A Court of Stars and Memories

63. Teasing Advice

    Lysander found himself seated on a chair in between Mikael and Estelle, who loomed over him as though this were an interrogation. That likely wasn't far from the truth, Lysander surmised, considering the look in Estelle's amber gaze and the way her shadows were curled over her ears.

    At last, she spoke. "Tell me everything, and don't leave out a single detail."

    Lysander sighed, but obediently began to describe the events of the day prior. He included everything, from his fight with Celeste, to his breakdown at home, up until he and Mitsi had confessed their feelings for one another.

    Estelle and Mikael listened silently, not interrupting though their expressions gave away their every thought. When Lysander finally finished, Estelle spoke again.

    "So the female you told me you were having dreams, or visions, about...it was her?"

    Lysander nodded. "It was her." His smile grew as he touched a hand to his chest. "The Bond formed last night. I couldn't acknowledge it until then. Until I knew."

    "It formed while you were..." Mikael let his words fall into a suggestive silence, brows knit but an amused grin on his lips.

    "No, after." Lysander began to toy with his pendant, eyes closing briefly while he explained. "My thoughts ran away with me afterwards. I began to think she might be like Celeste, and in that case, she wouldn't want to stay with me or let me hold her. I know it seems like a small thing, but..."

    "It doesn't," Estelle interrupted. "Moments like those are important."

    Lysander flashed her a grateful smile and continued. "I decided I wouldn't risk trying to hold her until I knew she would be all right with it, but before she fell asleep, she was actually the one to roll over and hold me. And that's when I felt it."

    "That's when I knew that she truly did love me and wanted to care for me. I felt safe with her and I knew she wouldn't hurt me like Celeste did. I knew I was as special to her as she is to me. I knew she was my equal."

    "Does she know?" Mikael asked.

    "I'm not sure. The Bond doesn't feel entirely complete. I can't fully feel her presence, but I'm aware that it's there."

    "It probably won't feel complete until Mitsi consciously accepts it too," Mikael surmised. "Wynter told me a bit about his own Mating Bond with Ellie. He knew she was his mate the moment he saw her, even though the Bond wasn't fully developed. He said it grew stronger as they fell in love, but it wasn't until Elodie also accepted it that it became complete."

    "That makes sense. The only thing is I don't know if I should tell Mitsi or let her discover it on her own."

    Estelle tilted her head curiously. "Why is it a question?"

    "Because it would change everything, and she already has so much going on right now. There might be more too." Lysander crossed his arms, digging his nails into his biceps as he gritted his teeth.

    "Kallias wants to bring Mitsi and her siblings back to the Winter Court for the Solstice if he and Wynter haven't managed to track down Ebner and Julian by then. He wants to use them as bait."

    "Wynter would never allow that," Mikael growled. "Nor would Ellie. I saw what those bastards did to her. They broke her jaw and partially blinded her for Cauldron's sake. She would never let her cousins be placed in a position where something similar could happen to them."

    "Neither would I. Like hell do I want to see my mate being used like that, especially when the males she'd be used against are the same ones who murdered her mother, and beat and abused her and her siblings. But as Rhys reminded me, Kallias is their High Lord and ultimately, we'll have to yield to his demands."