Era of the Moon, page 23
Sebastian stopped walking and took her shoulders in his hands while staring directly into her eyes. “But you will never again face your struggles alone, at least not while I still have rhythm in my heart and air in my lungs.”
Cerilla leaned in, kissing him gently before responding, “I know.”
A twig snapped behind them, breaking their sweet moment and causing Sebastian to protectively step in front of her while throwing one hand out to send a column of fire toward the noise. It stopped short of its target, illuminating a small, shaking squirrel in his light.
“My hero.” Cerilla teased. “You really put that squirrel in its place.” Her laugh echoed off the trees, warming Sebastian’s already scalding heart.
“Ha ha.” He replied sarcastically as he threw his arm back around her. “If that was a striga you’d be kissing the ground I walk on for saving you.”
“Yeah, okay.” She snorted, snuggling into his side as they finished their trek to her camp.
Sebastian and Cerilla had only just emerged from the woods when they were spotted. A group of her top warriors began to walk tentatively toward her, hands on their weapons as they kept their eyes trained on Sebastian. What caught both Cerilla and Sebastian’s eyes though, was a single body pushing its way to the front of the crowd.
“Cerilla!” Callahan sprinted to her, and he looked just as worse for the wear as she did. He was thinner, with dark bags under his eyes, and the natural sheen his hair usually always had was dull. “Are you okay?” He wrapped her in a hug, catapulting his body into her. She stiffened under his touch, and Sebastian growled quietly behind her. Callahan pulled back, placing her head between his hands. “Are you hurt? Do we need a healer?” His eyes looked crazed. “You must be cold!” He shrugged his jacket off. “Take this.” He went to drape it over her shoulder but stopped when Sebastian growled once again. As her mate, Sebastian found it far too intimate and territorial for Callahan to place an article of his clothing over Cerilla.
“I’m okay.” She assured him, pushing out of his arms before he could do something to get himself killed, like kiss her in front of her possessive mate whose bond was still chafing because they had yet to perform their bonding ceremony.
“Kill the Sun Prince!” A female voice screamed, soon revealing herself to be Sterling’s sister, Jewel.
Sebastian braced for battle, but Cerilla threw herself in front of him. “No!” Cerilla screamed.
“What?” Callahan snapped.
Cerilla tried to think of a response quickly, not yet wanting to share their mate status. “He saved me and protected me all this time in the caves. You will not kill him.” She sensed her mate’s displeasure at her not claiming him as hers, but she did that for his own safety.
“He killed my brother in cold blood.” Jewel accused. Cerilla thought back to Sterling, who had retreated after sacrificing her for his own safety.
“That’s not what happened.” Cerilla defended.
“Prince Callahan told us that Sebastian killed him before the Sun was fully risen as Sterling ran away.” Jewel said. “Is this a falsehood?”
“Prince Callahan grew vines from the Earth to halt your brother from running away!” Cerilla pointed an accusatory finger at Callahan.
“I did not!” Callahan defended, but Cerilla wasn’t ignorant. Who else could have grown those vines?
“Not to mention Sterling almost had me killed, while Sebastian protected me.” Her voice was rising in pitch, angry at the accusations and hatred being thrown at her mate.
Jewel snorted angrily. “Why would Sterling try to get you killed?” Cerilla hesitated, unsure how to answer all the questions they were presenting her with.
“Cerilla?” Callahan said as he prompted her to answer once again.
“Princess Cerilla does not answer to anyone, least of all to you.” Sebastian stepped toward Callahan, a menacing look passing between them. Silence fell as the entire camp stopped to listen to them.
“Don’t do it like this, Bash.” She was begging him not to confront Callahan, not to share the truth of their mating bond – really not to do anything until she had her feet on solid ground again.
“Bash?” Callahan mocked with a snort, but then he looked at them – truly looked at the close proximity of their bodies and the caring glances between them. Callahan had seen the goddess’ light at the pool that night but had assumed she had bonded Sterling and Cerilla. The thought he had the entire time Cerilla was in the cave was that with Sterling dead she could finally be his. Callahan’s shoulders fell as rage engulfed his tired eyes. “Why would Sebastian protect you, Cerilla?” His tone was menacing.
“Because it is a mate’s job to protect their fated one.” Sensing Callahan’s rage, Sebastian stepped before Cerilla and threw a protective arm out in front of her.
“Mates?” Callahan laughed, a deranged look in his eyes. “Mates?” He said again, and then once more. “Mates?” He cast his eyes to Cerilla, his heartbreak clear within them.
“I don’t care who he is, he dies today!” Jewel ran at Sebastian. With a warrior’s grace Sebastian grabbed Cerilla’s sword, and with one swing he was able to disarm Jewel.
“Stand down, warrior.” Sebastian warned. “This will be a battle you lose, and your family has lost enough.”
A tormented cry erupted from Jewel’s chest as she pulled a dagger from her belt and charged him again. With one swipe she sliced his arm, causing him to instantly drip crimson blood. Sebastian cursed under his breath but held his composure as her dagger came down with another swipe.
With precision he grabbed Jewel’s arm and fought to disarm her once more. And though he was in a weakened state, and she was a formidable foe, it was still no match. Cerilla heard the sickening snap of bones as Jewel’s wrist broke and she finally surrendered her weapon to the ground.
“Come to my tent.” Cerilla ordered Sebastian, walking ahead so he would follow her.
“Cerilla!” Callahan cried, desperate for an explanation.
“I’ll deal with you later.” She shouted over her shoulder, choosing to calm down first and speak with Sebastian before doing anything else.
Cerilla fisted the heavy canvas material of her tent, casting it to the side so she and Sebastian could enter in and have some semblance of privacy. Looking around the small space she found it somewhat comforting, and simultaneously unsettling, that it was just as she had left it. Maps and weapons littered her desk, just as sheer undergarments and melted to the wick candles littered the floor around her bedding. She sighed. Life had been so different the last time she stood in that space. Less fulfilling, but far less complicated.
Sebastian smirked as he gestured to the space around her tent, noting the lingerie, candles, and sparkling wine that were sat out.
“Interesting set up.” He held up a thin string of panties, his smirk still present.
“Yes, well.” Cerilla snatched the undergarment from his hand. “I was planning for the night after the Pool of Pairings to go differently.”
“You’re saying you didn’t think you’d end up stuck in a cave with a mate twice the male of your ex-fiancé?” His eyes, smile, and voice all held jest.
Despite herself, Cerilla smirked. “No. I wasn’t planning for that.”
“So…are you going to wear this for me?” He held the sheer corset up to his own chest, modeling it with a twist of his body.
She snatched that from him as well. “Be serious, Bash.”
“What?” His face held a look of faux innocence. “Make your mate happy and wear this for him.” He grasped her by the waist and pulled her in, littering her neck with kisses.
“Sebastian!” She called out, halting his movements and making him aware of just how serious she was.
“What?” His face held a look of confusion. He thought she’d be happier to be amongst her people, but she was nearly as tense as she had been during their first few weeks in the cave.
“You can’t be seriously thinking about joining with me again, after maiming the sister of my dead ex-fiancé?” Her raised brows mocked him.
He smirked again. “I promise that I am almost always thinking about joining with you.” Heat licked up her side as he danced his fingers delicately over the clothing he wished would disappear.
“Sebastian.” Her voice was quiet but commanding, halting the movement of his hands in an instant. “One child of the most powerful lord in my Monarchy is dead, and now the other is maimed! And I will have to answer to him for it.”
“As I said before, my mate does not answer to anyone.” He kissed her lips and spoke again hovering above them. “I will make sure of that.”
“You can’t protect me from everything.” She whispered, eyes looking up at him from beneath thick lashes. “Nor can I protect you from all danger.”
“You’re not this worried about the Earth Prince, are you?” His lips pressed into her neck, an attempt to ease her worries with pleasure.
“He really hates you.” She replied, voice light.
“And I hate him.” Sebastian chuckled. “But that doesn’t mean you need to worry about it. All will be well, Ceri. I promise.”
Cerilla closed her eyes, trying to get lost in the sensations of his touch – but a memory was pulling at the forefront of her mind. “I just remembered something.” Cerilla said, trying to pull together a coherent thought while Sebastian licked and kissed his way down her neck and across her collarbone.
“What is that, Ceri?” His breath tickled her skin, sending goosebumps skittering in a wave across the flesh of her chest.
“What did you whisper to Callahan during your sword match?” She asked.
“Hmm?” His hum vibrated her skin, short-circuiting her brain and sending a chill down her spine.
“At the Exhibition, during the sword display you whispered something to him, and it seemed to really upset him.”
Sebastian quirked his head to the side as he pondered, his gaze falling to the side in concentration. Slowly, a smile pulled at the corner of his lips, and he had to fight hard to stop it, biting the inside of his lip in the process.
“I told him to watch his back because I was going to steal his Moon Princess away and feck her into oblivion.” Cerilla’s mouth fell open in shock. “At the time I said it to piss him off, but now I’m thinking it was a premonition.” His gaze turned dark, his eyes predatorially trailing up her body, leaving a burning trail in their wake.
“You’re incorrigible.” She giggled, face hot with a blush.
“And you’re beautiful.” He nipped her nose, earning him a small smile. “Now, put this on for your fated one,” He snatched up the sheer undergarments once again and tossed them to her, “And let him pleasure away the frown lines on your face.”
Cerilla allowed herself to give in, unsure how many more moments like that they may be able to share before the Trial was over. And even after that they’d have politics and their families to contend with – which would more likely than not try to force them apart.
“As you wish, fated one.” She gave him a wicked grin before stepping behind a partition to change.
“Don’t make me wait too long, Ame. It’s cruel.” He cried out, and in that brief, fleeting moment she didn’t care who heard. She was gifting them both one final night of carefree pleasure and merriment before the troubles of the Trial came crashing around them on the morrow.
Chapter Seventeen
Sebastian rose before the sun, hearing it call to him from beneath Cerilla’s sleeping furs. The sky above was twisted with a hint of light from both the sun and moon, as well as swirls of pink and orange clouds. Looking around he could see the tent was no different than it was before, though he felt his presence wiped away all traces of her former fiancé – which pleased him. As did the sight of his sleeping mate. Though she was moon blessed, he couldn’t help but notice how beautiful she looked in the glow of the early morning sun. He considered that time of day to be symbolic of them as he watched her chest rise and fall in a steady pattern. Dusk and dawn belong to us, he mused. Whenever the sun and moon shared one sky the entire known world would be reminded of their bond.
As if thinking of her stirred her to consciousness, Cerilla rolled over. Silver eyes peeked out from still sleepy lids as a smile graced her lips.
“Good morning, Ame.” Sebastian kissed the tip of her nose, stirring a playful giggle from her chest.
“Good morning.” She returned his kiss with one of her own, though this one was placed on his lips.
“Someone is up rather early for a Moon dweller.” He teased, not entirely sure of her customs or personal schedule.
“Yes, well, I’ve been sharing a schedule with a rather roguish Sunnie for the last few weeks, so my sleeping schedule is completely off.”
“He sounds awful.” He gave her a faux look of empathy, bottom lip pouted out and brows furrowed together.
“He is.” She agreed playfully before rolling over once more, this time away from Sebastian. The fur blanket slid from her body, revealing taut skin and ample curves. Water ceased to exist in Sebastian’s mouth. “What are you going to do this morning?” Cerilla asked, but he didn’t respond while his eyes were ogling, and his thoughts were fixated on various parts of her form. “Sebastian!” She snapped her fingers in front of her breasts, snapping him out of his lust induced haze.
“What?” He was oblivious to her even having asked him a question.
With a chuckle and roll of her eyes she asked again. “I asked, what are you going to do this morning?” Much to his disappointment she quickly pulled on undergarments.
“I’m going to lay in the sun until noon, and then we can talk strategy on how to move forward.” He stood, sliding into his worn leathers with ease.
“We can get you new clothes.” Cerilla offered, noting the rips and wear to his.
He shrugged. “I can have someone fetch me some from my camp.”
“Can’t you get them when you go back?” Cerilla assumed he would return to his camp as soon as day broke, but she underestimated his commitment to her safety.
“I’m not leaving my mate alone during the most dangerous competition in all the Realm.” He scoffed as if offended by the insinuation. Cerilla’s skin flushed, both scared of and honored by his claiming of her.
“Your clan needs you.” She insisted.
“So do you.” His eyes held an air of defiance, and she knew it would be difficult to sway him on this.
“I can survive on my own.” She replied defiantly. What they had in the cave was pushed to the side in her mind, for they had bigger beasts to slay than that of figuring out their relationship. They had to survive the Trial. Sebastian knew that with alliances in place Cerilla was safer than he, but even she wasn’t entirely protected. For, the beasts of the Isle answered to no one. As much as he wanted to fight her on this and stay by her side, he also knew his stubborn mate would not be swayed on something she had set her mind to.
“Fine then,” He threw down his bandolier and moved toward her. With every step the tension in the air between them became thicker and thicker. Her chest had begun to heave with heavy breaths as his heart rate quickened. “I need you. I require to know you’re safe at all times, just as I crave your touch in the night. I’m not above admitting my desire to be near you. To protect you.” Cerilla swallowed, taking in the words he spoke like gospel. The words that sounded like a confession of love.
“Fine.” She conceded, eyes flicking between his lips and unwavering gaze slowly.
Sebastian cocked his head to the side, a smirk playing on his full lips. “Do you want to kiss me, Cerilla?” He chuckled. “If you can’t admit to needing me yet, can you at least admit to wanting me?”
Cerilla met his teasing gaze with one of defiance, though the smile she was biting away revealed her true feelings. “I can admit that.”
“Then kiss me.” He didn’t have to tell her twice. Cerilla nearly launched herself at him, arms encircling his neck as her legs wrapped around his waist. They shared air as their lips melded together, without a breath of space between them – and they would have carried on forever had Cerilla not felt the slight quiver in Sebastian’s legs as he held her up.
“You need the sunlight.” She extracted herself from him. “You’ve gone far too long without it and in that time used far too much energy. Go.” She swatted him on the ass, urging him toward the tent’s opening.
Sebastian caught her hand. “Can I ask one more thing of you, my mate?” He asked dramatically, with a hand clutched to his chest.
Cerilla rolled her eyes, “Sure.”
“Lay in the sun with me?” Cerilla’s nose crinkled. Not that she had any aversion to nearness with him, nor did she find sunlight repulsive – it just didn’t call to her. She had spent years practically hiding from the sun, chasing the high that came from living her life by the night. “Don’t make that face. I’ve seen you in the daylight before, Cerilla.” He pulled her to his chest, her back to his front. Warmth tickled her ear as he delicately traced his tongue along the outer shell. “I know you’re not a vampyr, no matter how pale your skin may be.” He teased.
“Why do you want me to sit in the sun with you? I won’t get anything out of it.” She sighed, her thoughts lingering on the stacks of unattended papers on her desk.
“I’m not ready to part from you yet.” His lips met the nape of her neck in a gentle kiss, sending a shiver down her spine. “And I’m choosing to ignore the fact that you said that you get nothing out of spending time with me.” His voice carried a hum of faux displeasure.
“And if you didn’t ignore it, what would you do? Punish me?” She gave him a wicked look from over her shoulder.
Sebastian snapped his fingers before her eyes, lighting a small flame and relishing the look of his fire twinkling in her eyes. “Don’t tempt me. I may have to punish you.” With another snap the flame was gone, and he was extinguishing his heat against the still bare skin of Cerilla’s midriff.
She shivered into his touch. “Perhaps I’d like your brand of punishment.” Another wicked smile.
