Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

I t didn't take long to move my stuff into Levi's room or to find new lastonflex outfits for Serath. By the time we were done, my stomach was rumbling.

"We should get some food," Serath said, fluffing the pillows on the bed. "Maybe find some ice cream, seeing as you didn't get any earlier."

There was something undeniably sexy about a mammoth of a gargoyle making a bed. And something even sexier about a male who wasn't threatened by other males. The way he'd comforted me. Understood my needs…That was sexy as hell.

He arched a brow. "Unless maybe you want to go back to bed."

I ran my gaze over his body, tight and toned in his lastonflex shirt. His dark hair was pinned back now, and I itched to pull out the tie and run my fingers through the silky locks. I wanted to climb him like a tree and devour his mouth, never coming up for air, because now I knew what his skin felt like against mine when it was slick with perspiration, hot and eager, caging me in as he thrust deep. And that orgasm… "Yes, we should totally go back to bed." My tone was husky, breathless and wanton, but my stomach growled in protest, ruining the moment, and Serath laughed.

"Fuel first." He snagged me around the waist and tugged me to his chest and kissed me. "I've missed the pastries at Stone Comfort."

Tension gripped my shoulders. "You want to go out?"

"We can't stay locked in the tower forever."

No, we couldn't. We'd have to face everyone at some point. Let them stare, whisper about the sigma who was taken and altered but saved by his mate bond. Yes, best to get it over with.

I kissed his jaw. "I guess you can't play bait if we keep you hidden."

"Exactly." His smile was strained, and my stomach dipped.

"Are you all right? I mean…you know you can talk to me about anything, right?"

"I know, and I'm fine. I'm here with you. Safe. What happens next will be on my terms."

But I couldn't shake the feeling that he was hiding something. No. Not hiding, at least not intentionally, but maybe suppressing or ignoring. But then, how could I ever presume to understand what he'd gone through? He said he didn't recall much, and maybe he didn't, not consciously, but the subconscious mind was a separate issue.

Would those memories surface eventually? If they did, then how would they affect him? It didn't matter. I'd be here to help him through them, regardless.

We found Orix in the kitchen nursing a mug of coffee and chatting to Yarrow. The witch was dressed in black jeans and a black long-sleeved, button-down shirt that was covered in cat hairs, which he was absently picking off.

They both stood by the island with Taz curled on the floor between them.

"Hey." Yarrow's gaze flicked between Serath and me. "It's good to have you back. Both of you."

"Yarrow was returning Taz," Orix said. "Taz somehow found a way out of the tower while we were gone last night."

"And into the main building," Yarrow chuckled. "I found him meowing outside the tutors' quarters."

"We left Taz with Yarrow when we took Willowman into the rims," Orix explained to Serath. "They obviously bonded."

"I think Flora's his favorite," Yarrow said. "Oh, while I'm here, Cam, you might be interested to know that Melanie seems to have stabilized."

My pulse leapt. "Have you spoken to her?"

"I've tried, but she refuses to engage. Maybe you'd like to come see her?"

"Yes, I'll pop over later, if that's okay." I needed time to formulate what I'd say to her and compose myself, now that I knew who she was to me. Was it safe to tell her? I hadn't made up my mind on that.

"I have classes this afternoon, but Flora can let you in," Yarrow said. He chewed on his cheeks for a moment. "This is probably a little intrusive, but I have to ask: What happened out there? What really happened? I mean, we all received the official announcement an hour ago, but it didn't tell us much of anything."

Beside me, Serath tensed. "There's nothing more to tell."

"But you were taken." Yarrow frowned. "The graynites took you."

"I'm aware," Serath said dryly.

Orix stepped in. "He doesn't remember much. We're just glad he's home safely."

" And you succeeded in solidifying your mate bond too," Yarrow said to me. "I'm so glad. I know how you struggled with your fae genes and the…um…urges, so this…this is good."

He'd helped me through a lot. Helped us all, and it was hard not to tell him everything. I mean, I trusted him, we all did. But we'd agreed, as a group, to keep the circle of trust small for now.

So I smiled and nodded. "We got lucky."

"Not lucky," Yarrow said. "I believe it was meant to be. You're unique, Cameron, and that saved Serath from the graynites' clutches, but do you think they'll try to get him back?" He turned his attention to Serath. "Sorry, that was rude. You're here, and I should be addressing you. You shook off the change, but can they turn you again?"

"I don't know," Serath said. "And I hope never to find out."

My stomach gurgled, the perfect cue to make an exit because I could sense my mate's disconcertion. "We should get going. I need to feed the pit. Where are the others?"

"Touron and the twins have class," Orix said. "Derek and Shar left a half hour ago, not sure where they went, and Curi and Levi have gone for a run in the forest."

So it was just me and Serath, then. Not a problem. Although it would have been nice to have some padding on our first outing as a couple. "Ah, okay. If they ask, then we'll be at Stone Comfort. You're welcome to join us."

"Nah, but you could bring me back one of their Bakewell slices. Maybe two or three."

Serath chuckled. "Of course."

We left them chatting and headed out of the tower.

The sun was bright, the air crisp and cool, and my mate was with me.

"There's something I've wanted to do for a long time," Serath said.

"What?"

He took my hand and laced his fingers through mine. "This."

We were holding hands. Outside. In public, where anyone could see, and it wasn't forbidden.

We were no longer forbidden.

The reality of it, the freedom of it, hit home, and I blinked back the threat of happy tears.

I pushed up on my toes and kissed his cheek. "Lead the way, gorgeous."

He blinked sharply, and then the tops of his cheeks flushed. "Gorgeous?"

"Yep."

He grabbed my nape and dragged my mouth back to his, kissing me long and hard until my head spun and my body prickled with sensual heat. When he broke the kiss, his eyes were dark pools of desire. "We eat, then we come back home and fuck. For hours."

The throb between my thighs was so deep it was now an ache. I nodded and licked my lips, drawing his attention and eliciting a low growl.

My stomach rumbled.

He closed his eyes and took several breaths before releasing me. "Let's go eat."

I allowed him to lead me away from the tower and onto the academy grounds, thighs trembling from the effects of his kiss.

This male had my heart, and my body was his to command. I was all in, forever all in, and for a moment, all the worries of what was to come seeped away.

We were together. Mated. And no one could take that away from us.

The true definition of the phrase all eyes on you had been lost on me until I stepped into Stone Comfort with Serath.

Everyone stopped talking and stared.

Unabashedly.

Serath's grip on my hand tightened, and even though he seemed outwardly unaffected, I could sense his disquiet.

"What you starin' at, eh?" a voice boomed from across the room.

I tracked it and found Farnell seated in a dark corner, coffee cup in hand. He stood slowly, unfurling his stocky frame, and glared at the cadets. "Get back to your meals or get the fuck out."

I bit back a smile as the cadets quickly looked anywhere but at us, and the hum of conversation filled the room once more. Farnell had the training master bark down to a fine art.

Serath's grip on me relaxed as Farnell approached us. His stern face was a conflict of emotions as he took in his adopted son. "You good?"

"I'm good." Serath's voice cracked with emotion. He cleared his throat. "Glad to be back."

Farnell nodded, his eyes bright with a sheen of moisture. "You come and see me. I'm off this afternoon."

"I will," Serath said.

He patted Serath on the shoulder, then looked at me. "Thank you for not giving up on him." He patted Serath's shoulder again, then walked out of the café.

No one looked our way as we crossed to the counter to order. We grabbed our drinks, some sandwiches and pastries, and took a table by the window.

This was something that I'd ached to do with him for the longest time, but today it felt all wrong. The vibe in the room was off, and I wasn't sure what was worse, being deliberately ignored or openly stared at.

Serath moved his chair around the table so that he was closer to me. "Relax. It's just you and me." He nudged my chin up and kissed me, a soft, lingering kiss that melted the knots in my chest and left me breathless. "I've wanted to do this with you ever since we met. To not hide. To simply be us."

The bond between us throbbed and warmed. "Me too."

He tore off a bit of pastry and held it to my lips. "Try this."

I allowed him to feed me, vision blurring again because this…this was bliss. His gaze softened, fingers brushing my jaw.

"I love you, Cameron. And everything is going to work out. I promise."

It wasn't a promise he should make, but his confidence boosted mine, bringing a smile to my face. "I believe you. And…I also believe that you should feed me the rest of that pastry and grab some more because it's bloody delicious."

The next hour was spent in a bubble of romance where no one and nothing else mattered but us. I wrung every iota of joy from it because it might be the only chance we got to just ‘be' before the faction finally made their move.