Twelve
Diego
"Um," Shade said a few minutes later, his body still covering mine, our cum between us. I wondered if he had a shower somewhere around here.
"What is it?"
"I seem to have something on my back," he said, a note of amusement in his voice, and I reached up with my clean hand, snorting when I felt the fur.
"Pixie! What are you doing up there?"
She meowed, but seemed to be in no hurry to move.
Shade laughed, then slowly slid off me and onto the mattress. Since I didn't hear Pixie complain, I assumed he'd managed it without dislodging her. "Does this mean she likes me?"
"Yes, I think she does," I said with a chuckle, amused by how happy he sounded at the idea. He was such a sweetheart.
"Is there somewhere I can clean up before this cum dries? "
"Hmm? Oh, yeah, there's a small river near the back."
"A river?"
"Yep. The headmaster said I could have a river or a pond, and I picked a river. I like the sound it makes."
"Makes complete sense," I said with a shake of my head, then got to my feet. Shade's shadows were still there, guiding me straight there. Did I even need my cane anymore, or was it just a fashion accessory now? Where was it, anyway? By the couch?
I usually never lost track of my cane because of how important it was, but the longer I was with Shade, the more his shadows seemed to help me, as if being closer to him strengthened them as well.
Finding the river, I was surprised to realize the water was almost warm. Certainly not cold enough to make me shiver, and I quickly washed myself before making my way back to the bed.
I climbed up, then patted around to discover Shade was right where I'd left him, Pixie still on his back.
"Are you ever planning to move?" I asked with a laugh, and Shade mumbled incoherently in what I assumed was denial.
"Stop trying to steal my boyfriend from me, Pix," I said as I patted the cat's head, and she meowed, but didn't stir.
"Did you have fun?" Shade asked, making me raise a brow in his general direction. "On the date, I mean," he clarified, his voice a touch flustered.
"I did. It was better than I'd imagined it could be," I confessed, and he made a happy sound. "What about you? Did you have fun?"
"Of course. Being with you is always fun."
Smiling, I lay down beside him, snuggling into his side and pressing a kiss on his temple .
We stayed quiet for a few minutes, listening to Pixie purr as we simply breathed in the moment.
"What about—" Shade cut himself off, and I placed my hand on his back, just under Pixie.
"Go on."
Shade blew out a breath, then asked, "What about what we just did? Did you enjoy that?"
"It was the best sexual experience of my life," I answered easily, and I could practically hear him digest that. "What about you?"
"Ah, um, same," he mumbled, and was he...was he embarrassed? What could he possibly be embarrassed about? He'd been wonderful.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, of course," he agreed quickly. Too quickly.
Pushing Pixie off him—much to her yowling protest—I pulled him into my arms, cupping his face between my palms. I couldn't see the look on his face, but I knew something was up.
"What is it?"
"It's embarrassing," Shade mumbled as he placed his hand on my chest, clasping my hip with the other one.
"It's okay if you don't want to tell me," I said, "but you don't have to feel self-conscious. I would never make you feel bad about something, no matter what it was."
Shade sighed, running his palm over my chest, his nails trailing over my skin, never hard enough to pierce. He was always so careful with me, and I wanted to do the same.
"That was the first time I've... ever done anything like that," he confessed, and it took me a moment to realize what he was saying.
"Oh. "
"It's just that I don't like hookups, and it's hard to date someone when they can't really see you," he said in a rush, as if he thought he needed to justify himself.
"Trust me—I understand," I said, then pressed a gentle kiss on his lips. "Thank you for telling me."
I felt him nod, and then he asked, "What about you?"
I wished I could tell him it was the same for me, that he was the first person I'd been with, but I couldn't.
"I feel the same about hookups, but I did have one serious relationship.
We were together for a few months, but then he got the job of his dreams, and we broke up on amicable terms because we didn't think we were close enough to try to make long distance work.
That was a couple of years ago, and I'd been single since. "
"Until recently," Shade said, making me smile.
"Yes, until recently," I said, then kissed him again.
We made out for a while longer, until I yawned mid-kiss and Shade decided we should get some sleep.
Today had been pretty tiring, so I didn't protest as he wrapped me up in his arms, then made some shadows cover us like blankets, promising to get some actual blankets for me later since it was a little cold here to sleep naked.
It didn't take me long to fall asleep with Shade's arms around me, and I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep, excited about spending the whole day with Shade again tomorrow.
Shade
I woke up as Diego stirred beside me, blinking my eyes open. A smile lit my face as I watched him wake up, his nose wrinkling as his lips pressed in a line before he blinked his eyes open .
His hand tightened on my waist, and I ran mine up his arm to cup his face. "Good morning, Diego."
He grinned, his whole face lighting up the dark. "Good morning, Shade."
I checked the clock, then turned to him. "Would you like to have breakfast with everyone? Or just us?"
Diego pursed his lips in thought. "How about just us for breakfast, and we can have lunch with everyone?"
"Sounds good," I said, and started to get up. Diego pulled me back down, turning on his back and pulling me over him until my body covered his. "Oh? Did you have something else in mind?"
"How about a good morning kiss to start the day right?" he suggested with a small smile, and I grinned, then ducked my head to press my lips to his. The kiss was soft, gentle, and I hummed, brushing my lips against his again and again, loving how soft and warm they felt against mine.
Diego's hands tightened on my hips, and I pulled up to look at his face. "You know, we're going to have to get up soon. One of them is going to come through that door any moment to ask us about breakfast."
Diego sighed, then nodded, and pushed me back.
I sat up and moved beside him as he followed, and I was just about to climb off the bed when the world around us suddenly lit up.
I jerked instinctively, already moving toward a shadow when I realized.
.. it didn't hurt. My whole area had gone bright with daylight, and I was still there.
I wasn't hurting. Hell, it wasn't even uncomfortable.
"Shade!" Diego shouted, clearly realizing what had happened. The panic in his voice made me turn to him, and I grabbed his arm.
"I'm okay," I said, unable to hide the surprise I felt .
"You are? How?"
"I don't know," I murmured, shaking my head.
I went to stand up, to try to figure out what exactly was happening, but the moment I slid to the edge of the bed, pain rushed through me, unimaginable in its intensity.
I'd only ever felt like this once before, the day I'd tried to save Diego from that asshole.
"Shade!" Diego grabbed my arm, and the pain disappeared as quickly as it'd arrived, cutting off the sound I hadn't even realized I was making. What the hell?
I glanced over at Diego, then to the mattress where his shadow fell on the bed. My folded knee was in his shadow. I pulled it back, and stiffened as the pain rushed in again, quickly returning my leg to its previous position.
"It's you," I murmured, awe and shock dripping from my voice. How was this possible?
Was this what my mom had meant, when she'd told me I'd be able to 'see the world' with my mate? Did our bond somehow give me protection from the light as long as I was touching Diego's shadow?
"What's happening, Shade?" Diego asked, and the tremor in his voice jerked me out of my thoughts.
"Hey, it's okay. I'm okay," I murmured, wrapping him in my arms. I couldn't help turning to look at my area. It looked so different with the morning sun shining down on us. The green grass, the dark brown tree trunks, the colorful flowers...I'd never seen this place like this.
"What just happened?"
"I think it's a glitch. The headmaster has been struggling with the Sanctuary for a while now. Things keep going wrong. Usually, it's small stuff. "
"This wasn't small," Diego snapped, his voice shaking. Actually, his whole body was shaking, and I tightened my arms around him even more.
"Yes, it wasn't. But I'm okay."
"How? How are you okay?"
I smiled, then pressed a kiss on his forehead.
"I'm okay because of you," I murmured, and as quickly as it'd happened, darkness fell again, returning my area back to its usual state.
"It's normal again," Diego said, and I hummed. Then he pulled back and turned his face to me, his brows furrowed. "What did you mean you're okay because of me?"
"It seems like your shadow protects me from the light."
"But you didn't hide in my shadow."
"No, I didn't have to. Just having a part of my body touching your shadow seemed to be enough."
Diego didn't say anything for a long moment as he processed my words, then shook his head. "You mean you can stay like this, even in the light, as long as you're close to me?"
"Yes."
Diego sucked in a breath, then threw his arms around me, giving me a tight hug. I pulled him into my lap as I hugged him back, and he seemed content to stay there.
"We need to tell the headmaster about the glitch. What if I hadn't been here, and it took you too long to get to a shadow? You could've gotten seriously hurt!"
"I'll tell him, but maybe later? I don't want to cause any problems for the wedding," I said, and Diego pulled back, his brows furrowed.
"I don't think Liam or Haruto would mind. I think you burning to a crisp near their wedding day might cause more problems. "
I winced, because Diego wasn't wrong.
"How about I just tell the headmaster, and ask him to keep it to himself as he fixes it?" I suggested, and Diego pursed his lips thoughtfully before finally giving a nod.
"Yeah, that works. What about the other thing? Are you going to tell everyone about that ?"
"Not yet," I decided after a moment of thought. "I want to figure everything out first. How it works, what the limits are. If I can stay outside indefinitely as long as you're close, or if there's a time constraint."
"As you wish. Though we'd have to go someplace remote to try things, where a random human can't catch sight of you."
"That is true. I'm sure we'll find somewhere suitable."
Diego hummed, and we sat there for a few moments before there was a knock at the door.
"That would be breakfast," I said, and Diego slid off the bed after giving me a quick peck on the cheek.
"I'll get it."
It was Keoni at the door with our breakfast, and Diego and he chatted for a moment before he left, and Diego brought a tray of food back to the bed.
"He's very sweet. I didn't know if it would be rude to ask him, but what is he? What kind of supe?"
I smiled as I took the tray from him so he could climb onto the bed. "Keoni's a centaur."
"Oh!" Diego exclaimed, clearly surprised. "Um, what about the clatter? Does he carry around a cart or something?"
"Ah, in a way. His back legs are paralyzed, so Draven made him a cart for his back half so he could move around without assistance."
"A wheelchair of sorts," Diego murmured, and I hummed .
"Yeah. Here," I handed him a plate, and he took a bite of the scrambled eggs, making a delighted sound.
"That is delicious."
"Must be Jacinta's turn in the kitchen. They make the best food."
"They really do. Remind me to tell them that if we see them at lunch," Diego said, making me smile. My mate was such a sweet man.