“I thought this was going to be a girls’ night,” Kate pointed out with playful sass. “What is your husband doing here, Gwen?”
Gwen placed her hands on her hips and directed her attention to Kalan. “He was just leaving. Right, Dear?”
Kalan threw his hands up in mock surrender. “Yes, yes. I know I’m not welcome. I was just on my way over to Ronan’s.” Kalan stepped towards his wife and kissed her softly on the lips. “Have fun,” he told her.
“Ugh, get a room,” Kate laughed as she took it upon herself to finally enter the home.
Sara watched Gwen’s loving smile as she exchanged goodbyes with her husband.
They are such a cute couple.
Once the sisters’ tour of Gwen’s new home was complete, the three young women gathered in the living room. Sara and Gwen sat on the long couch while Kate stretched out on the loveseat.
“I can’t believe you live here,” Kate commented. “I need to marry a doctor.”
Gwen laughed. “My money isn’t paying for this,” she revealed. “This is all Kalan’s parents.”
“What do they do?”
Gwen paused for a moment before responding. “It’s just old family money.” The blonde shifted slightly in her seat.
Sara thought her friend’s hesitation was strange. She was oddly reminded of Ronan. He often gave vague answers in response to certain questions.
“How was the honeymoon?” Sara asked, trying to take her mind off of the handsome guy.
Gwen’s face lit up as she shared stories from her long vacation. She told the sisters all about the places she visited as well as the highlights of her trip. Gwen radiated joy, and it made Sara so happy to see.
“Enough about me,” Gwen waved her hand in the air. “I’ve missed so much. Tell me what’s been going on with you two.”
“Well,” Kate began, shooting her sister a teasing glance. “Someone’s been seeing a certain someone after years of delay.”
Sara rolled her eyes.
Gwen’s eyebrows drew together in thought, glancing between her two friends. “Alright, I give up. Sara is dating someone? Who?”
“I’m not dating anyone,” Sara felt the need to clarify. “I’m just going on dates.”
Kate smirked. “Yeah, Sara. That’s dating.”
“You’re killing me,” Gwen laughed at her own impatience. “Who is Sara dating?”
“Ronan!” Kate exclaimed before Sara finished her next breath. “Ronan finally made the move. He seems really into not disappearing on her this time.”
Sara wanted to swat her sister’s arm. She only managed to tell Kate brief details regarding the dates, yet the younger sister acted as if she knew everything.
Gwen surprised both sisters when her expression suddenly froze. Her eyes were wide when she finally spoke, “You’re dating Ronan?”
Sara felt uneasy. “I’ve gone on two dates.”
“Two lengthy dates,” Kate added.
“Is something wrong with that?” Sara asked when Gwen continued her unusual behavior.
Normally, Sara dating anyone would be a cause for her friends to celebrate. Both girls claimed Sara needed to put herself out there more. Gwen’s unexcited behavior was very out of character, to say the least.
Gwen opened her mouth to reply, but quickly closed it. She seemed to choose her words carefully. “Sorry, I’m just surprised. Ronan hasn’t mentioned it to us.”
Sara’s heart fell. Surely, if she were important, Ronan would have mentioned dating her to his closest friends.
Sara decided to deflect the emotion. “That’s because it’s nothing serious,” she offered. “We didn’t even arrange a time to see each other again.”
Kate gave her sister a stunned, then skeptical, look. She knew Sara well enough to know she wasn’t nonchalant about dating Ronan.
“Is there… something we should know?” Kate bravely asked Gwen, feeling the need to get to the bottom of the unusual response to the news about Sara’s love life. “Is Ronan not as nice of a guy as we think?”
“No,” Gwen immediately replied. “Ronan is great. It’s just…” Gwen trailed off, biting her lip.
“Just what?” Sara asked, not enjoying the feeling she was experiencing. “Is he… dating someone else?”
Gwen shook her head. “Ronan wouldn’t do that.”
“Then what is it?” Kate asked with an awkward chuckle. “Why aren’t we all jumping for joy that Sara snagged such a hunk?”
Gwen’s eyes turned apologetic. “I’m sorry. I’m awful. Of course I’m happy Sara and Ronan are seeing each other.” The blonde turned to her friend. “You and he are two of the best people I know. He’s lucky you agreed to date him.”
“But?” Sara questioned, waiting for a deal-breaking blow.
Gwen sighed, pushing her bangs out of her eyes. “But nothing. The news just surprised me. I’ve known Ronan for a while. I figured he would have told me.”
Though unconvincing, both sisters were eager to accept the explanation and move on. After a few stilted attempts, the trio managed to turn the conversation to less awkward subjects.
Even as they glided away from the awkward topic, Sara kept thinking of Gwen’s weird reaction in the back of her mind. She wished it never happened. Sara did not need any more reason to doubt her time with Ronan was genuine. What if her friend knew something she didn’t? What if she was falling for a guy who would, undoubtedly, let her down?
“How’s Ian?” Kate’s question brought Sara’s attention back. “We haven’t seen him in forever.”
Ian was Gwen’s foster brother and, until a year ago, the sisters’ neighbor. The older guy used to never leave his apartment for extended periods of time, but once Gwen came back from her extended absence a few years back, Ian seemed to be gone more and more. Ultimately, the young man decided to move out of the apartment complex.
“He’s well,” Gwen answered, taking a sip of the wine she poured the group a few minutes ago. “Enjoying traveling. He said he might visit in a few weeks, once I’m settled into my residency routine.”
“Be sure to ask him to make time for us,” Kate told Gwen. “Sara and I miss our big brother.”
Sara nodded in agreement. Ian was definitely as protective of the three girls as any older brother.
“Absolutely,” Gwen assured them. “He asks about you two all the time. I’m sure he is already planning to see you both.”
“I wonder how he will take the Ronan news.”
Sara frowned at Kate as she brought the awkward conversation back up.
To Gwen’s credit, she simply smiled and said, “I’m sure Ronan will receive an elaborate interrogation from Ian, at least.”
Hours later, as Sara drove her sleepy sister back to their apartment, a decision was made.
Sara liked Ronan. She liked him a lot. She liked him enough to not overthink her friend’s reaction. Many things could have caused Gwen’s hesitation, and Sara would drive herself crazy trying to analyze all of them.
Sara decided she would see where things went with Ronan and only take into account what transpired between them. No one else was going to have a say. Not this time… Not when Ronan made her feel the way he did.
***
Gwen sat on her couch drinking down her glass of wine. She wished it would affect her like the elixir from the Fae Realm. She replayed the conversation with her friends and groaned. She poured another glass, needing the repetitious act.
Kalan’s entrance disturbed the silence. He walked into the main room and over to Gwen, his smile dimming as he observed his wife.
“What’s wrong?” He asked, sitting down beside her. His hand automatically found Gwen’s knee.
“Did you know?” Gwen questioned calmly.
“Know what?” Kalan frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“Did you know Ronan has been dating Sara?”
He did not hesitate. Kalan nodded. “Yes.”
Gwen’s head whipped towards her husband. “Why didn�
�t you tell me?”
“I only learned about it when Ronan picked us up Wednesday,” Kalan revealing, unsure why he felt the need to defend himself. “Is there a problem?”
“Yes,” Gwen stared into her glass. “A big problem.”
“I don’t understand,” Kalan bent his head, trying to catch Gwen’s eye.
She looked at him. “She’s human, Kalan.”
“I know that.”
“Then why wouldn’t Ronan dating her be a problem to you? She doesn’t know anything about what we really are –about who Ronan really is. It’s deception to the core.”
“They’re just dating,” Kalan pointed out.
Gwen shook her head. “Sara doesn’t just date, Kalan. I’ve known her all my life. This isn’t fair to her.”
“Are you suggesting Ronan tell her the truth?”
They both knew that would be foolish, as well as against the Elder’s guidelines for the Fae Realm. Gwen spared a negative thought for the usually wise fae’s rules.
“No, I’m suggesting he shouldn’t be dating her in the first place. He’s lived much longer than either of us. Shouldn’t he know the decent thing to do would be to NOT get a human girl’s hopes up?”
Kalan frowned. “You’re not being fair to Ronan.”
Gwen balked. “Ronan is not being fair to Sara. She’s my friend. I don’t like it.”
“Well, Ronan is my friend and I do like it.”
“How can you say that? You’ve met Sara. She is one of the best people I know.”
Kalan didn’t disagree. “I think very highly of Sara, which is why I think she is good for my friend. I also think he is good for her.
“Remember, Gwen,” her husband continued. “You haven’t known Ronan as long as I have. He doesn’t… do this.”
“Do what? Date?” Gwen never knew Ronan to entertain a woman’s attention, but he could just be private about the matter.
“Exactly. Trust me, Ronan must have really thought about it before deciding to pursue Sara. Even if nothing comes of it, we must trust Ronan will handle the situation with care. He is our friend.”
Gwen’s expression filled with sadness. “This is doomed to not work out, Kalan. Sara is going to get hurt.”
Kalan rubbed his wife’s leg. “They might both get hurt.”
“So why don’t we intervene?” Gwen asked, thinking only of her lifelong friend’s feelings. Ronan would live forever. He had plenty of time to find someone else. Sara had one life, and she didn’t deserve heartache of any kind.
“Because, Love,” Kalan tucked hair behind his wife’s ear. “It’s not our place. Anything that does or doesn’t happen is between Ronan and Sara.”
Chapter 7
Ronan rolled over in his bed, stretching in the streams of sunlight finding their way through the small basement window. It was Sunday, and he and Kalan planned on visiting Winter Court. It was a trip the prince and his guard made often while Gwen was in medical school, but it was prevented from happening while Kalan was on his three month honeymoon.
Though Ronan always felt eager to visit his home, he was surprised to realize he was not as keen as he thought he would be. Normally, Ronan would be biting at Kalan’s heels to arrange another trip home.
Perhaps, Ronan mused to himself, my lack of enthusiasm has something to do with the pretty brunette commandeering most of my waking thoughts.
Just thinking about the girl made his demeanor lighten. With a grin, Ronan slid out of his comfortable bed and began preparing for the day.
Minutes later, one loud knock sounded on his door before Kalan let himself into the basement apartment. Ronan stood in his small kitchen pouring a glass of water.
“Good morning, Ronan,” the prince greeted, making himself comfortable in the den’s armchair. “I trust you slept well.”
Ronan nodded. Noticing the prince’s amused expression, the guard paused in taking a sip of his drink. “Do you have something to say?”
Kalan’s eyes crinkled in the corners. “Have sweet dreams? Or something of that nature?”
Ronan frowned, confused. “Not that I recall. Why?”
“Oh, it’s nothing,” Kalan kicked his legs over the arm of the chair. “I was simply trying to think of reasons which could have prevented you from banging on my door at the crack of dawn. You are always in such a rush to get to Winter Court when we agree on a day.”
Ronan shrugged but couldn’t hide the faint color rising to his cheeks.
Kalan laughed. “Whatever the reason, I appreciate the extra hours of sleep. That being said, we should probably get going.”
Ronan finished up his breakfast and quickly changed into his Winter Guard uniform. The material felt constricting compared to the loose clothing he wore in the Texas heat.
Kalan grasped the top of Ronan’s shoulder and began to faze the pair into Winter Court.
The world blurred for a moment before Ronan’s eyes began to refocus on the familiar furniture in Kalan’s personal study. The guard’s first full breath took in the cool, crisp air. His nostrils filled with the scent of the palace gardens and a light breeze circulated the room.
“I was beginning to wonder if you cancelled your trip.” King Kheelen sat in a large oak chair close to the fire.
“My apologies, Your Majesty,” Ronan bowed to his sovereign. “I delayed us this morning.”
The king rose and waved away the apology. “There is no harm done. Nice to see you, Lord Ronan.” He turned to his son. “Kalan.”
“Father.” The prince approached and pulled the older fae into a manly embrace.
Ronan averted his eyes. The father and son didn’t always possess a close relationship, but that changed after all the secrets of Winter and Summer court were finally exposed a few years back.
It all started when Ronan and Kalan ran into Gwen in the human realm. The young woman had no idea she was Fae, and Kalan could not resist the pull to invite her to his realm.
After she had time to process all the fantastical information, Gwen eagerly accepted the prince’s invitation. She has been the center of his friend’s world ever since.
Not even learning Gwen was a dual-court Fae was enough to deter the prince from his pursuit. Kalan wanted Gwen as his mate no matter what his prophecy supposedly said. The prince knew there was no other woman for him, and he was determined to have her.
Ronan recalled the Fae Realms reaction to learning the truth of their royal families. Not only did the Winter Prince choose a dual-court Fae as his mate, but he was a dual-court Fae himself.
The fact both newly revealed dual-court Fae were members of the Summer and Winter Court royal families certainly did not hurt the common Fae’s willingness to accept their existence. The support and adoration for the couple was almost universal.
Kalan and Gwen spent the years since their exposure working to earn the respect of all Fae, and Ronan admired their success.
Of course, there were those who spoke against having dual-court Fae in line to inherit, arguably, the most powerful positions in the Fae Realm. It was well known only Wise Ones possessed powers to rival those of the monarchs.
Learning Gwen was a dual-court Fae, as was the Winter Prince, nearly set both Winter and Summer Courts down destructive paths in order to protect their heirs from the few dissenting Fae.
Ronan glanced over to where the father and son continued speaking, catching up on the other’s news. One might think learning King Kheelen was not his biological father would cause a rift between Kalan and the king but the opposite happened.
Once the truth was out, King Kheelen made a point to not alter his treatment of Kalan. It strengthened the males’ relationship.
At the same time, the king also attempted to reach out to his biological child, Gwen.
The Summer Princess did not avoid the king’s attempts to establish a relationship, but it was clear she did not feel the need to foster the parental bond the king desired. Ronan suspected Gwen felt enough of that relationship with Eilian,
the Summer noble her mother entrusted her upbringing to. To his credit, King Kheelen took the passive rejection in stride.
“And what is your report, Lord Ronan?” King Kheelen addressed the guard, bringing him into the conversation.
“Sir?”
Kalan chuckled. “On my and Gwen’s security in the human realm,” the prince provided.
“Of course.” Ronan donned his professional posture and turned sharply to the king. “The prince and princess’ new home is safe from any human threats. It is in an affluent area, with no accounts of burglary in the past five years. I installed a state-of-the-art alarm system for which only Kalan, Gwen, and I know the security codes.”
King Kheelen nodded approvingly. “And what have you done to prepare for threats from Fae?”
Ronan informed the king of his work with the Elders, the most prestigious Wise Ones. The powerful Fae provided a glamour strong enough to influence any Fae. If any Summer or Winter Fae ventured to the Human Realm to search for the royal heirs, they would not be able to find their home. It was one of the Elders’ more elaborate and powerful spells.
“What of their safety when they are out of the home?” The king asked. He was nothing if not thorough.
“Father,” Kalan interrupted before the guard could respond. “Gwen and I both know how to faze out of dangerous situations. We don’t need any more protection than that.”
King Kheelen frowned disapprovingly. “That was not the agreement we made when first discussing you and Gwen taking up residence in the Human Realm.”
Ronan noted the king’s worry for his children was just as strong as the day they first left the Fae Realm. Neither the Summer or Winter royals wanted their heirs to risk their safety in the Human Realm, but Kalan and Gwen did not give them a choice on the matter. Gwen was going to finish her medical training, and Kalan was going to be where his mate was.
The ensuing argument lasted for weeks. Finally, the group came to a tense agreement after Queen Tanya proposed sending Ronan as a 24/7 bodyguard for the couple. The Winter Queen’s motion was approved.
Waiting for Fate (Dual Court Kiss Book 3) Page 5
