Chapter 57 A Queen Among Tides: Chapter Fifty-Seven - Lemuel

Chapter 57 A Queen Among Tides: Chapter Fifty-Seven - Lemuel
“What the fuck just happened?” Sebastian says in bewilderment.

“Um, I’m not entirely sure,” I say in stunned confusion as I attempt to decipher the very obscure conversation that just took place before us. What did Merlos mean when she said Zarseti is always working an angle?

“And to think you say you’re no one special. You have two Goddesses fighting over you,” Sebastian chuckles, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Hardly. One of them wants me to suffer for all eternity.”

“But she can’t now. You heard them, there’s no darkness inside you. Whatever Merlos saw in you all those years ago; whoever you were back then, is not who you are now. Maybe…”

“Don’t say it,” I interject, taking a step away from him.

“Maybe she’ll lift your curse,” he says gently.

“I asked you not to say it! You really think the Goddess who did this is just going to lift it on a whim? You heard her, she views me as her property,” I say with disgust.

“Well, that’s ridiculous. If you’re anyone’s property, it’s mine,” he says casually.

“This isn’t funny Sebastian,” I chastise him.

“If I have to, I’ll enact the Law of Ezillus again. He warned me Merlos would come and said he would be more than willing to help me handle her. Zarseti stepping in was just a bonus. So if I were to summon Ezillus that’s two against one. Odds look good,” he smiles smugly.

I state are him incredulously, “Do you hear yourself? You’re talking about casually summoning Gods. GODS! We’re ants to them; less than ants. We’re like a grain of salt in their eyes, and they can dissolve us just like that,” I say, snapping my fingers.

Sebastian steps closer and wraps his arms around me, “So this is what you freaking out looks like. Not sure I like it.”

I take in deep breaths and wrap my arms around him clinging to him as tight as I can, fearing this may be the last time, “I just found you, I can’t lose you.”

“Stop it,” he says forcefully, pulling back to look at me, “We did not go through all this to lose each other now, it’s not going to happen. I don’t care if that seven-foot Goddess comes back and tries to start some shit, she’s not separating us, I won’t let her,” he says as he yanks me into his arms crushing me with their force.

His words are strong and full of confidence but there’s panic and fear inside him. He’s acting like any good royal. Not letting anyone see his fear, but he forgets I can feel it. He can’t hide what he truly feels from me. He’s just as scared as I am. He’s just masking it better.

We stay wrapped in each other’s arms until that dark weight comes crashing over me again, and I don’t have to look to know Merlos has returned. I take in a deep breath and slowly pull back from Sebastian’s hold to look over at Merlos watching us with a face of indifference. I don’t know what she and Zarseti discussed, and her face gives away nothing.

“I don’t like to prolong unnecessary conversations, so let’s keep this brief. Do you wish to complete your bond?” She asks cooly.

Sebastian and I look at each other thrown by the drastically different topic of conversation.

“Being fully bonded to Sebastian is something I want more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life,” I admit, holding his hand firmly in mine and focusing on the electric currents of our bond to keep myself calm.

“Zarseti has granted me the ability to complete your bond for you if that is what you wish. However, there will be some alterations.”

“Alterations?” I ask tentatively.

“You think me cruel Lemuel, for what I did to you, but what I did to you pales in comparison to the actions that brought you here. Nevertheless, I only curse those whose souls are filled with darkness, but Zarseti was right – as usual – I see no darkness on your soul, and I in good conscience cannot continue your curse,” she says, her tone coming off softer than I thought her capable of.

“Are… are you saying you’ll remove my curse?” I slowly ask as I hear my heart pounding in my ears.

“No, I’m not removing your curse, but I am… adjusting it,” she says with a knowing smile, “Do you accept?”

“Wait, a minute. We have no idea what these so-called ‘adjustments’ are,” says Sebastian, using air quotes for emphasis.

“I accept,” I say confidently, and watch as Merlos smirks proudly.

“What?!” Sebastian shrieks. He turns and grabs me by the shoulders, “Are you fucking nuts? You have no idea what she has planned.”

“I know it will mean being fully bonded to you,” I say as I cup his cheek in my hand, “I don’t care if it means never being able to feel someone else’s affection. As long as I have you that’s all that matters,” I say, silencing his fears with a kiss. I turn back to Merlos and take in a deep breath, “Do whatever you have to do.”

“You truly have changed,” she says with an impressed tone.

Merlos walks over and places her hands on mine and Sebastian’s chests. The moment her hands make contact with us there’s a loud pulse sound that explodes across the room and Sebastian and I both gasp feeling as though we just took a shot of adrenaline to the heart while I feel a burning tingle around my left wrist. It only takes a second for me to be overwhelmed by the sensation of completeness as I actually feel mine and Sebastian’s souls locking together perfectly.

Merlos steps back and I brace my hands on my knees and catch my breath as Sebastian’s emotions come flooding into my mind and heart like an avalanche. I thought his emotions were strong before, but now it’s almost impossible to differentiate between where his emotions start and mine end, and yet I’ve never felt so comforted by that fact. Wholeness and oneness fill my very being and soothe my wounded soul. Tears fill my eyes as that sense of loneliness I’ve always carried with me is washed away like the tides.

I feel Sebastian’s arms snake around me and we both gasp from the intensity of each other’s touch. It’s like sticking your finger in a socket, but in a very enjoyable and pleasurable way and feeling that electrical current zinging through each other as if on steroids.

“No running away from me now,” comes Sebastian’s voice in my mind, shocking me as he tightens his hold on me.

I look down into his gorgeous cerulean eyes, now looking brighter than I’ve ever seen them. I smile and hold my hand to his cheek and place my lips against his and revel in the sound of his moans as I hold him to me.

“I wouldn’t even dream of it,” I say, projecting my thoughts into his mind with ease.

He smiles against my lips, and we again hug each other tightly. As I wrap my arms around him, something catches my eye. I look down at my left wrist and my eyes widen in surprise.

“What is it?” Sebastian asks, pulling back.

I examine my wrist between us. This isn’t a visum-link like what I’m used to, this… this is beautiful. Branded into my flesh and going around my wrist is a ring of bright scales that shine in the light and look like the waves crashing against the shore. Sebastian lifts his left wrist, and my eyes widen further when I see around his wrist, is a ring of electric blue and purple scales that have an almost duo-chrome shift in the light. We both look up at Merlos in disbelief, as she stands before us with a smug look on her face.

“I saw in your thoughts how much you didn’t want another chain, and since this is a bond of souls and not the link of a curse, I felt it should have better representation,” she shrugs.

Sebastian reaches out and lightly traces his fingers over the scales that go around my wrist, and I have to take in a breath as his touch sends waves of pleasure coursing through my body.

“Oh, I’m definitely using that to my advantage,” he smirks.

I roll my eyes and focus back on Merlos, “Aside from feeling connected to Sebastian completely, I don’t feel any different. What adjustment did you make to my curse?” I ask curiously.

“It’s no longer a curse, but a gift. For the rest of your days, you can touch and be touched and the only soul you’ll be bound to is your animais. I’m gifting you the ability to grant Sebastian’s every wish.”

“What?” I deadpan.

“Oh, hell yes!” Sebastian cheers.

“Don’t get too excited, Your Highness. As Lemuel’s animai, you are the only one whose wishes he can grant for all time.”

“Infinite wishes?! I’ll never have to suffer another bad hair day!” Sebastian claps excitedly.

I facepalm. This is a dreadful idea! He’s the last person who should have unlimited wishes. His first wish will probably be something to do with keeping it up longer and infinite orgasms, or something insane like multiple Sebastians or multiple dicks for some crazy Sebastian/Lemuel-only orgy!

“I wasn’t finished,” Merlos snaps, “Lemuel, when I cursed you I took away your choice and your power. Now I return it. While Sebastian can make any wish he pleases, only you can decide whether or not to grant them,” she explains.

“Well, that sucks,” Sebastian huffs.

“You’re granting me that much power, but allowing us to use it as a team?” I ask in disbelief.

“Like true animais. You hold the power, but it will take two of you to wield it. You’d make quite the unstoppable royal couple,” she smirks.

I take in a deep breath, “I… I don’t know what to say. Thank you,” I say humbly.

“Don’t thank me entirely, it was Zarseti’s idea. Well, partly, I came up with the rest,” she says confidently, “Anyway, my job is done. I am off to wash off the events of the day and you two can go about your limited lives,” she says dismissively.

“Wait, did you say limited?”

“Yes,” she says like it’s obvious.

“Does that… does that mean I’m no longer immortal?” I ask anxiously and can feel the nerves swirling inside Sebastian, as I’m sure he can feel mine.

“Keeping you immortal would just be cruel. Your life is now tied to Sebastian’s in true animai fashion. I have to admit, I rather like the concept of a visum bond. Perhaps I should see how many of my other visums have seen the light. Perhaps it’s time I lifted their curses too,” she smiles brightly, “Don’t make me regret this,” she warns before disappearing.

I stand frozen as tears fall unabashed from my eyes. I’m free. I’m truly free. I can touch people without pain or slavery, and I will never have to live a life without Sebastian. A sob breaks free as I cup my hand over my mouth as the tears continue to fall. All the pain, all the guilt, all the loneliness… I’m free of it all.

Sebastian gently pulls me into his arms and cups the back of my head, “I’ve got you. I’m never letting you go,” he coos, rocking me back and forth as I cry out centuries of bottled-up emotions.