Page 86 of Treasured

She’d had her fun. Now, though, it was time I took care of her.

Water sluiced off us as I walked us out of the baths, ignoring the towels on the floor. The air was warm, steam rising around us and drying us off as I claimed Luna’s mouth. She made a surprised sound, but her shock quickly gave way to something else as she wrapped her legs around me.

We kissed and kissed and kissed until our purrs echoed through the baths.

Walking us over to a wall, I lifted my mouth from hers and tilted my head. At the same time, I pressed her back against the wall, using my hips to support her.

“Bite me, Luna,” I whispered. I hadn’t forgotten that she needed to eat.

Her eyes darkened, and she licked her fangs.

I thought she would argue, but her mouth went to my neck instead. She licked from the base of my throat all the way to my ear.

“Alright,” she said.

If I thought my muscles were tense before, now everything was just on this side of being too much. But I wouldn’t rush her. I forced myself to remain still and wait for Luna. We’d been through so much already, and if teasing me made her feel better, I would let her do it all day.

Eventually, her fangs grazed my throat. “I love you, Sebastian.”

Then she bit. The moment her fangs broke my skin, warmth flooded through me. The soft sounds she made as she drank, slowly pulling my blood into her, invigorated me like nothing else.

The magic tying us together was stronger than ever. A thought struck me. Whether it was inspired by Luna’s mouth on my throat or the strength of our connection, I wasn’t certain. Either way, the idea seemed solid. While Luna replenished her strength, I dove deep within myself, seeking the Tether.

Unlike the first time I sought that red rope binding us, I found it quickly. The Tether’s light was intense, and it radiated like a star. The moment I was close, I reached out for it with a tentative hand.

This time, it did not disappear.

I grabbed the crimson strands, holding on with all my might. Energy jolted through me like a thousand bolts of lighting. A floodgate opened between us. This time, there was a permanence to the connection. This path wasn’t going anywhere.

Shadows, darkness, and night ran through me, but that wasn’t all. There was also light. Luna’s essence intertwined with mine, threading together. Strands of light and dark twisted until they formed a sturdy rope. Currents of power were a raging river as they streamed between us. It was overwhelming, the joining of our magic.

I pulled my eyes open. My heart pounded. The Tether was just as strong as ever. Stronger, even, if that was possible. Sparks danced beneath my skin, my shadows whirled, and magic coursed through me.

Luna lifted her mouth from my neck, her eyes shining. She raised her wrist. The Tether was an iridescent crimson line running through her Binding Mark.

“I can feel you,” she whispered in awe. “Your shadows, your darkness… everything.” A hoarse laugh escaped her. “Oh, the research we need to conduct.”

At this moment, I couldn’t think about science. Between the sensations of Luna’s naked body pressed against mine and the Tether connecting us, I felt more alive than I had in a long time. Every beat of my heart, every breath in my lungs, every pulse of my shadows was more than before.

Luna wiggled in my arms. “I need you, Sebastian.”

A growl rumbled through me. “Gods. I need you, too.”

Holding her close, I moved us to the middle of the floor. Toeing the towels, I maneuvered them until they covered the ground, forming a makeshift bed. Only then did I lay Luna down, covering her with my body. The Tether glowed, our magic flowing freely between us and illuminating the space.

Then, beneath the glow of our binding, we moved as one. We connected in every way, and my dark soul sang as rightness filled me.

A Bond to Break

SEBASTIAN

The next few hours flew by as we experimented with soul sharing. Using the Tether was easier than ever. In true form, the entire experience delighted Luna, and she chattered on and on about all the ways we needed to test the magic binding us.

I let her talk, just happy to be in her presence. We were both alive, which sometimes felt miraculous. Between Isvana’s plant, the upcoming ritual to break my bond with the queen, and the soul sharing, it seemed we were finally on the right track.

The sun had completely set by the time we shadowed back to our room.

I grabbed another vial, downing the cloyingly sweet tonic while Luna grabbed the satchel. We didn’t need to speak—we were still completely in tune with each other.

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