Page 30 of Realms of Shadow and Sun (A World of Sun and Shadow #3)

Selenia watched Sion lead Beauty towards the stables, and debated going after him. Finally, the pull towards him got the better of her, and she ran after him, her satin shoes slipping in the slick snow.

He stopped as he heard her coming, turning around. Beauty stopped as well, obeying Renya's orders to go with Sion even though she wasn't there to enforce them.

"Selenia, you're going to freeze out here!"

He took off his tunic and pulled it roughly over her head. Instantly she was enveloped in his warm scent, reminding her of the sweet breeze off the summer sea.

"Sion, take your shirt back. You'll freeze now."

She tried hard not to fixate on his bare chest. He was completely smooth there, without a single stray hair. She'd seen other men with their shirts off before, but they didn't compare to the sight of his olive skin against the crisp white snow. She gulped, trying to pull his shirt back over her head. Sion gave her a stern look, and she dropped the hem and let it fall to her thighs.

He marched ahead, Beauty once again following. They reached the barn, and both young grooms looked at Beauty with fear in their eyes.

"She won't hurt you,"

Sion said, trying to assuage their fears.

Even Selenia looked skeptical. "How did Renya end up with a dragon?"

"I'm guessing she bonded with the newest offspring. You know Renya, she's something special."

Selenia pressed her nails into her palms, trying to calm the rough sea of jealousy about to drown her. She loved Renya. Renya was like a sister, fated to her brother. There was no need to be jealous. It was just their bond. She now understood Grayden's insane behavior since Renya came into his life.

Sion passed by the grooms, who looked anywhere but at the dragon meandering past them. He moved to the enclosure at the very end, and led Beauty inside. She obeyed, but gave him an irritated look as he locked the stall door shut.

"That won't hold her for long,"

he said to the older of the two boys. "Tomas, that's your name, right?"

The boy nodded nervously, obviously concerned that he was going to be asked to attend to Beauty.

"Tomas, I want you to go to the blacksmith and have him fasten some iron chains for the dragon. I also want this stall reinforced with iron bars on the outside. Have him come up here and take the measurements."

Tomas looked relieved that his chore was taking him away from the dragon, who was eyeing him curiously. He scampered away, not even looking over his shoulder.

The smaller boy approached Sion. "His Lordship's horse is also foaling."

"Starlia? Finally!"

Selenia squeaked. "I'll let my brother know right away. He'll want to be here for this."

"This is great news, hopefully that will put him in a better mood. I could tell he was frustrated that Renya wouldn't let him kill Brandle."

Selenia chuckled, and Sion smiled at her. She felt the stirring and longing in her stomach and quickly looked away. She was thankful for the cold, which helped mask the heat rising in her cheeks.

Sion quickly looked away from her, and she tried not to sob at the rejection and instead, followed him back up to the lodge. When they got to the top of the stairs, he started walking back down the opposite hall, no doubt to fill Grayden in on Starlia's condition.

"Sion, wait,"

she said, opening the door to her room. "Let me give you back your tunic."

He met her at her bedroom door, and she tried to pull it over her head, getting one of the buttons caught in her hair.

"Ouch,"

she said, tugging on it.

"Hold on, I'll help you. You're just pulling out your hair."

The second his hand made contact with her head, she couldn't help but lean into the palm of his hand, her cheek resting there comfortably. The slightest moan escaped her lips, wanting his touch so badly that she was practically burning.

He looked into her eyes, and she could see the lust there, and it gave her a bit of relief to know she wasn't alone in her attraction. She watched his eyes move to her lips as she parted them, trying to calm her rapid breathing.

He untangled the button from her hair, not taking his eyes off of her lips, and then he held his shirt in his hand, still watching her.

And then he was kissing her, his hand cradling the back of her head and pulling her towards him, and her stomach was suddenly fluttering, like she'd swallowed the dragonflies adorning her dress. Selenia wrapped her arms around his torso, and he groaned into her mouth.

Spurred on by his response, she stood on her tiptoes and moved her fingers along his collarbone, dancing along his strong shoulders. He grabbed her roughly, pressing her body close to his, and her eyes widened as she felt him harden against her abdomen.

She backed into her room, needing him in a way she had never needed anyone or anything before.

"What is going on here?"

Phillippe's voice thundered and Selenia opened her eyes, and saw the panic in Sion's.

Phillippe's fist made contact with Sion's jaw, and he spun back away from Selenia and hit the wall.

"What do you think you're doing to my sister?"

Phillippe roared, cocking his fist back to hit Sion again.

"Phillippe, stop!"

Selenia screamed, trying to grab his arm before he could take another swing at Sion.

Sion's lip was bleeding, and he was trying to tug his tunic back on as quickly as he could.

"What's happening?"

Selenia groaned as Grayden joined them in the hall, the door to his own chambers wide open. Selenia could tell from his hair and the way his own tunic was on backwards that he had been busy with his own romantic encounter.

"Sion took advantage of our sister!"

Phillippe fumed, pushing Selenia aside as he rounded on Sion again.

Sion stood still and quiet, awaiting his punishment.

"Please, Brother, stop!"

Selenia shouted, once again stepping in between the two men.

"Phillippe, I'm just as angry as you, but you need to control yourself,"

Grayden said, touching his brother on the shoulder. "Sion, explain yourself. Now."

His words came out as a growl, and Selenia wasn't sure what was worse, Phillippe's fists or Grayden's tone.

"I'm sorry,"

Sion said quietly, his face looking pained. "I have no excuse for my behavior. I don't know what has come over me. There is no explanation I can give, no action to take other than to accept whatever punishment you see fit to bestow."

He hung his head low, refusing to look at any of them.

Grayden looked at Phillippe, who nodded. "Sion, you are one of my best friends and a trusted confidant. Normally an offense like this would be banishment, exile from our homelands. But given your loyalty up until now, I won't force you to leave the Snow Lands. Instead, I'm reassigning you to the mountain camp."

"No! Don't take him away from me!"

Selenia couldn't believe the pitch of her own voice, the anguish strangled in her throat.

"He's taken advantage of you, Selenia. You were feeling depressed and unsettled from Jurel's death, and he preyed upon you,"

Phillippe spat.

"That's not true at all,"

she said, looking at Sion. He refused to meet her eye, and looked at the runner under his feet.

"My decision is final,"

Grayden said grimly, as if he hated issuing the command. "Sion, leave now."

Sion turned and headed for the stairs, his head still lowered like a dog being punished by its master. Selenia felt physically ill with every step Sion took, and she panicked, not knowing how she could handle his absence.

"You can't send him away!"

she yelled desperately. "He's my fated mate!"

A hush fell over the hallway, and Sion stopped, his shoulders hunched as he faced the stairs. He slowly turned around, his jaw hanging.

"What do you mean, Selenia?"

Renya's voice carried down the hall as she walked towards them, her hair messy and a silk nightgown hugging her frame.

Selenia gulped and felt the tears burn in her eyes. "I'm fated to be with him."

"That's impossible,"

Grayden said, instantly dismissing her words. "He's too old for you."

Sion finally spoke. "Selenia, it's sweet of you to try and lie for me, but you know we are not fated. I feel affection for you, and I took advantage of your friendship. But I'm not your mate."

Selenia started sobbing, unable to control the flow of emotion that came over her. "It's true,"

she begged, looking at her brothers.

Renya spoke. "Grayden, you of all people should know that exceptions occur with fated bonds."

Her voice was firm, but gentle, and she looked at Selenia with concern. "Selenia, tell us why you believe you're fate-bound to Sion."

Renya walked over and put her arm around her, and Selenia felt a rush of affection towards her soon-to-be sister.

"When Sion and I came back from the Sun Realm, we stopped in the forest that borders the Twilight Kingdom. I was hurting, aching for Jurel—"

"See! It's grief that's driven her to these actions—"

"Phillippe."

One warning word from Renya was enough to make him shut his mouth. Renya squeezed Selenia's shoulder, encouraging her to continue.

"And I just wanted to make it stop. So, I tricked Sion into taking me to the pond where the Murcurial appeared."

Hurt flashed in Sion's eyes, and Selenia looked away, embarrassed by her sudden guilt.

Renya looked baffled. "What's a Murcurial?"

"Almost like a soothsayer,"

Grayden answered. "They are akin to witches and are said to know the future."

"That's elkten crap,"

Phillippe argued. "They are just no good pranksters."

"Anyways,"

Selenia continued. "I sought her out and asked her to help me forget about Jurel. She said she could make the pain lessen, but not in the way I thought. And that it would hurt at first, but I would be happy for it in the end. She touched my forehead, and then...I knew. Sion is my mate."

Selenia looked at Sion, not caring about anyone's reaction but his. He looked confused, and disbelief was evident in his dark eyes.

"I know it's unbelievable, but I think somehow the lack of magic has masked our bonds. I think the Murcurial broke through whatever was blocking me from feeling the bond. But it's true. I know in my heart that I am fated for Sion."

Grayden looked torn, like he wanted to believe her, but Phillippe looked skeptical. Renya gave her shoulders another squeeze, as if to let Selenia know she was on her side.

Selenia's eyes darted to Sion again, and he met hers, walking slowly towards her. He stopped right in front of her, and Renya let go of her shoulders and moved back to Grayden's side. Sion fell to his knees, looking up at her.

"If you are truly my mate, Selenia Snowden, then I am the luckiest fae to ever walk our world."

He kissed her knuckles, his brown eyes piercing hers. "But I must confess, I don't feel the certainty that you do. I admire you, care for you...lust after you,"

he whispered the last line, "but I don't know that I'm fated to you."

She touched his cheek. "I understand, Sion. I'm sorry you had to find out this way, but I couldn't have you sent away. Being around you hurts me, knowing you don't feel our bond, but having you gone—I wouldn't survive it."

The words rushed out, and she normally would have been embarrassed at such a confession, but she'd already opened herself up wide and let the raw truth tumble out.

"Grayden. You can't possibly send him away and subject your sister to more pain."

Renya looked expectantly at Grayden.

"Yes he can!"

Phillippe thundered.

"Phillippe Snowden! If you don't stop acting like a world-class asshole, I'm going to write to Esmeralda and tell her what a hot-headed, idiotic dick you are!"

Selenia suppressed a smile, and even Grayden looked impressed at Renya's threat.

"I don't know what half of those things you said mean,"

Phillippe retorted. "But I get the gist of it. I don't like it, but I won't interfere."

He turned his back and headed down the stairs.

"Thank you,"

Selenia mouthed at Renya, and she returned a small smile.

"It's getting late,"

Grayden said, looking at the wooden clock hanging behind him. "I say we finish talking about this in the morning."

"Oh! Grayden!"

Selenia exclaimed. "I forgot to tell you, Starlia is having her foal!"

His eyes lit up, and he grabbed Renya's hand excitedly. "Come, my sweet Little Fawn. I've been waiting for this for a long time."

As Grayden pulled Renya away, Sion looked down at Selenia. She tried to read his expression, but it was hard for her to tell what he was thinking. She hoped that once his side of the bond was awoken, things would become easier for them. Instead, they stood there and looked at each other awkwardly, until Sion kissed her hand and left for his own room. Selenia sunk down onto the floor, her back against the wall, and cried.