LUNA
This night was never-ending. I could not believe that mere hours ago, we had discovered the magic tying us together. Even after Sebastian explained the Tether and I got over the shock of what had been done to us, a few hours were left before dawn. I insisted we see how far the rope connecting us stretched.
Testing the Tether was an exhausting and excruciating experience. The vampire prince’s original estimate seemed to be fairly accurate. We could move thirty whole feet from each other before the pain kicked in. It started as a twinge, growing to full-blown agony in mere moments. Each time, it was nearly debilitating. The only way to put an end to it was to touch.
After multiple extremely painful experiments, we arrived at two frustrating conclusions: thirty feet was not very far, and there was no way around the Tether. We were stuck. Our only hope was to find some way to undo the curse tying us together.
Eventually, Sebastian insisted we stop. He ordered a guard to find me some dinner, but other than that, no one bothered us.
The only good part about this experience was that I got to see outside the bedroom where I’d remained for the past two weeks. This was an isolated part of the castle, and there was no one else nearby.
I supposed being the Prince of Darkness had its benefits if it meant you got an entire wing to yourself.
I ate, but all Sebastian did was drink more coffee. He had to be hungry, but I didn’t ask him. I didn’t want to know.
After all, from what I had gathered from his explanation of the Tether,Iwould be his dinner. Even though this handsome vampire didn’t seem like he wanted to kill me—a fact I was very grateful for, considering I rather valued this thing called living, I wasn’t sure I trusted him.
How had this happened?
I thought being sold into an arranged marriage to a vampire prince, leaving my home, and possibly never seeing my family and friends again, was bad.
I did not realize somethingworsecould happen.
Even in my worst nightmares about this land of snow and ice, never once had I imagined that I would be Bound or Tethered to the vampire prince. Suffice it to say, my luck was not looking great right now.
On top of that, I overheard the servant who delivered my food talking to the guard as they left. War was brewing in the south. People were coming through the Koln Mountains, speaking of horrible things being done in Ithenmyr.
Thatwas one place I never wanted to go. I was happy reading about the Eastern Kingdom that bordered the Indigo Ocean, but it sounded like a terrible place to live. Not only was there something called the Accompaniment Law, but rumors said that both dragon shifters and earth elves had been eradicated by their evil king.
All in all, Ipotha was a much safer country. At least, I hoped my family was safe. I still hadn’t heard from them. My heart twisted as I thought of my brother. The witches had said he was growing weaker by the day.
I made a mental note to ask Sebastian about them. There should have been a response by now.
Tomorrow night, we had to attend the ball. After that, Sebastian assured me we would be free to head to the library to begin our search. We both agreed to follow his mother’s advice and keep the Tether to ourselves. It was far too much of a liability to share with others.
Everything circled back to the same question: why did Ciro do this to us?
Now, the first rays of sunlight were peeking through the clouds. Instead of getting up and starting my day as I would have a fortnight ago, sleep was calling my name. My limbs were heavy and my eyes drooped as I struggled to remain awake.
Sebastian leaned against the wall, his back to me as he stared out the window. I was still fully clothed and I fiddled with the tassels on a pillow.
Despite my exhaustion, I ignored sleep’s call. There was one issue we had yet to discuss, and I was not looking forward to it. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem like I could ignore it any longer.
There was only one bed.
A yawn slipped out of me. I couldn’t wait any longer. Reaching over, I pulled the pillow over my abdomen, as if that would do anything to assist me in what I was fairly certain was going to be an awkward conversation. “Sebastian?”
He looked over his shoulder at me. “Yes?”
“Where are you going to sleep?” I stared at him, then down at the bed.
Sebastian’s room, while large, did not boast much in the way of sitting space. In fact, other than the uncomfortable-looking chair at his desk, there was little in the way of furniture.
When I was recovering from the Binding Ceremony, he insisted I stay in the bed until I got better while he slept on the floor. But now, I felt fine. I might have felt fine staying in his bed while I was sick, but things had changed.
Sebastian blinked. “I usually sleep in my bed.”
“I gathered that much,” I said. “But seeing as I’m here, and we barely know each other…”