Page 37

IT’S A RELIEF, TRULY

GRACE

“ W hat’s the plan, Sebastian?” I ask.

He takes a moment to meet my gaze. He looks up from between my legs, pausing to lick my arousal from his lips. His eyes are hazy, as if he’s only partly here. Rather than respond, he looks back to my center. He trails his finger up my thigh, and without warning, thrusts it inside me.

My back arches, and a breathy moan breaks from my lips.

God, he’s insatiable. In the week since the failed ritual, we’ve spent most of our days like this.

Lost to each other in his bedsheets, naked and sated.

If we’re not actively fucking, we’re watching one of my movies or talking about his plans for the Night Realm’s future.

We’ve done a bit of everything, so long as it’s happened within this room.

“My plan is to make you come another time like this,” he says, adding another finger. I moan again, and he smiles, pumping leisurely. “Once you have, I’ll fuck you with my cock. After that… ”

He trails off. He’s fully focused on my pussy now, staring at it in wonder.

“Sebastian,” I force myself to say. “What’s the plan with the curse? Have you?—”

I break off in another moan. He’s impossible. I let myself ride his hand for another minute before grabbing his wrist. He looks up at me in surprise, his typical, arrogant smirk still on his face.

“Sebastian,” I say. “Hold on.”

He withdraws from me but remains between my legs. His eyes scan over me, as if gauging how serious I’m being. When he realizes I’m not going to drop it, his shoulders deflate.

He pulls himself away, rotating until he’s sitting beside me. He sweeps his comforter over us, pausing to pull it over my chest. He tucks the blanket beneath my chin.

“Can’t think with those things on display,” he mutters. He runs a hand through his hair. “I don’t know what the plan is, Grace. I’ve been in this room almost as much as you have.”

“Don’t you think…” I trail off.

“Yes,” he says. Now his hand slides over his face. “I know we have to figure something out, Grace, but I don’t want to fucking think about it. Every time I do, I’m imagining you bloody and pale and screaming and…I don’t want to think about it.”

I blink at him, unable to hide my surprise. It’s more honest than he’s ever been, and his gaze flits away from me, as if he’s realized that too.

“Well, it’s going to end up like that if we don’t make a better plan,” I say. “Maybe there’s something with my bloodline that could be useful. Maybe if we found something that once belonged to my dad or… ”

I trail off, realizing how stupid I sound.

“Keep talking,” Sebastian commands.

“I have a whole box of my dad’s things back home,” I say. “There’s a good chance Tessa threw them out, but if she didn’t…I wonder if they’d help strengthen my magic. Or at least my connection to the original spell?”

Sebastian doesn’t reply right away. He stares up at the ceiling, winding his fingers through my hair.

“Maybe,” he says finally.

“You don’t think it would work,” I say, turning to look at him.

“It’s not that,” he says. He doesn’t return my gaze. “It’s just…I think we need to look at other options. Ones that don’t involve you.”

“Sebastian—”

“I know, Grace,” he says. “I know. But I’m not ready, all right? I need?—”

He doesn’t get a chance to finish his thought. A heavy knock pounds against the door.

“What?” Sebastian snaps.

The person knocking doesn’t respond. They only keep knocking and knocking and?—

Sebastian growls and climbs out of bed. He slides into a pair of slacks and glances to make sure I’m covered.

“What do you want, Cora?” he asks before he’s even opened the door. Once he has, I still can’t see her from my position in the bed. I can only hope that means she doesn’t see me either.

Everyone knows we’re having sex, but still…

“We have three weeks until the next full moon,” she says.

“As much as I know you two would like to fuck for that entire time, I’d appreciate a little help here.

I’m fine, by the way. Nice of you to check on me, Sebastian.

Only one of your oldest friends, risking her life to do this for you.

And what do I get? A fucking punch to the face and a week of silence. Real. Nice.”

“Hells,” Sebastian mutters. He rubs his hand over his face again. Part of me expects him to yell, to shove her out of his doorway. Instead, he releases a heavy breath. “Tonight, all right? We’ll talk about it tonight. Grace has an idea that might help.”

“Is she here?” she asks. Even without seeing her face, I can feel the accusation in her question.

“None of your business,” Sebastian says.

He’s already started to shut the door, but Cora is quick to catch it.

“In case you’ve forgotten,” she says. “ Everyone is counting on you. If this fails, if you choose her over them, you’re dooming your entire species. Again .”

The door slams. Sebastian crosses the room, kicking out of his pants when he reaches the bed. He presses a hand over his mouth, and without saying a word, I can tell he’s moments from breaking.

Cora isn’t wrong. We do need to figure out a plan, but maybe, it’s okay to put off the world for another half hour.

“Need a sex break?” I ask.

“Is that a human thing?” he asks. He lowers his hand, mouth tilting into a mischievous smirk. Even if it’s temporary, I feel a stroke of pride.

“Sure, why not?” I say. I flip the covers back, revealing the full length of my naked body.

Sebastian swallows, eyes falling to my center. He strokes himself as he crawls onto the bed. He touches the soft spot between my legs before notching his cock there, and with one hard thrust, he presses into me. We groan in unison, and I wrap my legs around his waist, anchoring him to me .

“I won’t let anything happen to you,” he whispers as he moves. “You’re mine. You feel that, right? You’re mine, and I’ll keep you safe.”

Before I can respond, his mouth is on mine, tongue claiming every inch of it, until I’m not sure where he ends and I begin.

That night, I lie in Sebastian’s bed with the covers tucked to my chin.

He left over an hour ago to meet with Cora and Oskar, and though he invited me to join, I decided to stay.

I already know the next few weeks will be crammed with hard training and endless brainstorming sessions.

Before anything else, Sebastian and Cora need to get on the same page.

I did ask him to pass my idea onto Cora though.

If she thinks my dad’s belongings might strengthen my magic for the ritual, I want to try.

Sebastian and I have spent the past months as enemies, so it’s thrilling to imagine what we might accomplish as allies .

I’m pathetically eager to contribute something more than my witch blood, and this feels like the perfect opportunity.

For now, I’m happy to snuggle in his bed and watch Legally Blonde for the millionth time. I’ve almost drifted to sleep when a heavy knock comes at the door.

I groan and pause the movie. Much as I’m tempted to ignore Beatrice, who’s standing guard in the hallway, it feels like a jerk move.

I straighten my clothes as I cross the room, only to startle when I open the door.

It’s not Beatrice. Oskar stands in the doorway, and he offers his standard, soft smile.

“Oh,” I say, raising my brows. I glance at the empty space around him. “Where’s Beatrice? ”

“I relieved her shortly after the meeting,” he says. He pauses, craning to peer in Sebastian’s room. “Are you ready?”

“I didn’t realize the meeting was over,” I say. Then, “Ready for what?”

“Apologies. I assumed Sebastian told you,” he says. “We’re to collect your father’s belongings in the human world.”

“Wait…Cora thinks it will help?” I ask. I can’t keep the smile off my face, and I immediately bounce onto my toes. “We’re going to do it? And I get to go?”

“Apparently,” Oskar says, chuckling. “Sebastian and Cora have business to attend though, so they’re sending me to accompany you. I hope that’s all right.”

“Yes, of course,” I say. I bob my head and try to tame my smile. I’m terrified he’ll retract the offer if I seem too eager, but I can’t help myself.

I get to go. Sebastian is trusting me to go.

“All right,” Oskar says with a nod. He steps back, sweeping his arm into the hallway. “Well, if you’re ready, let’s go.”

I don’t give him any reason to hesitate. For the first time, I get to be an active part of the team. I’ll break the curse with more than just my blood. I’m actually contributing an idea. Something to break the curse and save my life.

I snag my jacket from the dresser and follow Oskar into the hall, making a mental list of everything I’ll take from Tessa’s apartment.

Beyond Dad’s box of letters in my closet, I can get my phone and my favorite perfume and Mom’s old sweatshirt.

If Oskar isn’t paying attention, I’ll grab some lingerie too.

By the time we exit the manor, I’m beaming. I spent months terrified I’d never see Aberlena or the human world again. Now, I can’t wait to say my final goodbye.

Oskar runs through the Night Realm with me in his arms. He’s noticeably slower than Sebastian, and yet, I end up retching once we reach the neutral territory.

I fold over, hands on my knees, and breathe through the lingering nausea.

It feels like we just ping-ponged across the Echo, and my brain is struggling to find steady ground.

“You all right?” Oskar asks, roughly patting my back.

“Fine,” I say.

I wipe my sleeve across my mouth, blinking down at the blackened ground before us.

The burnt soil spreads all throughout the neutral territory, from what I can tell.

I make a mental note to ask Sebastian about it later, but for now, I’m just trying not to hurl again.

I squeeze my eyes, grunting when Oskar slaps my back again, harder.