Chapter 31

Chapter

Thirty-One

Ruune

I stood at the window, staring out at the familiar landscape of Valoria. The turquoise water stretched before me, its surface rippling with the faintest breeze, reflecting the warm light of our two suns. Alabaster birds swooped low over the surface, their wings shimmering as they glided effortlessly. In the distance, mountains rose, their sharp peaks invisible beneath lavender clouds that dotted the sky.

The view should have been comforting. It was one I’d grown up seeing. Instead, the vista left me cold.

My mind drifted back to New York. The city was an amalgamation of concrete and iron—crowded, loud, chaotic. There were no soaring mountains or wide seas. The air wasn’t crisp and fresh. Then why did I find myself missing everything about that bustling city on Earth?

The towering skyscrapers that seemed to touch the clouds, the constant hum of traffic, even the biting cold that had initially shocked my Valorian senses. I missed the biting smell of fuel that permeated the air, a scent I'd once found offensive but now longed for as a reminder of the vehicles that moved through the streets like blood through the city's veins.

But more than anything, I missed Olivia.

My fingers twitched, itching to reach for my comm device and call her. But what would I even say? Sorry I left without telling you how I really feel?

I turned away from the window and back to my old room. I had not expected it to be kept exactly as I'd left it, and part of me wished I hadn’t returned to a life that was no longer mine. The high, vaulted ceilings of polished, dark-gray stone loomed overhead, making me feel small in a way they never had before. The fire crackled in the hearth, but even that didn’t warm me. The bed, with its rich, claret linens and sheer curtains hanging from four posters, was too big for me now. I'd slept there countless nights before, but now all I could think about was waking up next to Liv. The soft sheets, the fluffy pillows, the morning light streaming through the windows.

"Get a grip," I muttered to myself, running a hand through my hair.

But Liv's face flashed in my mind—her warm smile, the mischievous glint in her eyes when she teased me, the way her whole face lit up when she laughed. I hadn't been able to stop thinking about her since I’d reluctantly boarded the transport from Earth. Every moment, every conversation, every shared laugh played on repeat in my mind, threatening to drive me mad.

It didn't help that Caroline had been talking non-stop about Liv since we'd returned. She'd probably thought I would be glad to know that Liv was staying at her apartment and going out with Carl and the other drag queens. Part of me was pleased. I wanted her to be safe, and there was no doubt that Carl and his crew would keep her from harm.

Caroline had squeezed my arm on the transport and actually thanked me for helping Liv. “I had my doubts about the whole fake-boyfriend scheme, but she assured me that it worked. Maybe having a fake boyfriend will encourage her to finally have a real one.”

The thought made me feel physically ill, but what right did I have to deny her a real relationship? I’d left.

I started pacing, my footsteps echoing in the cavernous room. Five steps one way, turn, five steps back. Anything to keep my mind off the image of Liv with someone else. Someone who wasn't me.

"You're an idiot," I said, as I paused and glanced at the mirror by the door.

My reflection didn't argue. It just stared back at me, looking as lost and conflicted as I felt. The confident, borderline-cocky prince was nowhere to be seen. In his place was someone who'd left his heart on another planet and was only now realizing the depth of his mistake.

I couldn't help but despise myself for not telling Liv the truth about my feelings. What had I been afraid of? Rejection? Complication? Now, standing in my old room that felt more like a prison than a sanctuary, those fears seemed trivial compared to the ache of missing her.

Now, I wasn't sure if I'd ever get the chance to tell her that our fake relationship had become all too real for me. That somewhere between the pretend dates and the broken rules, I'd fallen for her in a way I'd never fallen for anyone before.

I groaned. I was famous for mucking things up, but this was next level, even for me. One thing was abundantly clear. I couldn't stay here. Not in this room, not on this planet.

But I couldn't leave either, not with Griff about to ascend to the throne and my uncle’s life hanging by a thread. He needed me, even if he'd never admit it. I could not abandon him, even if staying here was the last thing I needed.

What I needed was Olivia. But since that wasn't an option, I'd settle for a drink. Or ten.

With a frustrated growl, I strode to the door, fully intending to find the nearest bottle of Valorian whiskey and drink until I forgot my heartbreak. I yanked the door open, ready to storm out, only to come face to face with Caroline.

Her eyes were red-rimmed, her cheeks stained with tears. My stomach dropped, all thoughts of Liv and my own problems evaporating in an instant.