Safe & Sound//Sebastian Sallow

eight.

Smutty-smut warning. This chapter has the smuttiest smut I've written in awhile. Enjoy! 🖤

I fell asleep almost immediately after crawling into bed. I didn't even feel Sebastian get in next to me. My body apparently needed the rest. I slept well for most of the night, but my nightmares came back and I woke with a jolt just before sunrise.

My body was covered in sweat and I could feel myself shaking. I couldn't catch my breath and my heart was pounding. Flashes of dead bodies and sparks of light from curses played in my head. I normally didn't remember my dreams, but this one wasn't letting go that easily.

I'd killed so many people in my past and I'd pay for it for the rest of my life. I couldn't get the images of their lifeless faces out of my head; it was haunting. Tears filled my eyes and my breathing became more labored. I sat up and brought my knees to my chest, hugging them. The tears began to spill over and a sob escaped me.

"Thea?" Sebastian rolled over to face me. He sat up as soon as he saw me crying. "Thea, what's wrong?" His voice was so serious and dripping with concern.

"Nightmare," I cried.

"Come here," he said, pulling me to him. I leaned against him and let him embrace me. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"I don't remember a lot, but my mind was replaying all of the murders I've committed."

"You didn't murder anyone, Thea. You defended yourself and those around you. You did what you had to do."

"It was still murder. They had lives and families and I took that from them."

"They were bad people who were doing bad things to innocent people. Think of all the lives you saved by getting rid of them."

"I still feel like a monster. I've been killing people since I was a teenager."

"Althea, look at me." I was hesitant, but eventually turned my head to face him. "You are not a monster. Ranrok was a monster. The poachers who tortured and abused animals for sport were the monsters. Hell, even I was a monster. But you? You're the furthest thing from a monster, Thea. You're an angel in my eyes."

"An angel of death," I retorted.

"Bullshit. You put the good of others above all else. You did what you had to do to save our world. It was way too much to ask of anyone, but you did it. You're a savior, not a monster." Sebastian squeezed me and rubbed the back of my head. I clung to him, tears streaming down my face.

"Don't ever let me go," I cried.

"I'll never let you go," he assured me. "I've got you." He kissed the top of my head and rocked me as I cried.

At some point, my tears ran out and I fell back asleep in Sebastian's arms. I was able to get a few more hours of rest and woke up to Sebastian still holding me. I took his hand in mine and kissed it. Moving carefully, I released myself from his embrace and walked to the bathroom.

Looking in the mirror, I grimaced. My eyes were bloodshot and still puffy from crying. I looked like a mess. I quickly diverted my eyes and started the shower. I adjusted it as hot as I could stand and removed my clothing. Stepping into the shower, I let the hot water wash away the memory of my nightmare.

I took my time washing my hair and scrubbing my body. By the time I felt satisfied, the water was starting to cool. I turned the water off and grabbed a towel to dry myself.

When I exited the bathroom and entered the main room again, I saw that Sebastian was up and getting dressed.

"Going somewhere," I asked.