To The Ones Who Can't Dream

chapter 24 - Tamlin

     After Amarantha's speech, she dismissed everyone. But, nobody was actually allowed to leave besides the Spring Court. Secretly, Seren cursed them all. How come she was the one being forced to stay here, Under the Mountain? Whereas, the Spring Court got to go back to their home. She couldn't put into words how much she hated Amarantha. Seren and Rhys had been given a room together. Although Seren wasn't exactly looking forward to having a roommate, albeit an extremely hot one, for the next 49 years, it was nice to have a place where she could be alone with Rhys and they could talk freely.
    
     Seren felt absolutely helpless. There was literally nothing she could do to change the situation and she hated that. 49 years was a long time, even for someone as old as herself. Seren walked into the room and sat on the bed dejectedly, "What if she finds out about Velaris?"
    
      Rhys replied, "She won't. I used the last few moments that I had all of my powers to cast a protective shield around Velaris. Nobody can get in, and nobody can get out. It's probably the safest place in the world right now."
    
      Seren sighed, "So that means Az, Cass, Mor, and Amren can't come and find us, right?"
    
     Rhys shook his head and Seren nodded slowly, "Okay, that's good. Although I wish I could see them, they can't come here. I know they'll hate being trapped in there but they would only make it worse by coming. I'm just glad they are safe."
    
     Rhys came to sit next to her on the bed and pulled her into a hug, "Me too."
   
     Seren relaxed into his arms, finally feeling somewhat safe, "I guess we just have to hope that Tamlin can win a human over. After all, that's the only way we will make it out of here."
    
     Rhys laughed humorlessly, "I wouldn't hold my breath. He has never come through for me before and so I wouldn't count on him starting now. But I promise, I'll find a way to get you out."
    
     "I'm not leaving without you if that's what you mean. I'm your second-in-command for a reason, and that's to always have your back."
    
     After a pause Seren asked, "Will you tell me why you hate Tamlin so much?"
    
     Rhys rested his chin on her head, "We used to be best friends. We were born around the same time so naturally we were friends. I trusted him. And he betrayed me. I told him where my mother and sister were, and he divulged the information to his father and brothers. He went with them to ambush my mom and sister. They, of course, were caught completely off guard and it was a massacre. They cut off their wings and sent them to my father and I. As you can imagine, we were furious. So we went to the Spring Court and killed his whole family. My father went to find Tamlin to kill him also but when Tamlin found out we killed his family, he retaliated and murdered my father. We stared at each other as we felt the title of High Lord shift to us both. We were both the only living relatives of the former High Lords so the power went to us."
    
     Seren's face crumpled in sadness, "I'm so sorry Rhys. That is horrible. He never should've done that."
    
     She pulled back to look at his face and saw his eyes lined with water. Seren reached her hand up to cup the side of his face, "None of that was your fault. Tamlin is to blame for it. You trusted him, and he turned around and stabbed you in the back. I understand why your hatred for him runs so deep."
    
     Rhys leant into her hand and covered her hand in his, "I don't think I'll ever be able to tell you enough, but thank you. That means a lot coming from you."
    
     He sighed, "Well, I guess we better get ready for bed. We can talk more about everything later but I'm dead tired now."
    
     Seren got up and went to the closet which had clothes already stocked in it. She grimaced, it seems Amarantha had been preparing for this for a while. She picked out a white nightdress with lace detailing and then went into the bathroom. After taking a shower, brushing her teeth, and washing her face, she felt a little bit better. She opened the door and saw Rhys with his back to her.
    
     Since he hadn't noticed her yet, she stared openly at his back. It sure was a thing of beauty. His smooth, tan skin covered an array of muscles and all Seren wanted to do was walk up and take a bite out of him. She laughed, thinking he probably wouldn't enjoy that very much. Rhys turned around and let his eyes trail down her body. Her skin felt like it was on fire, but before she could react Rhys only said, "I'll sleep on the floor."
   
     Seren huffed, "Is it really that bad having to share a bed with me?"
    
     Rhys raised an eyebrow, "I'm not sure I could control myself if I got into bed with you. I think you would rather I sleep on the floor."
    
     Seren rolled her eyes and hopped into bed before patting the mattress next to her, "I don't bite."
    
     Rhys laughed, "I actually think you do."
    
     He slid into bed next to her and then turned off the lights. "Good night Seren."
   
     "Good night Rhys."
    
     There was silence where they both just laid there in the dark before Seren whispered, "Rhys, I'm scared."
    
     There was a pause for so long before Rhys whispered back, "Me too."
    
     Another pause. Then Rhys asked quietly, "Would you mind if I held you?"
    
     Seren smiled at the innocent question that he seemed so terrified to voice, "I thought you would never ask."
    
     And with that, Seren scooted over to Rhys's side of the bed and relaxed her wings, letting them fall around her. Rhys slid one arm under her head as he brought her back to his front. His fingers lightly drifted across her wings and she shivered. She had never let anyone touch her wings before and didn't know why she was letting him touch hers right now. But she had to admit that it did feel kind of nice.
    
     He wrapped his arm around her waist and brought his hand to rest just below her breast before sliding his arm lower so it wrapped across her lower stomach and his hand gripped her upper hip. He pulled her into him and sighed. Seren was on sensory overload as she was enveloped in his scent. She didn't know how he did it, but he smelled like the ocean and jasmine plus a scent that could only be described as man.
  
    Seren smiled and snuggled closer to him. She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, feeling warm and safe in Rhys's arms.