Page 142 of Treasured
“You have to come back, Lulu,” he insisted. “You’re my only family left.”
“I know,” she whispered.
She didn’t say anything else, but her sadness filled the bond. Luna hugged Marius again, and both siblings sniffled as they embraced.
Phyrra and Odette averted their eyes, moving to the far corner of the laboratory. They whispered quietly, clearly giving the siblings some privacy. I turned around, studying one of the many plants. I couldn’t go far, but I wanted to give Luna as much space as I could.
She’d worked so hard and spent countless hours searching for a cure. Because of her tireless efforts, every available surface in the laboratory was covered in potted plants, all derived from the original seed. She’d never given up. Thanks to her, Marius was awake and talking.
It would be the cruelest twist of fate for Marius to be healed, only for Luna to die and leave him alone.
Isvana wouldn’t be that savage… right?
I would hope for the best and put my all into the upcoming battle.
Eventually, Luna and Marius pulled apart.
“You’d better come back to me, Lulu,” Marius said, sounding much older than his single decade of life.
“I’ll do my best,” she promised.
The rest of the night went by in a blur. Eventually, we left the laboratory and sought out Genevieve, thanking the priestess for the sanctuary she and the other members of the Second Order of Isvana’s Chosen Ones had provided us. They took us in during our time of need and risked the queen’s wrath to keep us safe. We’d forever be grateful for them.
By the time we finally shadowed back to our room, the first rays of dawn painted the sky. Long after the shadows had dissipated, Luna remained standing in the middle of the room. She was deep in thought, staring out the only window. Her fingers drummed a restless beat on her thigh.
After a few minutes, I shadowed over. Placing a hand on her hip, I tugged her against me. She didn’t fight me, a gentle sigh escaping her as she allowed me to support her weight. I ran my hand over her arm. She exhaled, relaxing against me.
“What are you thinking about?” I asked.
She twisted around, and her eyes swept over my face. “How did you know I was thinking?”
I chuckled. “Darling, you can’t hide anything from me. You study books, but I study you.”
Not that I needed to be a genius to realize she’d be thinking about tomorrow. It was only natural. I was thinking about it, too.
Luna smiled. “If memory serves correctly, I said something similar to you many moons ago.”
She most certainly had. Early in our relationship, she’d told me—rather cheekily—that she was researching me.
“Is a husband not allowed to study his wife?” Trailing a finger down her face, I lifted her chin and brushed my lips over hers. “Is he not allowed to know her likes and dislikes? To know what makes her smile and laugh?”
Her mouth opened, and she licked the tips of her fangs. Gods, I loved it when she did that.
Luna’s voice was little more than a whisper as she conceded, “I suppose it’s acceptable.”
“Good, because nothing could stop me from learning everything about you.” My head dropped, and I kissed her chin, her neck, behind her ear. Every brush of my lips against her elicited a shiver and a moan, confirming what I already knew—my wife loved being touched.
And distracted.
The gods only knew how much we needed a distraction right now.
Tugging Luna’s hand, I walked us backward to the bed. With every step, I stole another kiss until the back of my knees hit the mattress.
I paused. Just because I wanted a distraction didn’t mean I would push her. “Luna—”
“I want you, Sebastian,” she said, seeming to know exactly where my mind was. “I need you.”
My breath left me in an exhale, and Luna took advantage of the moment to tug my tunic over my head. She looked at me with hunger, and just like that, I was no longer the one in charge.