14

FOURTEEN

Ember

After another hour passed of questions, I think I’m quite fond of Willow. We have much in common when it comes to the books we read, our beliefs in the past and the future, and what we want for the kingdom. I’m extremely nervous about falling in love with him and am considering avoiding him at all costs. Except, my chest hurts when I actually try to do that.

I’m also nervous about meeting the king. I’m very interested in seeing how he interacts with his son in front of the court considering this will be a first for many. I wonder why this place and time is acceptable for the royal family to make an entrance into society, when before it simply wasn’t.

Our lanella is fading at this point, but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to lie to him again.

I wonder what his thoughts are on the DDecay and the murders within the districts. He avoided talking with me about politics, and now I’m dying to pick his brain.

While I help clean and reset the pillows back on his sofa, I feel a tingling start in my temples and turn around to find Willow standing impossibly still in front of me.

“What do you mean murders in the districts?” Willow ground out through clenched teeth.

“Get out of my head. That’s not fair!” I huff. “Wait, you don’t know about the missing children and murdered families? It’s happened in 6 of the 12 districts now. That’s why I was in Virgo the night you found me. We were investigating the murder cases and trying to…” I faded off as my truth serum was completely removed from my body. Snapping my mouth shut, I decide to not tell him any further since I can’t expose the Ascension. Right?

“Okay, mate. Do you mind elaborating on why you took it upon yourself to investigate a series of murders and put yourself in harm’s way?” Impatience and fierce frustration radiate off of him.

“Um, well I…” I don’t even know what to say. I can’t lie to him because he’s valuable now. I can’t tell him the truth because that is a violation of the Ascension Guild.

“Ember.”

That’s the first time he’s used my full name like that. I wish he wouldn’t use it in that tone. My skin is crawling with something close to fear and lust.

“I.. I can’t tell you why I was there, I’m sorry.” I whisper through tears held back. The mate bond rages in my chest and seems to be making me emotional since evading the truth with him feels like a crime now.

He clenches and unclenches his fists. He cracks his neck and rolls his shoulders, attempting to relax his stiff muscles. “Little dragon, you can always trust me.”

“I don’t trust anyone.” I whisper and back away from him, slowly pressing my legs into the edge of the sofa.  I feel cornered and I don’t like it. “That was my parents first mistake, trusting they’d be safe together.”

I will always protect you, little dragon.

Whispering into my thoughts, his emotions convey calmness, kindness, and love as he replaces his frustrations with adoration. My body instantly loosens at understanding his emotions better.

But I have my mind back since the lanella faded, and I know for a fact I can’t allow myself to feel this comfortable with him. If I continue down this path, the stars and moons may get exactly what they want out of us, an eternal bond.

Bonded or Bondage?

I’m feeling a little caged right now so I bet it’s the latter.

Please don’t do that. I haven’t even accepted the bond so I don’t know why we are able to communicate this way.

He’s impossibly close to me now. I can feel the heat radiate off of him like the flames of his powers. His warmth draws a subtle moan from my lips. He takes small steps as he closes in around me like a blazing current. My body feels alight with this close proximity.

Staring into my eyes with so much fire, he whispered into my thoughts. Little Dragon, nothing about our situation has been normal so far. I would not expect the stars and moons to treat this joining like the others. There is something special about our bond. You can’t deny that.

He’s so close now. I can feel his breath caress my skin and it’s the most exhilarating and terrifying sensation yet. I want more.

I also want to run and never look back.

I decide to check his expression and glance up into his eyes. He reaches a hand to my hair and pushes the soft strands behind my ear.

My heart races even faster in my chest. I crave to feel what his lips feel like against mine. I don’t know how to control these feelings and all I know is that I need him. I need him now.

I quickly start to panic and realize the only way to control this is by putting space between us.

“I think it’s time I return home now” I whisper and let my eyes fall to the ground.

He hummed his response as he continued twirling my hair with his fingers and leans in to run his nose along my jawline and neck. Everytime his touch glides over my skin, it sends a sensation through my body like an exploding star.

“You smell devine, like the sweetest honey to ever exist. I can barely resist you.”

I can see why I could quickly become addicted to him, like my own personal drug.

Looking as if it physically hurt him to stop touching me, he finally surrendered to my request and backed away several steps. He ran a hand through his hair and exhaled through his nose. I felt him grounding his emotions back to patience, sympathy, and adoration from lust and possession. “As you wish, my flame.”

Within the hour I was dressed in my black bodysuit, packed and ready to travel back home. Willow decided to give me space to process the acquancy ritual, so he stayed behind but trusted his personal guard to escort me home. After saying goodbyes, Willow seemed further on edge due to me mentioning the murders before. I hope I didn’t shock him too much.

I head down the front steps of the castle where a deep blue carriage awaits me. Artie stands holding the door for me, and I quickly climb in. I’m antsy to have privacy and get back to sort through the chaos of my thoughts.

Settled into my seat within the carriage, I’m finally able to process what just happened in there.

Ugh. This was not supposed to happen. None of this was supposed to happen. I just wanted to live a life of peace and solidarity, guiding the Ascension down a path of prosperity for the lands. Now, I have to decide if my fondness of the prince outweighs my fear for the consequences of bonding.

I just really don’t want to end up like my parents.

Artie taps on the roof of the carriage, disrupting my spiral of thoughts and we begin our journey home.