LUNA
Iwoke to a heavy leg threaded through mine, and an even heavier arm pressing me into the mattress. My hair was loose, spread behind me, and the light sounds of Sebastian’s snoring filled the air. As soon as I thought about him, memories of last night came flooding back.
“Oh, my gods.” I groaned as my face heated.
Had I really told him I understood the biology of two people coming together as one?
Of all the things I could have said, I was fairly certain that was the most embarrassing of them all. I would never, ever live that down. Thank all the gods he had kept his head on straight last night. I propositioned him like a common harlot. It was no wonder he turned me down. I probably wouldn’t have wanted to be intimate with me in that state, either.
Pressing my head into the pillow, I let out a silent scream.
What had I been thinking?
Even as I asked myself the question, I knew the answer. With his blood rushing through my veins, I had felt like I was on top of the world. At that moment, I felt like more than just Luna, the academic youngest daughter of the Human Lord. More than just a sister trying to help her brother. I felt like more than just the human princess Bound and Tethered to the vampire prince.
I feltwanted.
But obviously, Sebastian had far more sense than I did. Thank the gods he stopped us before we went too far. Not that I didn’t want him. Because Kydona only knew, I did. But I wanted to be in my right mind for that.
Now, all I wanted to do was disappear into the floor of this freezing castle. I waited, but when that didn’t happen, I decided the next best course would be to go take a very long bath.
Maybe that would allow me to mentally prepare myself to meet Sebastian’s knowing eyes. If not, at least I could spend some time soaking in the hot water and continue to read my latest book. I had already read six different botanical guides, but none of them contained any references to the plant Syndra had told me about.
Four triangular leaves and berries the color of the sky.
Someone less determined would probably have given up by now. There didn’t appear to be any leads. I wasn’t that person. I couldn’t stop. If there was even a chance that in finding this plant, I might help Marius, then I would do it.
Peeking over my shoulder, I stared at Sebastian. His eyes were closed and his hair was tousled. Sleeping beside me, he looked almost… peaceful. His tunic had disappeared sometime after I fell asleep, displaying his bare, sculpted chest as it steadily rose and fell. His body made it seem as though he spent hours exercising every day, but I knew that wasn’t the case. In all of my time here, I had never witnessed such an act.
Kydona only knew the moment I ate a pastry or some cheese, it was destined to remain on my hips for the foreseeable future. Not that I minded. Food was made for enjoyment, and that was exactly what I did.
My eyes widened and my mouth dried as my gaze landed on the lower muscles of Sebastian’s stomach, marking the V that led to his waistband.
“See something you like, darling?”
I gasped, my gaze darting to Sebastian’s face. His eyes were still closed, but a smirk painted his features.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said.
“You’re a terrible liar,” he said smugly, his eyes still shut. “You were staring at me.”
Now I really, really wanted to disappear into the floor. But instead, being the mature adult I was, I grabbed my book, wrapped a blanket around myself, and chose to studiously ignore him as I walked into the bathing room.
An hour and a hot bath later, I felt ready to face the day. As was becoming the norm, I hadn’t found anything in the botanical guide. But I wasn’t giving up.
I slipped out of the bathing room, my gaze searching until I found Sebastian. Leaning against the open bedroom door, his wings were outstretched as he whispered to someone in the hallway. Their voices were low, and I couldn’t catch more than a few words.
“… coming darkness… find out… dozens of messengers.”
I had half a mind to sneak closer and listen in to the conversation, but before I could decide whether eavesdropping was a good idea, the door clicked shut. Sebastian turned around, holding a breakfast tray.
“You should eat,” he said. “We’re leaving the castle tonight.”
“Where are we going?” I asked eagerly. Getting out of this castle sounded like exactly what I needed after the past few days. Maybe I would finally get to see more of this country that was now my home.
Holding out a buttery pastry, Sebastian waited until I had taken a bite before saying, “Somewhere cold. Dress warmly, darling, because you’ll need it.”
I widened my eyes. That sounded ominous. Washing the pastry down with a cup of coffee, I listened intently as the vampire prince walked me through the plan for the night.