Waiting for Fate (Dual Court Kiss Book 3)

by Samantha Britt

  And, just like that, Ronan’s life was uprooted from his home in Winter Court. Now, his duty was to follow the royal couple wherever their lives took them.

  Despite the drastic upheaval, Ronan did not mind his change in position.

  Ronan’s job was prestigious; only the most honored Winter soldiers were entrusted with the safety of the royal family. In addition, Ronan found he enjoyed the experience of traveling the Human Realm. His life was destined to be long. Spending a few years away from Winter Court would pass like the blink of an eye.

  “Nevertheless, that is the situation Gwen and I are comfortable living under,” Kalan asserted respectfully. “Neither of us desire Ronan to be with us at every turn.”

  “Son,” the king’s expression was grim. “You are removed from most court news. We have received an increase in reports of rebellious Fae. Many are resentful of the fact their future sovereigns are dual-court Fae.”

  “There will never be a time where every Fae will be happy.” Kalan countered.

  “I’m speaking of Fae being disgruntled, not discontent.”

  Ronan saw the flicker of desperation cross the king’s eyes. He clearly found credibility in the threat to Kalan and Gwen’s safety.

  The king switched tactics, choosing to target the one thing Kalan valued even more than himself. “Are you so sure you are willing to risk Gwen’s safety?”

  Kalan’s eyes flared in anger; his reaction always the same whenever there was a threat to his lifemate. “Gwen is safe.”

  King Kheelen opened his mouth to protest further but thought better of it. He could see his son would not be swayed. Ronan respected the king for the show of strength. It was not easy to let those you loved make decisions you believed were wrong.

  “I hope you are right and I have no reason to worry.” King Kheelen exhaled.

  Kalan’s shoulders relaxed. “Thank you, Father.”

  The trio moved on to other court news. Even though the tense conversation was over, Ronan’s mind already worked on developing more security measures he could implement for the royals safety. Hopefully, the measures would not impact the couple’s lives any more than the already existing protocols.

  Later in the day, as Kalan and Ronan were making their way to the council meeting, the guard couldn’t help but bring up the news the king shared.

  “But is it worth the risk?” He asked Kalan after referencing the Fae who were unhappy with their prince and princess’ heritage. “Why not just take extra precautions?”

  The prince sighed. He remained resistant to any increase in security measures. “Because I want Gwen to have the life she always dreamed of,” he explained passionately. “She did not sign up for any of this. I don’t want her to ever regret choosing to be with me.”

  “She did not have to sign up to be a royal. She just is,” Ronan countered, finding Kalan’s reasoning lacking. “Neither did you. And neither of you chose to be dual-court Fae. Fate determined all of that for you both. Your job, as Gwen’s lifemate, is to ensure her happiness and safety.”

  Kalan’s dim eyes met the guards. “Do you think this is something we need to worry about?”

  “I believe we should always take any threat against you or Gwen seriously,” Ronan allowed. “But we don’t necessarily have to worry. Simply taking precautions would be smart of us.”

  After a lengthy moment, Kalan finally nodded. “Let us not inform Gwen of this unless absolutely necessary. She has enough going on to waste energy worrying about something we do not know is an actual threat.”

  Ronan disagreed with keeping Gwen in the dark. He knew she would be unhappy if she ever learned about it, but Gwen wasn’t his lifemate. It was Kalan’s call.

  “As you say,” the guard responded with respect.

  “Thank you.”

  Kalan and Ronan continued moving through the Winter Palace.

  They entered the north wing when Ronan felt the prince tense beside him. Ronan readied himself for an impending attack out of instinct, but as he looked around, all the guard saw was a blonde Fae step into the hallway.

  Only one second ticked by until Ronan identified the Summer fae. It was Duke Aeron, brother to Eilian, the male who raised Gwen. The duke was also the biological father of the Winter prince.

  The Summer fae saw the males approaching and seemed to debate whether or not to approach. He settled on calling out a cordial greeting before continuing on his way to the large oak doors leading to the council meeting. Ronan guessed the Summer ambassador’s attendance would be regular at the Winter council table. Now that both courts’ heirs had claim to both courts, Winter and Summer Court were in for years of working together.

  Ronan saw Kalan let out a breath when his biological father disappeared into the room.

  “You alright?” The guard asked. Even after four years, neither Kalan or Aeron seemed to know how to handle their relationship, or lack thereof.

  Kalan’s bond with the fae who raised him might have grown, but that was not the case for the younger fae and the duke.

  “Yes.” Kalan shrugged off whatever negativity burdened him. “Let’s just get this over with so I can get back to Gwen.”

  Ronan nodded in agreement. He felt eager to get back to someone as well.

  Chapter 8

  Gwen rolled out her shoulders before continuing to wash the dishes from the night before. She had a three day break in her schedule and loved the sense of normalcy daily chores gave her.

  So little of her life was simple anymore. She rarely said as much to Kalan, knowing her husband was quick to worry about her, but Gwen often felt overwhelmed by the various tasks placed on her shoulders.

  In addition to beginning her residency, Gwen was encouraged to take more and more responsibility in ruling Summer Court. Her maternal grandparents, the current king and queen of Summer Court, were not subtle in their attempts to urge her increased attendance at council meetings.

  Gwen knew Kalan was increasing responsibilities in Winter Court, but that was what he was raised to do. Kalan grew up the Winter Prince and there was no question what his future responsibilities would be.

  Gwen, on the other hand, believed herself to be an ordinary, human orphan for the majority of her life. The future plans she once made could not have been further from her current reality.

  A plate slipped from her fingers and splashed into the sink water. Gwen tucked her bangs back with trembling fingers.

  There was no getting around it; Gwen was exhausted. While she loved her family and was devoted to Kalan, she often wished things in her life could be simple again.

  Reminiscing on the past brought Gwen’s thoughts to Kate and Sara. More specifically, she thought about the fact Ronan was pursuing her childhood friend.

  Gwen trusted Ronan. She did not doubt he was a standup guy and would treat her friend with respect.

  That being said, Gwen knew of the world Ronan was a part of. She knew how unbelievable it seemed to her when she first learned about the Fae Realm, not to mention her own heritage. Gwen’s life hadn’t been the same since.

  Gwen also knew her friend. She worried what would become of Sara should she continue to date Ronan.

  Would he eventually tell Sara the truth?

  What would be the purpose?

  Would Ronan expect Sara to stay with him?

  Would Sara do that?

  Gwen’s mind swirled with possible outcomes for her childhood friend.

  Despite her best effort, she could not figure out an ending in which Sara would not be left disappointed or hurt.

  Gwen couldn’t do it. She couldn’t stand by and let Ronan lead her friend on.

  Without further thinking, Gwen walked away from the soapy dishes and found herself knocking on the basement door.

  Ronan answered immediately, no doubt using his fae speed to quickly reach the door.

  “Gwen?” Ronan questioned with a curious smile. It quickly faded as he took in her expression. “Is everything alright?”

&nb
sp; “We need to talk.” Gwen crossed her arms.

  “About?”

  “Sara.”

  “Ah.”

  “More specifically, you and Sara.”

  Ronan nodded. “I figured as much. Come in.” The guard stepped aside and Gwen brushed past him to enter the room.

  “Can I offer you a drink? Some elixir?”

  Though Gwen’s mouth watered at the thought of the delicious Fae beverage, she declined his offer. “No, thank you. I’m fine.” She needed to have composed thoughts for this discussion.

  “As you wish. Please, have a seat.” Ronan gestured for Gwen to sit at the bar stool she stood beside. She complied while Ronan poured himself a glass of water.

  An awkward silence settled, eventually broken by Ronan. “Perhaps it is best if you just say what you came to say?”

  Gwen met Ronan’s gaze. He did not seem bothered that Gwen basically barged into his living space to lecture him on dating her friend.

  “Why are you pursuing Sara?”

  Ronan blinked. He took a sip of water before responding. “Are you questioning why anyone would pursue your friend, or just me?”

  “Just you,” she replied without hesitation. “You have to know it is not right.”

  “I disagree. It might not be convenient, but it is not wrong.”

  “How can you say that?” Gwen threw her hands in the air. “She isn’t Fae. You are.”

  “What is your problem with that, exactly? I need to know what I am trying to defend myself against.”

  “My problem is that you are using my friend as a distraction… a play thing.”

  Ronan’s eyes narrowed. “I am not doing anything of the sort.”

  “Are you trying to tell me you are thinking about a future with her?” Gwen asked the question, fully expecting it to make her point. No way Ronan planned anything in the long term with Sara. Gwen knew he wasn’t.

  Ronan wavered, looking unsure of himself for the first time during the conversation.

  Gwen felt triumphant until she heard his next words.

  “I… might be.”

  Gwen’s mouth dropped. He couldn’t be serious. “Y-you barely know her.” She could barely utter the words.

  “I know her better than you might think.”

  Gwen couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Ronan couldn’t be serious.

  “You are going to live forever,” Gwen pointed out. “Sara won’t. Even if you have the best intentions… even if you end up together… it is bound to end.”

  Ronan’s shoulders lost some of their bravado. “I am aware of that fact, Gwen.”

  “Then why do this to Sara?” Gwen’s tone was pleading. “She is going to get old, Ronan. She deserves someone to grow old with.”

  “I do not plan on leaving her.” The statement was barely above a whisper. Gwen wasn’t sure she heard him correctly.

  Gwen gave her persuasion one last try. “You will never grow old, Ronan.”

  “I know that, Gwenevere,” Ronan barked. It seemed he hit his limit. “Want to know what else I know? I’ve never felt this way about someone. Never…

  “Does it seem sudden?” Ronan voiced the rhetorical question before Gwen could work in one word. “Yes. I am taking every precaution to ensure my feelings are true before I let the relationship go too far, but I refuse to completely rule it out. Not when I feel this way.

  “Think of you and Kalan,” Ronan continued, beseechingly. “When Kalan believed prophecies would keep him from you, he nearly went mad trying to stay away. You two are meant to be together. Even though, at one point, neither of you thought it was possible.”

  She sighed, not knowing what to say. “This is different, Ronan.”

  “It’s not,” he stated firmly. “It is easy to say after-the-fact, you and Kalan are meant to be. All I want from you is the chance for there to be an after-the-fact for me and Sara. No one knows what Fate has in store for anyone. It is unfair to rule this out, especially when I feel so strongly for Sara.”

  Gwen opened her mouth to argue, but stopped herself. She looked deep into Ronan’s eyes. She saw his longing; whether it was for Sara or for just a companion, she did not know.

  However, she did know Ronan was right about one thing. There was a point where Gwen believed she and Kalan were an impossible match.

  Gwen remembered the anguish she felt when she believed Kalan was her half-brother. She remembered the heartache when she thought he had a lifemate waiting to take him in the world. The thought of not being with Kalan when Gwen felt so in love was excruciating to endure.

  Fortunately for her heart, everyone was wrong about them. With time, the two were confirmed as lifemates and have remained together ever since.

  Looking at Ronan, as his hopeful expression pleaded with her to understand, took the fight out of Gwen. While she still believed the relationship would inevitably hurt her friend, Gwen had to admit only Fate knew what would ultimately happen. It was not Gwen’s place to doubt Ronan or his feelings. Neither was she in the position to say the couple was doomed to fail.

  Admitting defeat, Gwen stood and faced the tall, dark fae. “You care about Sara?”

  Ronan’s face remained both serious and sincere. “So much that it worries me.”

  Gwen’s lips tilted up. “Good. If you hurt her, there will be consequences.”

  Ronan’s eyebrows rose, amused. “I do not doubt that for a moment, Your Highness.”

  “Do me a favor?” Gwen added. “Hold off on telling her the truth until you are sure.”

  What Gwen meant by “sure”, neither she nor Ronan knew.

  Regardless, Ronan nodded. “You have my word.”

  Chapter 9

  “If you don’t buy that dress, I am going to buy it for you.”

  “I don’t know,” Sara looked over her shoulder, meeting her sister’s eyes in the dressing room mirror. “The back is too low for school.”

  Kate rolled her eyes and gave an exasperated sigh. “Not every piece of clothing has to be school appropriate,” the young woman pointed out. “You are allowed to have fun clothes, you know.”

  Sara looked back at her reflection, examining her figure in the yellow dress. The summer dress was on sale even though the warm Texas weather would make wearing it possible for the following fall months.

  Sara turned from side to side and watched the fabric sway with her movements. It belled out perfectly at her hips, giving her slender frame the illusion of a curvy figure.

  “I think I know a certain tall, dark and handsome guy who would love to see you in that dress,” Kate commented from her seat, laughing when her words caused her older sister’s cheeks to color.

  “Be quiet,” Sara replied weakly, unable to put much effort behind her response. She already considered what Ronan would think of her in the dress, and her instincts said he would not be disappointed.

  “No,” Kate stood and walked towards her sister. “I won’t be quiet until you agree to buy this dress. It’s practically a steal!”

  Sara nodded. “Alright, alright. You win. I’ll get the dress.”

  Moments later, the sisters were walking out of the department store, each carrying a bag of their purchases.

  “Want to grab some frozen yogurt before heading out?”

  Sara laughed at her sister’s question. They always got frozen yogurt at the mall. It was a tradition.

  “Obviously,” she replied as the pair walked to the food court.

  The space buzzed with weekend shoppers periodically blocking the sisters’ path. Sara couldn’t wait to grab their dessert and find a seat away from the chaos.

  Finally reaching the shop, both women purchased their yogurt and found a table near the back corner of the crowded space.

  Distracted as she mixed fruit into vanilla yogurt, Sara completely missed Kate’s statement.

  “I’m sorry,” Sara lifted her head to look at her sister. “What did you say?”

  Alarms went off when Sara noticed Kate’s tight li
ps. “What’s wrong?” She asked before Kate could answer her first question. “Are you alright? What happened?”

  Kate held up her hand, urging Sara to stop talking. “Everything is fine,” she responded. “Nothing is wrong. I just said I have news.”

  “Oh.” Tension left Sara’s shoulders. “Good news?”

  “I guess so.”

  “You guess so?”

  “Well…” Kate paused, once again, tightening her lips.

  Sara eyed her sister. She did not have any idea what her uneasiness could be about. Kate seemed distracted the past week or so, but Sara thought the younger woman was simply busy with her job.

  After a moment, Kate finally spit out her news. “I got a nursing position in Houston, at a research hospital.”

  Sara froze, careful to keep her expression neutral. “Oh… wow.”

  She chose her next words carefully. “I had no idea you were looking for work in Houston.”

  “I wasn’t… not really,” Kate replied with a shrug. “The head RN told me about the opportunity and I thought I would give it a shot. I never expected to actually get the job.”

  Sara took a deep breath, suppressing any negative thoughts for her sister’s benefit. “Congratulations. Are you going to take it?”

  Kate’s eyes flickered across her sister’s expression, hoping to discern her genuine reaction. Unfortunately for Kate, Sara perfected the art of hiding her emotions a long time ago. No one would know her thoughts if she didn’t want them to.

  “I-I think I am going to take it.”

  “Congratulations,” Sara repeated, forcing as much enthusiasm into the words as she could.

  “Are you mad?” Kate murmured.

  “Of course not.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t have to take it, you know. I can stay here.”

  Sara appreciated the offer but knew she could never ask Kate to give up such an opportunity.

  Nor was Kate someone who would readily pass it up, despite what she might say.

  That is not to say Kate was a selfish person. The truth was, Sara and Uncle Frank never made Kate make such decisions while she grew up. The younger sister was definitely treated like the typical baby of the family.