Black Daylight

Chapter 24

I laid my head down on the pillow next to her after I tucked her securely into my bed. I sighed tiredly and gently intertwined our fingers, closing my eyes I viewed her senseless dreams full of color and whimsey. I smiled at the pure innocence and joy of her thoughts.

We stayed like that, her dreaming and I in a semi-conscious state viewing them, for several hours until my brother interrupted us, causing me to start. My violent jerking away from her shook the bed, making her wake up with a gasp.

“Oh no,” Daniel murmured, backing up a step when I growled at him, “Sorry Sebastian.” I glowered at him as Maria regained her senses. I reached out and gently pulled her to my chest, she went limp against me. “You tricked me.” She murmured softly, burying her face into my chest.

I flinched, surprised by her remembrance of my small betrayal. “I'm sorry,” I whispered, kissing her head, “The doctor said it would hurt you, so I couldn't.” She bit my shoulder as punishment, luckily she didn't break the skin. I flinched and rubbed my shoulder, but I did deserve it. I could sense that Lux was getting the same treatment, but a little harsher. Lazuli had a temper Maria was to tired to deal with.

I counted my blessings for that while my shoulder throbbed. She pulled away and flopped onto the bed, her arms crossed and pouting. I was surprised that her absence left me colder than usual. I narrowed my eyes and sat next to her on the bed. Wrapping my arms around her shoulders, I didn't allow her to leave, I could sense that she didn't mind as much as she was making a fuss about it.

She stopped struggling eventually and leaned into me with a sigh. I smiled and turned to my brother, I had been ignoring him until I had gotten Maria situated. He knew better than to interrupt me when he had been the cause for the disruption. I looked over at him with a less than friendly expression on my face.

He rubbed the back of his neck, muttering, “Sorry.” I patiently waited for him to address whatever issue had caused him to come here. Maria snuggled into my side, nuzzling her face into my shoulder. I ignored her for the moment when my brother started speaking.

“The council wants to see you and Maria, but separately at first.” He explained, pulling his hand down, regaining the confidence of being Captain of the guard. I growled and pulled Maria closer, gaining her attention. Daniel gave me a look, “Now Sebastian-”

“Don't Sebastian me,” I snapped angrily, baring my teeth in anger, “You know the council will tear apart her words and turn them against hrt. They are sick, twisted ba-” Daniel cut me off by widening his eyes and slamming the door to our room shut the last few inches.

“Come on Sebastian,” He said seriously, glancing around the room significantly, telling me that we were being watched, “You know better than to talk about them like that, you were just getting riled up because of the mating bond.” I nodded, choking down my words that had the potential to get all of us in trouble.

“I'm sorry.”

“It's fine Sebastian, we should just go-”

“My apology does not mean that I change my answer.”

“Sebastian, they demanded it. I know you might be fearful of what might happen, but-”

“Would you let Natasha go before the council alone?”

His jaw clenched in anger, his eyes flashed as he imagined it. He gave me a look, trying to get me to find the loophole, but I couldn't find one. He closed his eyes, sighing. He looked up at me, regret playing through his eyes and his words, “I've been ordered to take you there.”

I clenched my jaw and wrapped my arms around her tightly. “Fine,” I spat, knowing they were using him against me, “Do what you want, but we will not be separated.” Maria clung to my side, her eyes wide and afraid. I picked her up, unable to bear not holding her as we went to face this.

“What do the council want with me?” She whispered once we had started walking, her voice shaking as I nuzzled her hair to comfort her. They wanted you to say what they want so you have to obey them, I thought bitterly to myself. I started as I realized the loophole, people who came before the judge were required by law to answer, but their answer, whatever it may be, cannot be predetermined. In other words, she had the right, by law, to say the sky was blue if they asked her what her birthday was, as long as the statement was true.

I shared my mind with Maria, knowing that it was against the rules to touch a man's mate without his say so to gain access to her thoughts. I explained to her the probability of why they were asking for her alone. Her eyes flashed with that stubborn streak of anger, but she was to vulnerable from recent events to even imagine herself doing anything without me.

I brushed my cheek alongside hers, comforting her physically and mentally as I explained my plan in soft mental tones. I’m not allowed to speak with you when you are in there, so even if you are frightened, you can't contact me. They will try to frighten you on purpose so they can trick you into saying what they want. All you need to say, the whole time, just say that you want you mate Sebastian. It doesn't matter what they ask, just tell them you want me there. No matter what, do not let them touch you, it is against the law. They will try to claim that you have to answer because of the law, they are using your ignorance against you. The law states you have to answer, but not that you have to answer the question correctly. Just keep saying the same thing, over and over again, that you want me there, Okay?

She didn't reply throughout my explanation, but I knew she was just trying to memorize what I was saying. She hesitantly nodded, fear of separation causing her body to shake and her lips to quiver. I leaned down to kiss her, but I decided last second to kiss her forehead instead when I heard her thoughts race dangerously. She pouted, mentally calling me a tease.

I smiled tensely at her as we rounded the corner, revealing the thick (soundproof, might I add) double doors of the council room. She tensed and clutched tighter to me. Daniel stopped at the doors, the two guards coming up to his side. He spoke quietly to them, and they quickly turned and entered the council room, which was so dark that the light from the hall couldn't pierce its chill.

Daniel turned to me sadly, giving me a look that clearly showed he didn't want to struggle with me. I stared at him for a moment, cursing our situation, and nodded. He sighed sadly, hating to make me chose between him and Maria. I started to gently set Maria down, but she would have none of it. She clung tightly to my neck, clasping her hands together so I couldn't remove them, and she curled her body into mine so that one of her legs was looped around my torso.

“No!” She cried out suddenly, burying her face into my neck, “I'm not leaving you!” Daniel took a step forward, as if he was going to help remove her from me. I gave him a dangerous look and he backed off. I sighed and nuzzled my face into her hair. “Let's just get this over with so I can fulfill my promise, okay?” I murmured gently into her ear, knowing that it was a low blow.

She pulled back to glare at me, knowing that as well. “Fine!” She huffed, her anger making her braver, as I had hoped, “Put me down then.” I nodded and kissed her cheek as I set her down. She swatted at my face half-heartedly. I chuckled as she regained her land legs, swaying back into me dizzily. She blinked several times and grabbed my arm to steady herself as she took a couple of steps away from me.

The guards came back out, one of them saying, “The council wants to see the girl now.” Maria gulped and shot me a frightened look. I looked significantly at Daniel as he led her into the room. He nodded, confirming that he would protect her in there. The doors shuddered closed with heavy thuds, completely sealing Maria inside a den of lions, and I could do nothing to protect her.

A/N

Sorry about the spacing in such but I'm tired so I'm going to go to sleep. Hope you enjoy, I tried to make it longer. Sorry for any mistakes.