Chapter 43
Chapter
Forty-Three
How the fuck was I supposed to focus on this incredibly dire meeting after that conversation?
And after what we did to that poor tub.
The fact that Sebastian loved me as much as he claimed, made every cell in my body swell with undeniable devotion.
And fuck, I loved him right back. If the shoes were on the other foot and he kissed my friend, I would have been filled to the brim with jealousy—I mean, hell, I was jealous of a girl he never even truly dated.
But not him. He was calm and rational. He was understanding and trusting of me. And gods
I love him.
“Almost ready?” Sebastian stepped out of the washroom, fiddling with the cufflinks of his black dress coat. He always gravitated towards dark clothing, and his attire for this evening was nothing different.
I worked through a knot in my still damp hair—tangled by his fist when he bent me over the wash basin. “Yeah. Can you button my dress for me please?” I had chosen a borrowed, deep green gown, form fitting and made of velvet.
“It would be my honor.”
I shivered when his fingertips teased the back of my neck, getting right to work. “I should warn you about King Franlow,” he began.
I lifted my hair up and out of the way. “Oh?”
“He can be a bit…steadfast. I’m hoping for the best, but it may take a bit of convincing and negotiating to get him to help us.” Sebastian fastened the last button, then placed his hands on my shoulders, spinning me to face him.
“But, you said it yourself, what we're informing him of should be more than enough to get him to cooperate,” I pointed out, sitting down on the bed to strap my heels.
He dropped to his knees before me to take over. His thumb grazed over my ankle to reach the clasp, the gesture not intentional, but still making me shiver. “It should be, but it may not be. We will just have to wait and see, but do me a favor.”
“Anything.”
He rose, grabbing one of my hands to pull me to my feet. “Don’t agree to anything he may offer until we all have a chance to discuss. And don’t suggest anything unless I’ve brought it up first.”
Easy enough. I nodded.
Keeping my hand clasped within his, Sebastian held the door and led me into the hallway. Our friends stood gathered outside of our door, all dressed in borrowed formalwear.
“About time,” Kade scoffed. “We’ve been waiting for you two.”
“You could have knocked, Lyrise,” Sebastian taunted.
A disgusted, borderline embarrassed, expression twisted onto Kade’s face.
“Is everyone ready to make a deal?” Sebastian clapped his hands, taking charge of the situation and starting off down the hall, my hand in his.
Pia found my side. “Are you okay?”
I knew why she was asking. My cheeks still felt warm and I had been unsuccessful in fully untangling my hair. If it weren’t for the dress, it would have looked like I just rolled out of bed. “Mhm,” I murmured.
Azain met us in the grand foyer to show us to the dining room.
Much to my displeasure, Samara accompanied him, dressed in a vibrant red gown that somehow managed to accentuate her already cinched waistline.
Her hooded eyes met mine, and her mouth settled into a tight line as she scanned me up and down before pivoting away with her nose upturned.
My fist clenched around Sebastian’s hand. I shouldn’t have been so envious of this woman, but damn did she make me feel lacking.
“Relax,” Sebastian breathed in my direction. “You’re going to break my hand if you squeeze any tighter. Remember what I said?”
Our pace was steady, matching the speed of Azain and his twin as we navigated the marble corridors, though keeping to the back of the group.
“Remember what you said about reminding me as often as needed? Yeah. I could use that reminder right about now,” I breathed back.
Sebastian chuckled softly, pausing our journey to tilt my chin up with his finger, giving him access to my mouth. His tongue teased mine in a deep, possessive kiss, unbothered by potential spectators.
I swear I didn’t mean to, but my eyes peeked open to see if Samara happened to be looking— which to my pleasure, she was.
“I am yours. You are mine. And I love you to the veil and beyond,” he pledged when he abruptly ended our messy kiss to catch up with the others.
The dining room was exactly as I’d expected after seeing the other rooms in Mealioria’s castle—immaculate and elegant were the two words that came to the forefront of my mind.
A table built of mahogany congested the space, the pattern somehow swirling into an intricate design instead of the natural wood grain.
Silk curtains hung from the rounded windows, draping to the floor.
Along the walls hung paintings of all the previous members of Mealioria’s sovereignty.
Sebastian pulled a chair out for me, and I settled myself properly onto its plush cushion. He took the seat beside me, Sawyer taking the one by my left—likely just to tweak the man on my right—making me even more uncomfortable about the lingering tension amongst us.
Pia, Kohen, Kade, Azain, and a few others I did not know took their place around the table, leaving the two larger chairs at either end free for the king and queen.
Samara had strategically taken the seat directly across from Sebastian, raking her eyes over him before switching to me and practically swallowing me whole with her stare.
Pursing my lips and straightening my posture, I did everything I could to avoid flaunting her my insecurities.
“Azain,” I disturbed the peace. “Did King Franlow take in any survivors from Caelestis? From what I’ve been told, not many survived, but I was hoping that maybe some made their way here.
” There was nowhere else to go aside from the mountain ranges and unclaimed land, which could hardly be considered habitable.
His eyes flashed as he nodded. “Yeah, actually. We’ve had a few groups come through our borders asking for refuge.”
My smile could not be disguised. “Really? How many? Do you know what village or city they’re from?”
A spark of hope lit up my insides. The fact that even a few people from our home survived added a cushion to the ache of all that had been lost.
Azain shook his head as he raised a goblet of red wine to his lips.
“Not sure where they came from. But we had a group of twenty come in a week or so after we got word of the castle falling. A few days after that there were some families that showed up on our doorstep, practically begging to be let in. Just recently, a group of forty or so came pleading for a place to stay and a meal.”
“And King Franlow let them in? Just like that? No questions asked?”
“Yeah. No offense,” Azain's eyes apologized to Sebastian, “but he is much more laid back than King Hawthorne ever was. Of course, they have to pull their weight with work, but they were welcomed into our land as if they had lived here from birth.”
Wow. Imagine that. I was born in the wrong kingdom.
“And here, are you forced into soldier-hood if you are gifted?” I pried, my curiosity getting the best of me.
“No. But most of the gifted chose to do so—” Azain was cut off by Samara’s high-pitched throat clear.
She licked her deep-crimson lips as she folded her hands and settled her chin upon them, batting her eyelashes at Sebastian. “So Sebby, how have you been? I haven’t seen you in hmm, almost two years right? I’m trying to think. When was the last time we—”
“Samara,” Azain growled, narrowing his matching brown eyes on hers.
I wanted to, but I avoided shrinking down with my uncomfortableness and kept my spine straight.
Sebastian, per usual, kept his cool. “That’s incorrect. I saw you at the Jewel-Light Festival last year. Remember? For some reason my father decided to invite your family. If I remember correctly, you were getting handsy with one of our guards and he banned you from this year's festival.”
I fought back my pleased smirk.
Savage, Seb. That’s why I love you.
Samara scowled as she pulled her head from her hands, folding her dainty fingers on top of the table. “Well I suppose it’s a good thing there was no festival in Caelestis this year then.”
Oh, fuck. I hated her.
Her unwanted attention claimed Sawyer as its next victim. “Stella said she hasn’t heard from you since last fall. Such a shame. She really liked you until you began to pretend like she didn’t exist,” Samara stated bluntly.
“I sent her a letter.” Sawyer shrugged. “My priorities changed last year.”
“Uh huh.” Samara nodded skeptically before taking a sip of the wine the handmaidens had placed in front of us all.
“Well, please forgive me. I saw her earlier and let her know that you were here.
Don't be surprised if you hear a precious little knock on your door later.” She chuckled innocently, although I could see right through it.
Next on her list, Samara ripped into me with her glare as she attempted to seductively lick red wine off her lips. “So Maeve, I’ve heard so much about you by word of mouth, but tell me a little bit about yourself. How did you and Sebby meet?”
“Sebastian was my guard,” I answered flatly, sharing the minimal amount of information in a refusal to grant her any potential ammunition.
She waved a scolding finger. “Tsk, tsk, Sebby. You should know better than to sleep with anyone below your rank.”
“You were below his rank,” Kohen pitched with a bite in his tone. “You aren’t a head soldier. At least you weren’t at the time.”
Kohen, have I ever said that I love you? Because I do. You sweet, soft-spoken soul.
“I’m not just sleeping with her,” Sebastian answered at last, the seconds of silence being pure torture. “We are together, and I am in love with her to the depths of my soul.”
I saw the glimmer fade from Samara’s eyes at his honesty, but she was killer at holding her own. “Aw, isn’t that sweet? I wish the best for you both, while it lasts.”
Did I mention that I fucking hate her?