**Chapter 88: So! Take a beating!**
Deimos wrapped his arms around Stephanie’s waist and pulled her down to straddle his lap. Stephanie squeaked a little in surprise, which he found cute. He buried his face in her neck and just breathed her in, soothing himself with her scent.
Stephanie didn’t complain. She wrapped one arm around his shoulders and dug the figures of her other hand into his hair. She rubbed and scratched the back of his head. She knew he appreciated it with the rumbles coming from his chest.
He’d swear up and down it wasn’t a purr, but it always sounded like he was some big cat purring to her. Stephanie always got a thrill of satisfaction when she got him to make this noise. After a bit, Deimos and Sebastian combined their forms.
The dark obsidian skin stayed but the hair turned white. The silver color of his scars changed to a luminescent pear. The eyes would have changed too, although she couldn’t see them with their face in her neck. The inner ring would be violet, the outer would be red.
They didn’t do anything, just continued to hold her and breathe her in. Stephanie felt through their bond that this was helming them. Stephanie started to hum, a low healing pitch, one meant to drive stress away and calm the mind. A few minutes later Sebastian changed back into himself, Deimos going back to their space.
Even after his change back, Sebastian still did not let her go. Stephanie placed her lips against his temple. She closed her eyes and breathed in his scent herself. The comfort they each gave to the other finally settled their tumultuous emotions.
Stephanie sat back as Sebastian raised his head, placing her hand on his shoulders. Sebastien gently gripped Stephanie’s waist as he met her gaze. He didn’t know what he would do without his mate anymore, and he never wanted to find out.
It was his sincerest wish that when it was their time to go, they’d go together peacefully in their sleep wrapped in each other’s arms. A long, long, time from now. He wanted to live many centuries with his light. He was looking forward to seeing her with their future grandchildren.
“What’s got you looking at me with such a sappy look my dear.” Stephanie asked him in a quiet voice, a soft smile on her lips.
He leaned forward, unable to resist the temptation, and gently kissed her. He didn’t kiss her for long, knowing how easy it would be to just grab her and take her to their bedroom for more than just a kiss. They still had things to discuss and plans to make and put into place.
Meeting her gaze again, he said, “You.”
Stephanie was just a little dazed by the kiss, so it took her a moment to realize that he was responding to her question. Shaking her head, a blush staining her cheeks she asked, “Me?”
Sebastian let out a low chuckle. He felt a small flush of pride at being able to daze his mate with such a gentle kiss. “Yes, my light. I was thinking of you.”
“What about me?” Stephanie asked curiously, tilting her head slightly to the side.
“The usual. That I’m grateful to have you in my life. That I look forward to a very long and fulfilling future with you.” Sebastian said softly, brushing a strand of hair back from Stephanie’s face.
Stephanie smiled and felt like her heart was melting. She was so gone on this male. There was no saving her from it. Not that she wanted saving anyway, she didn’t. “I look forward to our long, long future together as well.”
Stephanie leaned in and kissed Sebastian lightly on his lips, backing away before he could deepen it. “Come on my darling mate. We have to get back to being all powerful beings.” She said as she got off his lap.
Sebastian chuckled again, his mate did have colorful ways of making fun of their titles and positions. Her words were, ‘If we can’t male light of ourselves every now and then, we’ll turn into a couple of dried-up stuffed shirts like the old crones on the Council. No one should ever want to become that.’ She had shuddered as if the thought alone was chilling.
His smile widened at the memory, still agreeing with those words. “Alright my light. Time to get back to being, ‘all powerful rulers,’ as you say.” He said, standing up as well.
He held out his hand and she took it, her face tilted up to meet his eyes. Stephanie squeezed his hand comfortingly. “Everything will be all right. We’ll make sure of it.” Stephanie assured him.
Sebastian nodded, believing wholeheartedly in his mate’s words. His mate, his guiding light. She always had this ability to get them through the darkest and most impossible of situations.
Moonstar Mansion
Darien was still upset at his mother for absconding with his mate. But it quickly took a back seat to the feeling of trepidation he was feeling under the glares from his father and father-in-law. Both males were furious with him, and their angry glare promised pain. Luckily, they couldn’t do anything to him at the moment.
He was safe for now because they were restrained by their mates, and Serenity. Serenity already threatened to cry if her father did anything to him. That had gotten her betrayed look from her father. His ‘But baby,’ was shot down quickly with a pouted but firm sounding, ‘No, daddy.’ So, his father-in-law settled for the glares promising retribution later.
His father had thought that, as his father, surely, he would be allowed to meet out a punishment. He was about to when his new daughter-in-law had turned a watery gaze on him. He was frozen in his tracks, he tried to reason with her and only got out a, ‘But,’ before her lips started to wobble. He quickly backed down, limited to glares as well.
He was grateful but knew this protection wouldn’t last. Eventually his mate would have to leave his side, and his mom and mother-in-law had to leave their mates’ side as well. Most likely it was bound to happen at the same time. Leaving him completely vulnerable to their angry mercies. He was crying internally about his impending doom.
He looked at Alora, his eyes begging for help, and quickly realized he was barking up the wrong tree. Alora wasn’t going to help him. She would probably gleefully sit on the sidelines with a big bowl of popcorn and enjoy his beating while keeping watch.
‘Seriously! Who needs enemies when you have a best friend like this?!’ Darien thought sorrowfully.
His wolf was a little more than fed up with the drama coming from his humanoid form. ‘Quit whining like a pup!’ Axel growled. ‘You’re a grown wolf! Act like it!’
‘I’ll cry if I want to!’ Darien shot back. "We're going to get our assed kicked!’
‘So!’ Axel said. ‘Take a beating, and all will be forgiven. Get over it! It’s a small price to pay for our mate.’
Darien realized his wolf was right. He’d just have to grit his teeth and bare it.