Thirty-One
CHAPTER
I’m here.
I recognized that voice. That voice that brought such a sense of calm.
How did this even happen? Out of everyone, why him?
Part of me was happy to know that I really did have a Mate, but the other part of me believed it to be a mistake.
Why did it have to be him? Why Zathrian?
Why couldn’t it have been Aspen? Or some cute boy with Golden Retriever energy that wasn’t involved in any of the Courts or the chaos of Wisterian politics? If only I were so lucky.
Or maybe that was what I kept telling myself because I didn’t think I was deserving of someone as caring and kind as Zathrian. He wasn’t who I thought he was. We had known each other for so long and had been through so much, yet there was so much to learn about him.
Where are you? I’m coming for you. Zathrian called out to me.
I don’t want to be alone anymore… I replied within the Bond we shared.
Sitting in the same place for the past few hours, my face buried into my knees, my arms loosely wrapped around my legs, I was cold, and alone.
Entrapped by darkness. A blanket of clouds covered the sky above me.
The breeze was bitter, reminding me of winter in the Mortal Realm.
I almost missed it, just only for a moment. The snow. The—
Warm arms engulfed me. I blinked, turning toward the touch.
Zathrian pulled me into his lap. His embrace was warm, comforting.
He buried his face into my hair, smelling it.
His lips hovered over my ear, whispering, “I’m here.
” His arms tightened around my waist, holding me against him.
I could feel that shift between us. The Mate Bond.
Everything was clear now, unlike before.
His hand snaked up to the back of my head, toying with my hair. His touch was gentle.
I blinked. It took a moment for me to process that he really was here, and it wasn’t some twisted figment of my imagination. I wasn’t alone in the way I thought I was.
“You’re here,” I whispered.
“I’m here,” he replied.
I don’t deserve you, I thought.
Don’t think that. Let me hold you, he replied within the Bond. My cheeks flushed pink, not realizing that he could hear my thoughts, too.
Burying my face into his chest, tears welled into the corners of my eyes. Part of me wanted to punch him in the face, but the other part of me really was happy that he was here and to see that he was okay. Yet I was unsure of what to say, or where to start. I had so many questions.
How long had he known? Why didn’t the Bond snap sooner? Was that what he was trying to tell me all this time? How long has this been going on? Yet not a single one of those questions parted from my lips. Instead, another question came to mind. One that was far more important.
“You’re okay?” I lifted my head to look at his shoulder. The one that was impaled by Neil. My hand gently slid over the wound and the blood that stained his clothes.
“I’m okay,” he replied.
He was putting on a brave face. I knew it was hurting him because it was hurting me, too. I could feel his pain through the Bond. Subtle, but still there. Closing my eyes, I attempted to heal him. It was the least I could do after everything he had done for me thus far.
“Don’t.” His hand slid from the back of my head and to my wrist, slowly straightening my arm out to prevent me from healing him.
“Please?” I begged. Let me help you.
Zathrian shook his head again, his lips meeting my wrist. His eyes stayed on mine as he slowly kissed up my arm. Each kiss was electrifying against my skin.
“B-but you’re hurt,” I muttered, his attempt at distraction a success.
Tenderly, his hands cupped my cheeks, and he looked down at me with such intensity.
“How did you even manage to find me?” I asked breathlessly.
His thumbs grazed my cheeks, carefully wiping tears from the corners of my eyes. “The Bond. I’m sorry I didn’t find you sooner. I told you I was coming. I wish I could have come sooner, but what matters is that I’m here now and I’ll never let you go. Never again.”
His eyes flickered between my lips and my eyes. My heart skipped a beat and without even thinking, I leaned forward and pressed my lips against his, closing the distance between us. I felt fireworks as we kissed.
He tasted like brown sugar and cocoa powder. My entire body felt a zing like never before. This kiss was nothing like when I kissed Neil, no. This was the type of kiss that my mother spoke of when she told me bedtime stories. I was everything I could’ve wished for and more.
I don’t deserve you.
The kiss only lasted a moment. Our noses brushed against one another, sharing a knowing glance. Zathrian leaned forward, pressing his lips against mine with more passion and longing and desire than the first time.
He pulled away again, this time pulling me into his chest. Hugging me tight enough that all the broken parts of me were almost pieced back together.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I just didn’t know how to… I could feel the hatred you felt toward me every time you looked at me. I never meant to hurt you that day in the Mortal Realm. I hope you know that,” he admitted.
“How long have you known?” I hugged him back just as tight, purposely not commenting on what he said regarding that day.
I didn’t want to think about it. That day was the least of my worries in comparison to what was happening here and now. My death didn’t matter anymore. What mattered was this moment.
“The Summer Solstice festival,” Zathrian replied.
“That long?” I was taken aback by that statement.
That was months ago. Had I really been that blind all this time?
I felt stupid. If only I had paid more attention.
If only I had listened to him sooner, then maybe I could have stopped everything from reaching this point.
Maybe things would be different now if I had.
Clenching my jaw, I pulled myself closer to him.
His hands shifted. One was wrapped around my upper back just below my neck, the other rubbed small circles on my spine.
“That long,” he repeated. “It doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’m here now. I’m here, Aerilyn, and I’m not leaving you. Like I said before, we’re going to get through this together.”
“But what about everyone else?” I sniffled.
“They’re in the Realm of Stars, waiting for us. Everyone’s okay, I assure you. Everyone’s okay. We’re—we’re going to stop Neil. One way or another. Together.”
“They’re okay?” I couldn’t believe it; it seemed too good to be true after everything that happened. I thought the worst and yet everyone was back home. Waiting.
Zathrian pressed his forehead against mine.
“I promise you. He will not win unless we let him win, and I refuse to let him take anything else from me. Not after everything he’s done.
To me, to you, to all of us.” He let out an exasperated sigh.
“I will explain everything, if you allow me to.” He titled his head up to plant a warm kiss against my forehead.
“But first, please let me take care of you.”
Without a word, I nodded.
Zathrian smiled, pulling out a small sack of stardust.
“Let’s go home.” He handed the pouch of stardust to me, scooping me up into his arms bridal-style. The strain in his shoulders made his jaw clench and his muscles tense. I reached into the pouch and grabbed a handful of stardust before closing my eyes and tossing it onto the ground.
We’re going home.