The Serpent and The Bird

"You are not going to lose me"

He had barely put his hands on her body after discovering the bruises, and rather her face, cupping her as kisses came, one after the other.

She found herself dragged into Sebastian's bed, lying next to him as their bodies faced each other, and he was rather occupied playing with her hair.

She was occupied looking at him. His normally hard expression had softened, and his lips were slightly upward with the hint of a smile.

- Don't you look merry.

She muttered, breaking into a chuckle when his smile grew bigger.

- What are you talking about, Grayson? This is my normal face.

He resorted to lying, without losing his pulse. She shook her head.

- Perhaps I should've gifted you a mirror for your birthday. You seem a bit out of touch with what your normal façade looks like.

- You sound just like my sister. And Ominis. I believe you spend a substantial amount of time with them. I can't allow you to be corrupted with their ways.

She let out another soft laugh, her body moving closer to his, seeking for more warmth. It was starting to be cold and the fireplace wasn't enough. He noticed, pulling her into his arms, gently.

- I'm sorry.

The apology was so sudden she thought there was someone else in the room and they had spoken instead. She looked up to his face, his smile gone. There was an sheepish look on his eyes.

- What are you sorry for?

- For being... cruel. I don't... I don't do well when people get close to me.

She nodded, her eyes closing as she enjoyed his breath tickling on her lips.

- I understand.

He didn't say much afterwards, his arms still wrapped around her, as sleep started to make her mind foggy. She tried to fight it, groaning.

- I have to go back to the castle. It's getting late.

- Stay here.

He didn't give her enough time to fully finish her sentence before he spoke, his eyes boring into her face with an almost pleading look.

- I don't have other clothes with me.

- Sleep naked, then.

He held back a smirk and Everleigh snorted, pushing him away with playfulness. He freed her from his arms to move out of the bed and approach an armchair where a traveling bag was sitting. Sebastian buried his arm down to the elbow to pull out a regular black shirt that he probably used to sleep in. He handed it to her.

- Sleep in this.

She sat in the bed, grabbing the shirt from him. Her eyes traveled from the fabric in her hands to his eyes, a sudden timidity flooding through her body. Which was stupid, considering he had already seen her naked before. But Sebastian was already turning around, looking out of the window. She smiled to his back, aware that he couldn't see her, and she got rid of the jumper and the long sleeve shirt underneath.