Era of the Moon, page 24
“You’re going to get me into trouble, Cerilla of the Moon Monarchy.” For some reason she loved the faux formality he spoke to her with from time to time. Though, not as much as she loved his touches. He placed a loud, sloppy kiss to her neck, causing her to giggle and try to twist away from him. “Put on shorts and this.” He tossed her a tank top to cover her brazier. “I demand your presence in the sun.” He ordered, igniting something primal and subservient within her soul. But luckily, the same obedient beast lived within him.
“Fine. But you will run in the moonlight with me later.” She gave out an order of her own.
“Anything for my fated one.” He dipped into a bow, and kissed her knuckles, eyes never leaving hers, before lacing his fingers with hers and dragging her out into the morning sun.
“I’m going to get sunburnt.” Cerilla complained after only thirty minutes in the sun. They were laying by one another, but not touching, in a patch of lush grass behind her tent – away from the prying eyes of any who had daytime guard duties.
“And if you do, you’ll heal yourself after.” Sebastian quipped, and he wasn’t wrong.
“I don’t understand why you enjoy this.” She squirmed, feeling uneasy under the sun’s direct light. Sweat dripped off her brow, an unpleasant sensation she soon remedied by using her powers to fling the salty water from her body.
“Shh.” He cooed. “Just enjoy this moment of peace with me.” His hand reached over to hers, patting it, instantly washing her body in a wave of euphoria. Cerilla’s eyes rolled back, lids snapping shut as her lungs drew in a deep inhale of oxygen. Her body tingled with the rush of rejuvenation. Only one thing had ever made her feel that exact way before – and it was lying in the moonlight. Sebastian, unaware of this sudden wave rushing through his mate, withdrew his hand, taking the sensations with it.
“Bash!” Cerilla sat up with a start. “Touch me again.”
He peeked one eye open, tracing it up and down her body with languid seduction. “With pleasure.” He placed his hand on the inside of her thigh, sending the waves of restoration and euphoria through her body once again. And she laid there under his touch for another half hour, itching to test her hypothesis.
Cerilla sat up once again and held out one steady hand, calling the water from the air around her – eager to see if it rushed to her hand like it would after she freshly charged her powers in the moonlight. Droplets of water sprayed her face as a ball of liquid rushed to her hand faster than ever before.
“What are you doing?” Sebastian asked, a hint of amusement clear in his voice.
“I think…” She hesitated, slightly in shock over what she was about to say. “I think when you touched me you restored my power. Like you were channeling the sun into me.”
Now it was Sebastian’s turn to sit up with a shocked look on his face. “Are you sure?” He was skeptical, if not in utter disbelief. Though, when he focused he could feel her energy pulsated with more strength that it had earlier that morning.
“Not entirely,” Cerilla admitted. “But something just happened.” She looked toward the sky, as if it held the answers she needed. “We’re bound to find out a great many things about soulbonds, being as we’re one of the first, if not the only, to be mated to another from a different nation.”
“And I cannot wait to discover those things.” His touch was as electric as his tone was sincere, making Cerilla wish for a brief moment they were still in the cave, in a place where they were utterly alone and away from the worries of their world.
Instead of responding in turn, she deflected. “I’m going to tend to some of my duties, find out about the state of my clan and the Trial at large. Where can I find you when I’m done?”
“If the sun is still out, you’ll find me here.” He spread his arms wide before folding them underneath his head. “And if the sun is gone I’ll be beneath your furs.” He paused. “Nude.” Another pause. “Waiting for you.” He shot her a devastating wink, weakening her knees and threatening to crumble her resolve.
“Noted.” She tried not to smile, even going as far as to bite her cheeks to stop it, but her traitorous lips gave away her feelings of approval for his plan. But still logistically, rationally, she knew he needed to return to his clan eventually. “I look forward to that.”
“I can hardly wait for the sun to fall.” He agreed, giving her a single firm nod and a smile before closing his eyes and returning to his first full sun bask since their extraction from the caves.
“Merida?” Cerilla called out, waiting for her to arrive at her side. This day was only the beginning of her reasserting herself as leader of the clan. She was no fool. Cerilla knew another had taken over in her absence, as they should have. A high-ranking Moon warrior should have ruled in her stay because they didn’t know if or when she would be returning.
However, at that thought, Cerilla began to ponder the reactions to her arrival back at camp the day prior. Only Callahan had been glad to see her – no one wept or rejoiced or even questioned her. They had been far too busy sizing up the Sun Prince beside her to care about anything else.
Cerilla had heard whispers after her return, most about Sebastian, but some whispers were about how Callahan had been correct to say the Princess would soon return. Which made her believe a Moon dweller hadn’t been in charge at all while she was gone. In fact, she was beginning to think it had been Callahan. The mortal inside her was angry that they had not used every resource possible to find her while she was in those caves. Leading her to wonder why Callahan hadn’t used his powers to move the stones to save them if he was so worried about her.
Later, Cerilla would learn they had sent beings to look for her the first week she was missing but had eventually stopped looking and trusted in Callahan’s word that she would return eventually.
Several minutes passed, and Cerilla stood there waiting, stoic and unwavering like a great statue. The wind blew in big gusts around her, causing the tent canvas’ around her to send snapping sounds up into the air. She smirked into the wind – thinking it might have toppled one less formidable over. After several minutes of waiting, her traitorous stomach growled, alerting anyone near of her mortality, but she hadn’t the time for selfish actions, even those required of her to keep functioning. She wouldn’t sleep, eat, or lay in another moonbeam until she knew the state of her clan.
“Princess.” Merida stepped before her, giving a small bow of her head in respect before pulling her into a short but firm hug. “I’m happy you’re back.” Their eyes met, and Cerilla thought to interrogate her.
Why didn’t they look harder for her?
What did they think had become of their Princess?
Did everyone see her as a spare? As expendable?
Could Cerilla trust anyone?
But she decided against it. “As glad as I am to return to find you here.” They nodded in agreement. The Trial would claim many before it was over, and there was no rule or guarantee that it might not be one of them. Cerilla linked her arms through Merida and led her toward the strategy tent. “I seek your knowledge on the state of our clan and the Trial.”
“We have lost six in our clan.” Merida reported, a sadness in her voice. Cerilla paused for a moment and closed her eyes, praying to the goddess for peace in the thereafter for her fallen warriors. “And Callahan reports more than that have been lost in his. But as far as how the Sun clan fares, I am unsure.” Merida’s eyes flicked from side to side, searching for eavesdroppers before she continued. “Speaking of which, I’ve heard you returned to our camp with a guest in tow. And many heard sounds of intrigue coming from your tent last night.” Cerilla’s face heated in a fierce blush. “You bedded the Sun Prince?” Merida sounded scandalized, and Cerilla tried not to be offended by it. She knew it was shocking. The last public encounter Cerilla and Sebastian had shared he had cut her up, burned her, and tried to kick her off the side of a cliff. They were more than rivals once, but then everything changed.
“He is my fated one.” Cerilla admitted, finding herself thrilled by the erratic flutter in her chest at these words.
“Goddess above.” Merida cursed. “I thought the guards were shitting me.” A chaotic laugh spilled from her lips. “How is this possible?” Cerilla’s mind flashed with two memories. The first being Sebastian’s admission of his lineage, and the second was the cryptic and unsettling words of the Moon goddess. Neither of which Cerilla thought should be shared with anyone – especially someone she was no longer sure she could fully trust.
“I’m not certain, but I assure you, it’s true.” Her hand found its way to her chest, rubbing the sudden dull ache that was present as she walked farther and farther away from her mate’s sunbathing, prone body.
“So, you completed the ceremony?” She whispered with scandal in her voice and judgement in her eyes.
“No!” Cerilla snapped, though she hated how definitive it sounded. “You know the legend. When a mating happens…you just know.” And that ended the conversation. They stepped into the tent and there she found Callahan, sitting at the head of the strategy table with both her and his top advisors around him.
“Cerilla, what are you doing here?” Callahan asked coldly. This wasn’t the first time he iced Cerilla out, but she could tell this time was definitively different. As if his sense of rejection had let slip the mask of civility he wore nearly everywhere he went.
“I could ask you the same. You’re the one sitting in my chair, talking to my clan without including me.” They were in an alliance, but his behaviors and body language felt more like a coup d’état. Callahan stood, body posed with sly grace as his forest green eyes pierced into her very soul. Cerilla stepped toward him with calculated grace of her own, watching as his veiny fist clenched and unclenched over and over again at his side.
“Where is your mate?” This question caused his mask to slip. For a sliver of time he sounded hurt, vulnerable even, and was unable to hold her gaze any longer.
“Restoring his energy.” She answered coolly, still testing the waters. After Sterling’s betrayal, and subsequent death, Cerilla wasn’t entirely sure Callahan could be trusted either. Cassiopeia’s words rang in her ear, the words that spoke of her mistrust of Callahan. Making Cerilla wonder if he would still have her best interests at heart if the option of bedding her was no longer on the table?
Callahan snorted, arrogantly. “Yeah, I heard him expelling a lot of vitality last night.” His eyes found hers again. “Finally gave it up, did you?” Cerilla’s teeth clenched together, and despite the international incident it would cause, she suddenly wished Sebastian was there to defend her honor against him.
“Careful, Prince.” Merida said. “You sound jealous.” His eyes flashed menacingly to Merida before dropping to his maps. With sloppy, rushed effort he rolled them up and slung his material into a canvas bag.
“Fill the Princess in on our plans for the morrow, just like the barbaric Sun Prince filled her with his vile seed last night.” Cerilla’s mouth fell open in shock. In fact, she was so shocked she could think of nothing to say to him. “I will conduct my business from my camp now that she has safely returned.” His face softened slightly as he said this. He was hurt, but he still cared for her and was glad she was alive.
“No thanks to you.” She spat, finally finding her voice.
Callahan laughed ruefully, not even bothering to turn around to respond to her. “Speak not of what you don’t know.” He lifted his shirt to show a nearly healed scar. Cerilla winced, she could tell from the scaring the injury had been deep. “This is what the Sun Prince’s right-hand male did to me shortly after he created the explosion that trapped you. I nearly bled out in that garden and even still when I came to consciousness hours later the first thing I did was remove every rock blocking that entrance and call to you – but you didn’t answer. And without a Moon royal present I couldn’t get in.” He dropped his shirt back down. “I hardly slept or ate while you were gone. And you returned with a lover.” He laughed mirthlessly again. “Goodbye, Cerilla.”
His words would take time to slowly digest, but she had something she needed to say before he left. “Before you go, know that I am now in an alliance with the Sun Dominion.” Everyone in the tent gasped. “I will still participate in all other aspects of the Trial, but the Moon Monarchy is in survival mode only, no more hunting.” Merida’s face held a confused look. “Make sure this message is heard by everyone.” Merida gave her one more curt nod and then left to follow orders.
“I am in no such alliance.” Callahan bit through gritted teeth.
“I know.” Cerilla didn’t expect him to be.
“I will win this Trial.” He spoke definitively. “At any cost.”
“Hopefully not at the expense of our alliance.” Cerilla said diplomatically.
“Alliance?” He snorted. “That’s all we are? An alliance.” His eyes searched her, years of history and feeling behind them. But Sebastian was the only one in her heart now, so her only answer to him was a nod. With a humorless smile he said, “I will see you tomorrow, Cerilla.” And then he walked away.
Cerilla could sense him before she even entered the tent. A pull she’d only experienced in relationship to the moon drew her toward Sebastian. His scent assaulted her when she opened the tent flap, that rich, bonfire smell she had come to associate with her mate. Her space looked different than it had when she left that morning. Gone where the melted candle stumps and replacing them were fresh candle sticks with flickering wicks. Her bedding had been sunned, just like her mate, bringing a fresh scent into the space that had been damp and musky the day prior.
Her tent had been cleaned by Sebastian. The Ruthless Prince of the Sun Dominion who bowed to no one had humbled himself to clean for her. Just because he wanted to help make her day better. The only thing he didn’t touch was her desk, showing his respect for her rule and privacy, but every other thing in the space had been tidied.
“Ceri,” His smile was warm, much like everything about him. He sat cross legged on the floor, a spread of foods before him. “I thought you’d be hungry.” He was always correct in predicting her desires. The day had been long, dealing with strategy and training as she tried to get her body and mind back up to par for the remaining month of the Trial. Luckily, due to her alliances, she wouldn’t be in much active combat any longer. But something inside of her said she needed to prepare herself to protect her mate from Callahan.
“I am.” Cerilla folded herself onto the blanket beside him, leaning into his steady form for support after he wrapped an arm around her. “It was a long day.”
“And they will continue to grow longer until we can leave this forsaken place.” His mind was future oriented. All he could think about was getting Cerilla off the Isle and out of danger. They were too busy living and surviving day to day to think of much else – but in the back of Sebastian’s mind he wondered where his mate would be going after the Trial ended. He wanted her to come to the Sun Dominion with him, but he didn’t know if she’d want that, and he would never force her to do anything she didn’t want to do.
“Seems Callahan has been ruling in my stay.” She said with a huff. “He is none too pleased about our return.”
“He is happy about your return, it is your mated status he is displeased with.” Sebastian remarked, throwing a few pecans into his mouth as he did so. “And I suspect he will try to rectify that soon.” Cerilla knew what he meant. Callahan would likely try to kill Sebastian and claim her as his own. Her heart physically ached at the thought of this.
Cerilla changed the subject. “The Medial check in is tomorrow.” She continued. “We will get full answers of the clan numbers and it’s rumored that supplies will be up for grabs.” She knew he needed to return to his clan, but she also knew he didn’t want to. Which is why it didn’t surprise her when the next statement irritated him. “I sent word to your camp about our safe return.” Though it was an act of thoughtfulness, it upset Sebastian, nonetheless. To him it meant he was more invested in their mating relationship than she. Cerilla was still answering to duty, to her clan, while he only wanted to answer to their bond.
“I suspect they’ll be coming for me any moment then.” He said stoically.
“Probably.” A grape snapped between her teeth after she answered him.
“You’re eager to see me gone then?” She hated the hurt in his voice. “It all meant nothing then?”
“No!” She demanded, though she wasn’t sure exactly what it meant yet. “We just have to finish this. We can sort everything else between us later, but for now our clans need us and we owe it to the Realm to finish the Trial.” Cerilla remembered with utter clarity the depiction of ruin the priestesses showed them as children. The threat of what would happen if they denied their duty of the Trial.
“If there is a later.” She hated his pessimism, but technically he wasn’t wrong. If a rival clansman didn’t kill them then maybe they would die by the paw of a beast of the Wood.
“Don’t say that.” Her lip began to quiver, but she willed herself not to cry.
“Then don’t let me leave! Combine our clans, we can win this together!” Sebastian sounded desperate, and she could feel the waves of emotion washing over him as his eyes looked at her pleadingly.
“That’s not how it works!” Cerilla’s voice began to elevate. “You know what happened before. All those years ago when one nation denied the deities the Trial. We cannot curse the Realm because we selfishly want to stay at one another’s sides. We are mates by fate but rivals by birth. We cannot honor the deities and ignore the Trial at the same time.”
“Maybe it could work that way.” He said this defiantly, though his voice wavered with unsurety.
“I’m scared of the deities.” She thought back to the words of the goddess, the words she hadn’t shared with another living soul. The words that threatened to take Sebastian from her.
