Page 28 of Treasured

“Let’s try to do that tonight,” Sebastian said.

Reaching over me and tucking me against his chest in one movement, Sebastian picked up the small vial of tonic Genevieve had prepared and left for him. He tipped it back and swallowed the orange liquid in one gulp, his throat bobbing as he drank.

Gods. Even in the shadows of the early night, Sebastian was beautiful. All vampires were, of course, but him especially. There was just something about him that made it nearly impossible to look away.

When the vial was empty, Sebastian put it down. He smirked, noticing my eyes on him, and flexed his arms before crossing them behind his head. He leaned back, his eyes twinkling. “Enjoying the view, Luna?”

“Yes,” I said, unashamed. “There’s a lot to see.”

And every single inch of him was perfect. Isvana had surely spent extra time when she blessed him.

A deep laugh rumbled through Sebastian, his amusement shaking the small bed.

My lips tilted up, and I reached out, running a hand over the planes of his chest. “It’s so good to hear the sound of your voice,” I murmured. “Your laugh. For a while…”

My smile slipped.

He frowned. “What?”

I sucked in a breath. “I just… Genevieve thought you might not wake.”

“I did, though.”

“Yes, but… I can’t live without you.” My voice cracked. “Those hours… they were horrible. I don’t ever want to experience that again.”

“I’ll never leave you, Luna.” Sebastian drew me towards him, his eyes searching mine. “Never.”

His thumb ran over my bottom lip, and then he kissed me. It was leisurely, his tongue sweeping into my mouth slowly. He tasted me like I was fine wine. The citrus aftertaste of the tonic remained in his mouth, flavoring our embrace.

I brushed my tongue against one of his fangs, and he pressed me harder against him. With someone else, I would have been afraid. I would have felt manhandled and overwhelmed.

Not with Sebastian. He was the safe port in the storm that was my life, and I would never stop seeking refuge in him.

I whispered against his lips. “Promise?”

He pulled away. Resting his forehead against mine, he brushed the tip of his nose against mine. “Of course. Nothing could keep me away from you. Not the queen, the summons, or even death itself.”

His words of reassurance banished my fear, and I exhaled. “I love you,” I told him. “I know I don’t always have the right words, and sometimes I get lost in my head, but you’re my entire world, Sebastian.”

No matter how often I told him I loved him, I’d never get sick of it. I could never adequately express just how deeply my affection for him ran. Each day we spent together, I fell increasingly in love with him. It was strange, this emotion. It didn’t seem scientifically possible, but it evolved the more time we spent together. It was a bottomless ocean, an endless field, a sky with no limits.

Sebastian’s eyes darkened. “Are you hungry, Luna?”

That now-familiar warmth coursed through me at what he was suggesting. I glanced back at the door, aware that we were no longer in Castle Sanguis within the privacy of our own wing. The door was locked, but the abbey was busy during all hours of the night and day.

He followed my gaze. “I’ll set up a ward,” he assured me. “No one will get close without me knowing.”

“Do you feel strong enough?”

Instead of answering, his hand slipped behind my neck and pulled me towards him. Our lips met in a clashing kiss that was all strength and power. There wasn’t even a hint of weakness in the way his tongue battled with mine.

“Yes,” he said with conviction.

Running my tongue over my lip, I nodded. “Okay.”

Sebastian pressed his palm against the stone wall, whispering under his breath as threads of shadows slipped from his palms.

Turning back to me, his dark eyes twinkled. “All set.” He gently brushed the hair off my neck. “Now, where were we?”

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