Tristan

MOMENTS LATER, THE WELL-LIT, MODERN CABIN appears through the forest. Home. I follow the cobblestone pathway, climb the stairs, and open the front door, falling in.

One inside, I slide my back down the door and sink to the hardwood floor with an uncaring thud.

My palms rub away the moisture on my cheeks as the tears fall from my eyes and sheer pain overtakes me.

Zander’s right. What little direction I had left just disappeared, along with Serena’s and my protector bond.

Serena and I are no longer connected. My heart continues to thud and rumble in my chest as if it has permanently lost its reason for continuing to beat.

Almost instantly, my brother appears out of thin air. I lift my angered gaze and pin him with a menacing look.

His black velvet suit shimmers with each movement as I curb the desire to strangle him with his vernal-colored tie.

“Dude! Are you . . . crying?” he accuses, shocked.

I stand in a fierce pose and sneer at him. “I told you to watch over her and protect her. Not bed or COURT her.”

A guilty expression falls across his face. “When you’re king, you’ll have to be a bit more specific with your orders.”

My swing is hard and fast as my fist connects with his jaw. Zander’s head snaps to the side with a loud popping sound that ricochets off the walls.

“What the hell, Tristan? Warn me before you try to kill me,” he barks, and pushes me so hard I fall on my ass.

I lift an eyebrow, seething. “Fucking warn you?”

“Look, I know you’re all heartbroken and shit, but do you have to be violent toward the one being who has always had your back?” He turns to the side and spits out a mouthful of blood. “You have to trust me. You asked me to protect her. I can’t do that if I’m dead.”

“Valid point,” I grind out.

“Now,” he holds his hands up in surrender. “No attacking me. I’m going to help you get to your feet, and then we can talk about all this. With words, not fists.”

Zander holds his hand out and pulls me upright.

“Such a gentleman,” I growl.

He grins. “That’s what she said,” he teases, and I lift my fist to punch him again, but then she steps out of the shadows.

“Stop!” Her voice wraps around me like the warmth of the sunshine. “Please,” she whispers, gutting me.

A long, silent moment passes between us as we just stare at one another and the rest of the world fades away.

“Hi,” she says softly, breaking the silence.

My brows rise. “Hi?” I repeat, my voice pitching higher in surprise.

Her shoulders fall. “I’m not sure what else to say. This is way more uncomfortable than I thought it would be.”

“Maybe you could tell me what the hell you’re doing in a realm that has forbidden your presence. Or perhaps you’d like to explain to me why you’re attending my premarital celebrations.” I narrow my gaze. “Wait, how about we start off with something simple,” I shrug. “Like why the fuck it is my brother is apparently COURTING YOU NOW!” I roar.

“Calm down.” Zander says in warning.

My focus snaps to him. “Are you seriously protecting her? Did you not just see how your actions in the ballroom shattered our bond?” I bark, and notice Serena bristle.

She steps forward. “During Zander’s unrelenting and insufferable presence at the Academy, we’ve become friends. He needed an escort to your upcoming celebration, as Magali was unable to attend. My clan, your mother, and I all agreed to allow him to court me so that I might accompany him into the realm because, well,” she pauses, then screams, “YOU BANISHED ME!”

“FOR A REASON!” I shout back, and quickly inhale my anger through my nose as not to explode on her again.

This is the first time I’ve been this close to her since I trampled all over her heart and ruined any future chance I had of being with her. And it hurts. It fucking hurts.

“I did it to protect you, so that you didn’t have to watch me marry another. Yet, here you are. Willingly,” I state.

My brother clears his throat. “I’m just going to step outside and let you two work this out.”

“You do that,” I snip.

He stares me down. “Don’t hurt her—any more than you already have.”

“Is that a threat?” I snarl.

Zander sighs. “I refuse to get into a pissing match with you right now. Believe me, her love for you is unwavering.”

Once he leaves, I lift my gaze and stare at her as the bitterness festering inside me keeps getting worse. At any moment, I am just going to go ballistic from it all.

I close my eyes, trying to convince myself that if I can’t see her, it won’t hurt as badly. Her being here—it cuts deep.

I want her.

But I can’t have her.

She isn’t mine.

“Tristan,” Serena whispers next to me.

I stiffen, refusing to open my eyes, because if I look at her face, or if she touches me, I’m done for. Game over.

“Don’t be like this . . .”

“I miss you,” I admit in a quiet voice. “So damn much, and I wish . . . I wish I wasn’t bound to Freya, but I am. I must respect who I am and what I’m meant to do. And you need to understand that. You should go back to the Academy. Our bond is severed. You’re free.” I swallow the lump in my throat and open my eyes but still refuse to look at her. “I have to keep my promises to my monarchy. If I don’t, realms will fall. I can’t have innocent blood on my hands, especially when it could be yours. I have no choice.”

Serena is in my face so fast that I jerk back with a curse as she presses me against the wall, pointing a finger in my chest as she pins me with her narrowed gaze.

“There is always a choice. I refuse to allow you to justify your actions by saying your hands are tied. You once told me that you believed we can change the outcome of our destiny. That history proves it to us, over and over again. Don’t give up on this—on us—as easily as you are.”

I reach for her hand, but she pulls away.

“You should be at the Academy, where you are safe, princess.” A pregnant pause beats between us.

Anger crosses her face at being called princess. I know she hates it, which is why I used it. For a second, I think she might just take a swing at me. It wouldn’t be the first time.

Instead, she exhales slowly and backs away, making her way toward the door . . . and no doubt back to my brother.

With her hand on the knob, she tugs it open, but before walking out she turns and faces me, speaking firmly.

“Until all the air has left my lungs, I will fight for you. I will protect you. I will choose you, because you’re my fate.”