Chapter 53 A Queen Among Tides: Chapter Fifty-Three - Lemuel

Chapter 53 A Queen Among Tides: Chapter Fifty-Three - Lemuel
With a delighted smile, Sebastian gets to work ridding me of my clothes, something he’s quite the expert at by now. Before I can even begin to return the favour, he’s already stripped off his shirt and sweatpants. I’m a little disappointed I didn’t get to do it, but at least I get to see him naked that much faster.

I shriek as Sebastian once again scoops me up into his arms, taking me by surprise, “Stop doing that!”

“But you’re so cute when you’re all surprised like that,” he coos, planting a kiss on my neck that has my body tingling in spite of myself.

He steps into the tub and carefully lowers us into the hot water and manoeuvres me in between his legs, “There, much better.”

“Someone’s pleased with himself,” I snigger.

Sebastian slides his arm around my waist pulling my back flush against his chest as I feel his dick nestle against my lower back. He places a gentle kiss on my shoulder as he reaches over grabbing a bath sponge. He adds some frothy lemon-scented soap and begins gingerly rubbing it over my back. I let out a soft sigh and close my eyes letting my head lull forward as I succumb to the tender, rhythmic movements of him washing my body.

“When was the last time someone did this for you?” He gently asks.

I fill my lungs with air and slowly let it out, “Not since I was a boy, and my mother would bathe my siblings and me.” The words have an ache filling my heart that I haven’t felt in the longest time.

“I never asked you what your tattoo means,” he says as he guides the sponge over my shoulder, towards my chest, covering my tattoo with suds.

I look down and gently trace the faintly raised ink lines that mark my skin and feel tears pool in my eyes, “They’re the names of my family, just in my mother tongue,” I answer with a shuddering breath.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bring up something that would upset you,” he says contritely.

I overlap his hand and turn my head giving him a soft kiss that he reflexively returns, “You have nothing to apologise for. It’s actually nice talking about them and remembering them. I got this tattoo, so I’d never forget them, and yet at the same time I try not to think about them and what I did to them. I guess I feel as though I don’t have the right to remember them and reminisce on my past. I took it so for granted and hated so much, and yet looking back all I can think of are happy memories and how lucky I was,” I say mournfully.

“I think realising that and choosing to honour their memories can at least give value to their life. I know you don’t believe there’s honour in death, and maybe there’s some truth to that, but there can be honour in living it. What’s the point of living these long lives if we don’t appreciate the lives around us,” he says, wrapping his arms tightly around my body and holding me to his chest.

The contact of his body is soothing everything from my muscles to my spirit. I hold his arms and gently run my fingers up and down his forearms and place gently kisses on them, “You’ve changed my life in ways you’ll never know.”

“If you let me mark you one day, then I’ll finally get to know,” he muses.

I look back at him in surprise, “Can you even do that?”

“If a sirna can mark a human, I don’t see why I can’t mark a visum. At the end of the day, you’re my animai. Period.”

I think back to the marks I saw on his parents. The way they each adopted a single scale from the other that even remained in human form. I can’t help but picture myself perhaps wearing a scale that represents Sebastian’s gorgeous wave-like tail on my thigh. Even if no one else could see it, I would know it was there. It wouldn’t be anything like that brand from Merlos. Even though Zarseti’s magic altered it, I don’t want it back. I don’t want a symbol of my bond with Sebastian to have any ties to the deeds of my past. I want to be able to look at it and feel nothing but love and wholeness. But perhaps that is asking too much.

“You know, you haven’t told me how you’re doing,” I say, deciding to put the subject of marking on the back burner for now.

“You’re awake and recovering nicely; I couldn’t be better,” he says cheerfully, and I’m surprised by how much genuine cheer I feel from him.

I turn to look at him, “You know if you were upset or still recovering from what happened, you can talk to me,” I reassure him.

He smiles, “I know, and I love that fact. Circe’s rotting in a cell, as are her helpers, my parents accept us and you’re awake in my arms. All sounds good to me,” he says brushing his nose against mine.

I frown, “You’re not… traumatised or anything?”

“From seeing you unconscious for a week, terrified you’d die? Damn fucking right I’m traumatised. Don’t you ever do that shit again,” he scolds me.

“No, not that. I mean… with everything Circe did to you,” I say carefully, “What she did wasn’t just wrong, it was vile, and I can’t even begin to imagine what you’re going through,” I say compassionately, holding his hand tight.

“Huh?” He asks in confusion, only for his eyes to widen in realisation, “Oh! I see what you mean now,” he says, shaking his head, “The truth is, I feel nothing. I feel enraged by what she did to you, and I feel disgusted that her actions caused you so much pain and suffering and that hurts my heart deeply, but I don’t feel sick or traumatised or like I need to call a therapist for PTSD counselling. Being under the influence of that gem was like blacking out. I wasn’t really in my own body; if that makes sense. I know she violated, and maybe just by knowing that I should feel violated me, but I don’t. I don’t have any memories or recollections of her actions or mine, and I think that’s probably for the best. I don’t want to remember. I don’t want to know what she did, just knowing how it hurt you is bad enough. In a way ocean jasper was a blessing,” he says, resting his chin on my shoulder.

I nod in understanding and kiss his cheek, “That makes sense. Hard to be traumatised by what you don’t know. I’m honestly glad. I don’t wish pain or trauma on you, and so if you’re okay then I am thrilled,” I smile. I lean in to kiss him, only to be interrupted by the door slamming open.

“Malákas!” I hear Eisa shout, just as I jump in surprise and do my best to use my limbs to hide my modesty.

“Ever heard of knocking?” Sebastian sighs.

“Screw that. Lemuel woke up and you didn’t even bother to call for me! You’re such a dick!” She snaps at him.

“In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m a bit busy at the moment,” Sebastian says pointedly.

Eisa waves her hand dismissively at him then turns her eyes on me and gives me a bright smile that lights up her emerald eyes, “I’m so happy to see you awake!” She exclaims, running over about to wrap her arms around me, but Sebastian quickly summons a wall of water to separate her from us.

“Stop! Our link is broken, Eisa. If you touch him he’ll be bound to you,” he says in warning. My stomach tightens into a knot as I realise what almost happened. I’d begun to get so used to physical contact again thanks to Sebastian’s refusal to make a wish, I’d completely forgotten I’m back to how I used to be. The only person I can safely touch is Sebastian, which I’m not complaining about, but still.

Sebastian removes the wall of water as the liquid retreats back into the tub to reveal Eisa’s standing there with wide eyes.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t even think… it’s just, we were all so worried. Don’t ever frighten me like that again,” she scolds me.

People keep saying that as if I put myself into a coma on purpose. Nevertheless, I briefly reflect on the fact I’m naked in a bathtub between my animai’s legs while this conversation is taking place, which would make this a first.

I give Eisa a reassuring smile while I continue to hide my modesty, “It’s very nice to see you too, and I appreciate you being so worried about me, but you do realise I’m naked in the bath, correct?”

Eisa scoffs, “Oh, please. It’s not like either of you have anything I haven’t seen before.”

“I am very certain you have never seen me naked,” I correct her.

“True, but I’ve seen plenty of dicks in my life, and I’ve probably seen Sebastian’s the most,” she shrugs. I look back at Sebastian raising my eyebrow at him.

“She means because of morphing,” he says rolling his eyes.

“And also because when he was a toddler he was a total nudist. Had a phase where he refused to wear clothes and would run around the kingdom with his pee-pee out. Even wave it and shake it around so proudly. His mother was mortified,” she chuckles.

I can’t help but laugh at the image of a young Sebastian terrorising the poor palace staff by shaking his pre-pubescent dick in their faces. Clearly, he had a dangerous amount of confidence as a child, and I don’t think it lessened over the years.

“Eisa, you can catch up with Lemuel later, right now we’re having a bath, so kindly fuck off,” Sebastian says in irritation.

“Fine, be that way. I’ll just go out and lay out some clothes for you both like the good friend I am,” she says as she turns to leave.

“Eisa?” I call out. She glances back over her shoulder at me. “Thank you for caring,” I say appreciatively.

She gives me a warm and loving smile, “You’re family, Lemuel. I’m just glad to see you’re okay. He was a mess without you,” she says softly as she steps out and closes the door behind her.