Chapter 16
Lexi
I make my way to the courtyard where Edur is waiting for me, a little distracted by thoughts of last night, which I can safely say is a first for me. It's not the desire for a repeat that's inhabiting my thoughts, it's how it feels to have been so intimate with him.
It's already late, and I don't know exactly what he's got planned, but I don't really mind. He's asked me to meet him here, and I'm intrigued to find out what he has in mind.
He's already standing there, illuminated by a stream of moonlight. Beside him is a blanket laid out with a variety of food for us to share.
"Hi," he says when he sees me.
"Hi." I lean in and kiss his cheek.
"I hope you're hungry, because I might have gone a little overboard on the food."
I laugh. "I'm sure some of it will keep. I have room in my fridge."
"Are you going to hold my leftovers hostage so that I come to see you?" he jokes.
"Absolutely."
"Your plan, while dastardly, will work."
"Good to know." I take a seat on the blanket and lean against some of the pillows he's put out. He's thought of everything. "This is beautiful," I say.
"Thank you. I wanted somewhere that was safe, but also was away from one of our rooms so that if you needed to talk about last night, you wouldn't feel as much pressure."
"That's very thoughtful." I lean against him, glad for his thoughtfulness. "Last night was a lot of fun. It's not going to make me want to do all of that every time, or change how often I want to have sex, but it was fun. And it was easily the best experience I've ever had."
He raises an eyebrow. "The best?"
I laugh. "That's what you're taking from that?"
"It's what you said," he points out.
"I think it's because I felt safe," I respond, knowing that he needs to hear this. "I was able to relax, and I know that you're going to stop if I say so. And that kind of meant that I didn't have to."
"I'm glad." He reaches out and takes my hand in his, giving it a squeeze. "I'm so glad that you feel that way. It's how I want you to feel."
"I do. And I hope you know that the same is true the other way too. I want you to feel safe. Especially after how I dealt with the mate reaction when it first happened."
"I do," he assures me.
"I'm really glad you're my mate, Edur," I say, meeting his gaze.
"I'm glad too, Lexi."
I lean in and press my lips against his, kissing him tenderly and hoping it will convey just how true my words are.
We break apart, and both of us are smiling. I can hardly believe that this is where the mate bond has brought me after so long. And I finally feel as if I can have what I've always wanted, even if I have complicated feelings about sex. The fact that it's with Edur is even better.
A sound behind us catches our attention, and we turn in time to see a shadowy figure approaching. I freeze, trying to work out who it could be and why.
The figure moves into a shaft of moonlight, revealing a woman with purple hair. For a moment I think she's drunk, but it soon becomes clear that it's more than that. She's sleepwalking. "Should we wake her up?" I ask Edur.
"I don't know," Edur responds. "Are you supposed to wake up someone who is probably sleepwalking with magic?"
"No idea." I look over to where the pale woman with bright purple hair is wandering through the courtyard. "Maybe it's not magic-induced."
Even as I say the words, the colour starts to leach out of her hair until it's a shimmering silver-white. That's not going to happen by accident, that means magic is involved.
"Do you know what she is?" I ask Edur.
He shakes his head. "Maybe a banshee? I know they have silver hair, but I'm not sure about the sleepwalking."
I grimace. "Whatever she is, it's not going to be fun for her."
"No, probably not."
"Maybe we should wake her up." I'm about to step forward when someone appears from the shadows and approaches her. I recognise him from one of my classes, but I can't remember which one. From the way she responds when she breaks free of sleep, she's not against the interruption from us.
"I guess we're not needed," Edur says.
"No, apparently not."
"This is what I get for planning a date in a public part of the academy," he jokes.
"What were the chances of anyone actually coming across us?" I respond.
"Very true. I really didn't expect that."
"I doubt sleepwalking banshees are part of anyone's date plans," I joke.
Edur laughs. "True. But maybe we can focus on our actual date plans now that she's awake and with someone she knows."
"There's nothing I'd like more." I take his hand and turn to face him, enjoying the look of adoration on his face.
It's just one more thing that makes me look forward to all of the future dates we're going to have, and all of the things we're going to discover together.
I no longer want to run away, now I want more than anything to stay by his side.