As my eyes adjust to our new location, I look, only to be met with the nauseating sight of Circe laying on Sebastian’s bed up against him as she caresses his cheek and I immediately want to vomit while simultaneously ripping her hands from her body. How dare she fucking touch him?! Circe’s eyes widen in shock and rage when she sees us, causing her to leap from the bed, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” She spits. “Reuniting him with his real animai,” Eisa taunts, “Oh, and I kicked your minion's asses.” That’s an understatement. I think she might have killed them. Can’t say I’ll be shedding a tear for them anytime soon though. “Eisa, what the fuck is going on?” Sebastian asks as he gets to his feet. His eyes fall on me but there's no recognition in them at all and it feels like a dagger through my heart. It's like he's staring at a stranger and part of me feels the same way. There's something so vacant about his face. My Sebastian isn't like that. He wears his every emotio

Three days. It’s been three days and Lemuel still hasn’t woken up. I’m going out of my mind. I’ve done everything I possibly can, and that’s not saying much because the truth is, there’s nothing I can do but make him comfortable. We called on makkares who are friendly with our kingdom, to heal Lemuel, but they said there was nothing that could be done. The makkares said that while Lemuel’s curse prevents him from ever truly dying, it also prevents him from being healed by outside influences. It’s like Merlos wanted to make sure he would suffer in every way imaginable throughout his eternal life. I never hated Merlos for what she did to Lemuel. After learning about his past, I can understand where she comes from, but even humans have prison sentences. I don’t even think Lemuel’s crimes would result in life in prison in a human criminal system, and – not to sound callous – his family died centuries ago. How long is he meant to suffer for something he did so long ago that most of the wor

I was hoping to spend more time talking with Sebastian and being there for him and Lemuel, especially since I have much to make up for in regard to my mistreatment of their relationship. But when I felt Callista’s rage and grief crash over me like a tidal wave, I had to adjust my priorities. I know Callista was going to the cells to check on everything with Circe, and I have to wonder what was said or done to cause this much fury in my sweet, graceful Queen.As I walk through the palace at a quick pace, my Elite Guards, Rhea and Pierce follow closely behind me.“Is something the matter, Your Majesty?” Rhea asks.“Something has enraged my Queen. I want to know what that is,” I inform them. 'Pearl, what’s wrong?' I ask through my link with Callista as I make my way to the cells. Her thoughts and emotions are so chaotic right now that I don’t want to push and invade her mind to better understand them.Callista and I learned long ago that there is a time and place to use our bond in that

As I start to take slow, unsteady steps around the bed, Sebastian races around to my side and scoops me up into his arms. On instinct, I wrap my arms around his neck and quickly get my bearings before narrowing my eyes at him.“Sebastian, I can walk just fine,” I point out.“Yes, but if you walk, then I can’t do this,” he says proudly as he saunters towards the bathroom, carrying me as though I weigh no more than a feather. Show off.Sebastian carries me into the bathroom and carefully sets me on my feet. As I reach for the door to the shower, Sebastian gives my hand a light whack.“What was that for?” I ask incredulously as I rub the back of my hand.“No shower. Bath,” he says, his diction rivalling that of Tarzan. I half expect him to say, ‘Me Sebastian, You Lemuel.’Sebastian walks over to the tub and turns the tap and checks the temperature of the water. Once satisfied, he walks over back over to me, “May I undress you?”“You’ve undressed me several times now, and I don’t recall y

An hour could have passed, and I wouldn’t know or care. Just sitting here, holding Sebastian like this, is enough to sustain me and make all my problems go away, but I’m a practical man, and even I know we can’t stay like this forever.“We should go see your parents,” I say with a kiss.He groans and holds me tighter, “Fuck ‘em.”I chuckle, “Well, I’d rather fuck you if I’m honest, but we can always do that later.”“Promise?” He asks excitedly.My laugh only continues as I cup his face in my hand, “I promise to spend the rest of the evening bringing you pleasure.”He takes a breath and leaps off my lap, “Well, come on then. Let’s get this over with,” he says, grabbing me by the wrist and yanking me off the bedroom bench.“At least let me fix my shirt,” I protest, as he proceeds to pull me out of the room.“Nudity is nothing new around here.”I roll my eyes but manage to snatch my arm back. I quickly do up my shirt and tuck it in, then calmly take his hand in mine.“As Prince, a little