11. Lunette
LUNETTE
L unette could hear the sounds of merriment from where she stood next to Turios outside the doors to the main hall of the castle. She was still bound in silver chains, and guards surrounded her on all sides. At least Turios hadn't done her the insult of underestimating her.
The massive wooden doors slowly swung open, and the scene they revealed was truly breathtaking.
People and creatures all dressed in the bright shades of summer lounged and danced and laughed.
Great sprays of colorful blooms decorated nearly every surface, and on either side of the dais, two massive cherry trees were in full bloom, their pink petals the crowning glory of the room.
Lunette could smell their delicate scent from here.
And there, on his throne in all his glory, was Basilious. He was so handsome and imposing, and Lunette felt a pang in her heart at the thought that she might never be with him again after today.
The moment she and Turios stepped across the threshold of the hall, Basil's eyes found hers and widened in surprise, though he kept the rest of his features carefully schooled.
People stilled as they walked past, until the entire hall was eerily silent. Turios stopped before the dais, and Lunette noticed the tension in Basil's whole body. He gripped the arms of his throne, and his chest rose and fell a bit faster than it should have with his anxious breaths.
"Your majesty," Turios began, his voice ringing out across the hall, "I bring you a great prize on this auspicious day. This seasoned killer was sent here to murder you in cold blood."
A gasp went up from the gathered crowd, and Basil's brow furrowed, his expression darkening.
"However, I have apprehended her in time to save you from any harm. What punishment would you see fit to bestow on such a criminal?"
"Liar!" Lunette's voice was strong and harsh, and another collective sound of surprise from the crowd followed her exclamation.
"How dare you speak in our king's presence," Turios hissed.
"If you wanted me to stay quiet you should have gagged me," Lunette spat back with venom in her voice.
"I would hear what she has to say," Basil added, his tone brooking no argument. His eyes were fixed on Lunette, waiting.
"Your majesty, this man Turios is the one who hired me. When I refused to follow through on my contract, he took me hostage." Lunette wasn't sure what else she could really say; that was the simple truth.
"And why should I believe you over my oldest advisor?" This question was quieter, and she could hear the hurt in his voice.
"They took me last night, I…" Her own voice was quieter no w, and she tried to push all of her mess of feelings into her expression so he would see that she'd not meant to desert him last night.
They had given her back her clothes, so she knew it would have appeared to him as if she'd left him purposefully.
She wanted him to understand, but if he didn't want to own their relationship publically, she wouldn't force his hand.
She had been delusional to think a king would want to be with her, a hardened assassin.
Basil watched her intently, the silence stretching between them.
"I think I love you, and I'm so sorry." The words were barely more than a whisper from her lips, but they were her truth. Basil's carefully controlled facial expression crumpled, and she could see tears glistening in his eyes.
"That is quite enough from you, filthy vampire harlot." Turios cut in, tugging on Lunette’s silver chains. The metal burned into her wrists, and she cried out. Her eyes closed as she tried to breathe through the pain, but a flurry of sounds had her snapping them open again.
Basilious was there, a mere arm's breadth away, and he had Turios held by the throat in one of his massive hands. Fury rolled off him in waves as Turios hung there, pitiful choking noises escaping him.
"You will not harm my mate , Advisor Turios.
" Basil's voice thundered across the hall.
"I know what she said to be true; why else would you have remained so silent when everyone around me called for me to secure the royal line of succession?
You were silent, biding your time until you could get me out of your way to take the crown for yourself and your children after you.
You are hereby banished from Delkos, never to set foot on our shores again. Take your family and go."
Basil dropped Turios unceremoniously, and turned his back, closing the short distance to where Lunette stood.
"Unbind her at once," he commanded the guards that still stood around her. They lurched into action, clearly startled at this turn of events. After a short moment, Lunette was free of the silver chains, and she sighed in relief.
Then it was as if the crowd melted away, and it was just her and Basil, and all the words they'd said to each other that now hung in the air between them.
"I love you, too," he whispered.
Lunette threw her arms around his waist, and he instantly held her close, pressing kisses to the top of her head.
"I thought you left… I thought you could never want to be with someone like me," Basil said softly.
"I don't ever want to leave you, Basil. In all my long years, I've never felt something so right. I've never felt needed and wanted as I do with you, and I…" she trailed off, her voice thick with emotion.
"Shh, I know, I feel it too." Basil caressed her face as she looked up at him. Then, he bent and scooped her up into his arms, walking straight out of the hall the way they came in.
"Carry on," he commanded the crowd, as if the most dramatic scene hadn’t just played out in front of them. Lunette could hear the murmurs of the crowd as they left the hall, but Basil didn't slow, walking them straight up to his chambers and turning to bolt the door before he set her down.
"Did you mean what you said? I'm your mate?" Lunette asked.
"Yes, Lunette. Minotaurs do not have fated ones like other creatures, but we do imprint on a mate that we choose. I didn't mean to, it’s just… being with you is overwhelming." Basil glanced away, clearly a bit embarrassed.
Lunette reached up to stroke his face, and she smiled at him.
"I am glad you did. I want to stay here, Basil. I want to be with you, whatever it takes." She went up on her toes to kiss him, and he bent to meet her.
"Then stay, Lunette. You've spared my life in more ways than one, my beautiful assassin. Stay, and be my queen."
Lunette nodded, and for the first time in her three hundred years, she felt like she'd found her home.