Page 53 of Tino
I laughed softly, then hugged Nujik with Silver moving up to hug him just as I stepped aside.
I saw several mages standing around further down the hill, watching us with interest. We’d been welcomed with open arms by the people. Our powers were no joke, and talk about the battle had rushed through the Realm of Mages faster than we could’veever dared hope for. It made things much easier for us. The mages needed a safe place to live. They deserved to live without fear. With the bullying of our childhood aside, we still wanted what was best for everyone, and telling them our story at least made us appear…normal? We weren’t born and brought up to be leaders. We were born with the powers lurking underneath our skin, but we still had to fight for our place in our world.
“The others are waiting. You ready?” Willow asked, moving over to open the doors.
“Yes,” Silver replied for us, taking my hand in his again.
A soft melody played as we walked in. Unlike with Xarius and Niam, we’d decided on walking in together. There was no exact way to do the entrance, so we picked what we felt was most us. Hand in hand won. Nujik and Willow walked ahead of us and then King and Shamus behind us.
So far everything was perfect.
Silver
“I can’t move my legs,” I whined. We’d just gotten back to our wing in our shared mansion. The ceremony had been nothing less thanperfect. We’d gotten our crowns and a necklace, too, from the others, both of which I would cherish forever.
Wilston just laughed softly at my pain. “You know, some people might think dancing in heels would end with painful feet and legs. Especially after dancing for five hours straight.” Like I would have worn anything but heels. It had been a struggle up the gravel trail, but no pain no gain and all that. And the dancing? Well, how was I supposed to say no when people dared me to a dance off?
“You know, you danced, too.”
He laughed louder this time. “Because my bonded wanted to dance with me. And because I wanted to dance with my soulmatch in front of everyone.”
When he said cute stuff like that, it was hard to keep being sassy. “I love you,” I sighed, all but ready to fall asleep there on our couch. Like hell would I try to walk the few steps into our bedroom. I would have to be carried for that part.
“Love you, too.” I could hear his grin, which meant I’d closed my eyes at some point, and now they were simply too heavy to open. Suddenly, my body was lifted off the couch and I levitated into bed, or Wilston carried me, one of the two.
I sighed happily as I felt our cold sheets under my heated skin. “Ravish me,” I mumbled and the last thing I remembered was laughter as sleep took over.
I woke with a start, squinting at the thin stripe of light that had somehow escaped the curtains and searched out my face. I groaned. Stupid sun. I used my magic to flick the curtain closed.Take that sun!My body was aching in the best kind of ways, but sadly no aching butt. Had I really been too tired to celebrate with Wilston in bed? That just wouldn’t do. But as I turned to give my man the best wake up blow job ever, I found his side empty.
Shit! Was he mad at me for falling asleep? Had I fallen asleep during? Hell, even I would’ve been mad if that were the case. Luckily, Wilston came in with a tray filled with all kinds of delicious smelling food before I could panic further.
“Morning, my gorgeous bonded,” he said, sounding anything but disappointed and angry. He sounded happy. Truly happy. I returned his smile and rushed over to help him carry the food.
“Sorry I fell asleep last night,” I said as I busied myself with arranging the food on the bed perfectly.
“We have the whole week to celebrate. Besides, I was tired too. The stress of it all and then dancing and having fun with everyone. Sleep was welcomed after the day we’d had.”
“So, you’re not disappointed?”
He shook his head. “Not at all. Though it was hard letting go of you when I saw your panties.” I grinned. I had them made to match the first suit, a perfect pink shade. Normally—according to tradition—you would wear a green color to symbolize new beginnings, which was fitting for a bonding ceremony. But I wanted it to symbolize love instead. It wasn’t all bonds that were made between two people in love, but ours was. And even if Wilston was the only one to see them, it still meant a lot for me to wear that color everywhere.
“I never even got to see your underwear!” I gasped, feeling angry at myself for missing it. But he just laughed and tugged his sweatpants down, leaving behind light yellow boxers. “Yellow?” I asked, notreally knowing what that color meant here. I’d only really looked into the pink one, because I selfishly wanted to wear pink.
“According to Willow it means happiness and sunshine, and you’re that for me.” He blushed as he said it, meanwhile my ability to speak was forgotten as I stared at him.
After gaping soundlessly for a few heartbeats, I finally rasped out an “I love you.”
He just smiled and joined me under the covers, making me a small plate filled with fruit and some nuts, then proceeded to handfeed me strawberries.
I was one lucky man.
Silver
After that amazing morning in bed, I figured I needed to figure out what I wanted to do about Christian. Xari and Niam had visitedSutiner and had dealt with their unfinished business there; I however, was still stuck on what to do.
“We don’t have to do it this week,” Wilston reminded me again. We’d taken a walk through the forest in our backyard. It had been his idea since he figured some fresh air and sunlight might help me make up my mind.
“I know,” I sighed. “But we don’t know when we’ll get the chance again. I just can’t decide with myself if I want to see everyone, only to leave again and not return, or return every five years, but with that profession, they likely wouldn’t all still be there in five years. Only Christian, and it would hurt to keep seeing him only for a few hours every five years like this. And why five years exactly? Why not two or one for that matter. Plus, how many friendships can last on only a few hours with so many years in between.” I was ranting, I knew it, but I could finally voice my thoughts out loud, and I wanted Wilston to know exactly what had me stuck on making a decision.