”

Nyrunn cleared his throat, daring him to blame Idonea for his faithlessness.

“Point being, she wasn't just a serving girl. Her whole plan had been to kill me that night and you coming in almost saved my life before she decided she'd go for both of us.”

“Why would she want to kill you?” Nyrunn raised an eyebrow and then added, “I mean, outside the obvious.”

Dare Nyrunn believe? If Idonea hadn’t gone into a blind, violent rage… Would Idonea believe it?

“She was a Moon Elf.” Olaug lowered his gaze to Idonea’s again. “I realized in the fight and managed to break the illusion, but it was too late. She was the one who killed me in front of you, and I watched you fight her before you got the upper hand and saved yourself by killing her before she could finish the job. It was self-defense. Just because I would rather be executed for treason than marry you doesn't make you a murderer.”

Idonea nearly fell into Nyrunn as she staggered back and he caught her, keeping her upright as she reached behind her to grab at him. Her eyes were wide and her breathing shallow.

As much as Nyrunn wanted to believe Olaug’s version …

Nyrunn narrowed his eyes. “Why wouldn't my uncle tell anyone it was an attack from the Moon Elves?”

Olaug shrugged. “Might it have something to do with the fact he killed an innocent girl by rushing into the situation—a girl he was disturbingly obsessed with and most of us knew it—and it would be an embarrassment to him and the royal family if anyone ever knew how badly he’d botched it? How his prejudice and twisted desire mixed with self-loathing for having it caused him to blame her and kill her? Better to let the dead girl keep the blame, especially when she has human blood that can easily take the blame.”

“So...” Idonea rasped, placing a hand over Nyrunn's as she stepped out of his grip. She looked up at Olaug, eyes shining. “You leaving had nothing to do with our past deaths? There was nothing I could have done to make you stay?”

Nyrunn held his breath.

“Look, we both know how this goes every single time. Isn’t it about time we try to break this endless cycle? That’s all I wanted when I ran away. I can’t come back as the next groom if I’m not the groom in this life.” Olaug huffed. “I’m sick of it. Every time we try, I get bored, you're you, even in different variations, you’re still you, and aren't you tired of pretending like we like each other, much less love each other?”

“I did love you,” Idonea whispered. “We're soulmates.”

“We're cursed.”

Idonea stepped back. She looked at the window, at the moonlight streaming in. Then she turned to Nyrunn and said, “We have to go if we're going to make it back in time.”

“Idonea—”

But she was already heading for the door. He sighed and said, “I'll be right behind you. ”

She looked over her shoulder and whispered, “Goodbye, Olaug.”

What was going through her head?

“By the way, who did you end up forcing to marry the mongrel?”

Nyrunn’s fist connected with Olaug’s jaw, and as the other man stumbled, Nyrunn grabbed him. He slammed Olaug into the wall.

The other man’s head cracked against the wooden beam, and he cried out. Nyrunn leaned in as Olaug struggled, unable to break free as Nyrunn hissed, “Disrespect your queen again and I won't be merciful.”

Nyrunn dropped Olaug, letting the elf hit the ground. Nyrunn turned on his heel, heading after his wife before he threw over his shoulder, “And thank you for being such a coward and standing her up. She's in better hands now.”

As soon as he stepped outside of the tavern, the crowd parted for him, and he saw Idonea sitting on top of her steed already, waiting for him, and he couldn't read her expression. His wall was blocking her off from him as much as it blocked him off from her. She patted her horse's neck. “We have a ceremony to finish, Nyrunn; come on!”

He mounted beside her and they took off, without a second to waste.