Chapter 155
Lirael
"He's a complication," she said gently. "A beautiful, dangerous, impossible complication. And I'm not saying he doesn't care. I'm saying that when his father and the establishment demand he choose between you and his clan..." She let the implication hang.
He'll choose them, I thought, and felt something crack in my chest. Of course he will. He's the Alpha of Clan Blackwood. He has responsibilities, obligations. I'm just... what? A fascination? The elf who happened to stabilize his entropy syndrome?
No. The voice in my head was fierce, certain. You're the love of his life. He told you. Showed you. Don't let fear make you doubt what you know is true.
"I should go." I stepped back, needing distance before this conversation could unravel me completely. "If I'm late, Sebastian will probably storm the lighthouse looking for me."
Selene's lips quirked despite herself. "Possessive, is he?"
"You have no fucking idea." I managed a weak smile.
"For what it's worth," she said as I turned to leave, "I hope I'm wrong. I hope he proves me wrong and chooses you over everything. I hope you get your impossible happy ending, Lirael. You deserve it more than anyone I know."
"Thanks," I managed, throat tight. "That means... thank you."
I was halfway to the elevator, still trying to compose myself, when the doors opened and Sebastian stepped out, Marcus trailing behind with an expression that said he'd tried and failed to talk his Alpha out of whatever impulsive decision had brought him here.
Sebastian's gaze found me immediately, scanning head to toe with that intensity that made me feel simultaneously exposed and protected. I watched his posture shift from tense to marginally less tense when he confirmed I was unharmed, and something in my chest loosened.
"You're early," I said, unable to suppress my smile even as my heart did that stupid fluttering thing. "I said two o'clock. It's barely twelve-fifteen."
"I missed you." He closed the distance in three strides and pulled me against him with zero regard for our audience, nose burying in my hair like he'd been holding his breath the entire time we were apart. I melted into him despite myself, fingers clutching his shirt. "And I brought lunch."
"Lunch?" I eyed Marcus's insulated bag skeptically, then looked up at Sebastian. "What did you do?"
"Moonlight cakes." His satisfaction was palpable, eyes bright with barely contained pride. "Had Marcus track down the only bakery that still makes them traditionally. Apparently very difficult to source, cost about the same as a small car. But you were staring at that TV like someone offered you the universe, so..." He shrugged, failing spectacularly at nonchalance. "I got you some. Several dozen, actually."
I stared at him, this impossible man who'd noticed twelve seconds of wistful longing and immediately mobilized resources to fulfill it. My throat went tight. "You bought me several dozen moonlight cakes because I looked at them on TV."
"Twelve seconds. I counted." His hand came up to cup my face, thumb brushing my cheekbone. "You looked like a kitten watching birds—all focused intensity and barely suppressed longing. It made me want to give you everything you've ever wanted and several things you didn't know you wanted." He paused, searching for words. "So yes, I bought the cakes. And if you don't like them, I'll buy different ones. Better ones. The best fucking cakes in the entire world if that's what it takes."
"Sebastian." I stood on my toes to kiss him right there where anyone could see, where Selene was probably watching and despairing over my terrible life choices. But I didn't give a fuck, because this man had just given me a piece of my heritage I'd thought was lost forever, had seen a moment of quiet yearning and decided to move heaven and earth to fulfill it.
When we broke apart, both breathing harder, Marcus had diplomatically retreated. "Come eat with me," Sebastian murmured, thumb brushing my still-sensitive lower lip. "Found a meeting room on the third floor. We can have lunch, then I'll let you get back to your terrifyingly competent resistance planning."
"You're not supposed to be here." But I was already letting him guide me toward the elevator, unable to resist the warm weight of his hand at the small of my back. "Secret location. Top security clearance required."
"I'm Sebastian Blackwood." That insufferable confidence that should've annoyed me but mostly just made me want to kiss him again. "I go where I want. And I want to be wherever you are, little moon. Get used to it."
---
The small meeting room held only a scarred table, mismatched chairs, and a harbor view. Sebastian had Marcus set everything up—cakes arranged properly on a real plate, napkins folded just so, steaming tea in an actual thermos—before dismissing him with a look that sent the poor man fleeing.
"You terrify him," I observed, settling carefully into a chair and trying not to wince as various sore muscles protested.
"Good. Everyone should be terrified. Except you." His hand found mine across the table, fingers lacing together with the ease of long practice despite the fact that we'd only been... whatever we were... for less than a day. "You should never be afraid of me, Lira. Even when I'm being possessive and unreasonable and probably violating several international laws to track you down during your secret meetings."
"Just several laws?" I teased, squeezing his hand. "You're slipping, Blackwood."
"Eat your cake," he ordered, but there was only fond exasperation as he watched me reach for the first one with trembling fingers.
I took a careful bite, and—
Oh.
Oh fuck.
The taste exploded across my tongue—honey and silver-leaf flowers and something indefinably magical, a flavor I hadn't experienced since childhood. I closed my eyes, letting memories wash over me in a bittersweet rush: my mother's laugh, warm and bright; festival nights when the court gathered under the full moon and everything felt safe and eternal; the taste of home, of belonging, of a time when I'd been cherished simply for existing rather than for what I could provide.
My hands started shaking. I set the cake down carefully, pressing my palms flat against the table.
When I opened my eyes, Sebastian was watching me with an expression so tender it made my chest ache. "Good?" he asked quietly, and I realized there were tears tracking down my cheeks.
"Perfect," I whispered, voice cracking. "It's fucking perfect. Thank you."
He leaned forward, kissing away the tears with reverent gentleness, and I felt something in me settle—some last piece of resistance crumbling under the weight of his care. This was real, I realized. Whatever warnings Selene had given me, whatever obstacles we'd face from his clan and my people and the entire supernatural establishment—this feeling between us was real and precious and worth fighting for.
Even if it was temporary. Even if it was doomed. Even if loving Sebastian Blackwood was the most dangerous thing I'd ever done—and I'd done some pretty fucking dangerous things—I couldn't bring myself to regret it.