Seeing You Again: Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Thirteen

Sebastian

I hold onto Amara as tightly as I can. My righthand feathers up and down her back as she cries against my shoulder, clinging onto me for dear life.

"Shh, it's okay," I whisper in her ear, and she whimpers in response.

"So much death..."

"Amara, can you look at me?"

Her body stiffens and starts to shake. She pulls back, and my heart stops when she looks into my eyes. I hold her face in my hands and thumb away her tears.

"I wasn't prepared for you the first day we met. If I knew how much you would have changed my life, I would have buckled myself in tighter for the ride. There was a lot of death during our fifth year. I won't lie about that. But blood doesn't stain your hands, darling."

Her blue eyes are glossed over in tears as she watches me in silence. I hold her steady and hope she believes every word I'm saying.

"How many people did you help when you first arrived? How many lives did you save when you found out what was transpiring with Ranrok and Rookwood? How many lives would have been lost if you didn't stand up? You were the hero, Amara, and you still are. Even if you don't believe it." I curl my right hand in her hair and smile when the color starts to return to her cheeks.

"Want to hear my favorite memory of you?" I smile just at the thought of it.

Amara nods and leans against my palm.

"Any time we would enter someone's home or store, and there was food or free samples, you were all over it. I couldn't believe how big of a snacker you were. You didn't even ask; you would just go for it."

She giggles, and I smile widely as she starts to lighten up.

"Why leave out snacks if you didn't want anyone to eat them?"

Mid-chuckle, I bring up another memory. "Remember when you sent me flying across the grass outside of the Quidditch field?"

She snickers louder, and her smile grows. "I was still learning!"

"You packed a punch for someone who was still learning!" I wipe away the rest of her tears and grin at her as her expression softens.

"Don't you ever think death follows you. You're too bright for those shadows."

She nods against my hand before dropping her shoulders. "Thanks, Seb."

"Anytime. I missed my trouble making Hufflepuff." I nudge her playfully.

"We are a troublesome duo, aren't we?"

"Who knew green and gold went so well together?" I charm, knowing she can't resist it.

Her eyes squint, and her nose scrunches in on itself. "Shut up, Sallow."

We both laugh and turn red. I don't stop myself from hugging her tightly, and she doesn't hold back from nuzzling into the crook of my neck and sighing in contentment.

"Does this mean we're friends again?" Her breath is hot against my neck. It makes the hairs on my arm stand straight up. If she were a millimeter closer, her lips would be touching my skin, and the thought sends my heart into a fury.

"I didn't know we stopped being friends to begin with," I respond as my lungs beg for air.

Pulling back, Amara looks at me while I glance at her lips. The desire to kiss her, to feel her body underneath mine, is overwhelming. If she gave the word, I would do it without a second thought. I would show her the level of desire I feel toward her. I would lay her down, settle on top of her, and kiss her until her lips were swollen. I would make love to her until neither of us could walk. I would shout those three words throughout the entire castle until everyone knew how I felt about this woman.