A Court of Sunflowers and Stardust

•chapter 26•

"When it comes down to it, you're the only one."

Mates?

~

Breakfast the next morning was more uncomfortable than necessary, and I constantly shifted in my seat under the weight of Feyre's gaze. She was waiting for me to speak on what I'd found, without pushing me, but her constant staring was making me jittery.

Rhys cleared his throat, "I have spoke to Tarquin. Apparently, they can't find the source of the poison either."

I can't say I was surprised, but surely disappointed. When it comes down to it, I know everyone is expecting me to be able to figure it out. I sighed through my nose, "I suppose you're waiting for me to expose what I found out yesterday."

"When you're ready." Feyre smiled, but I knew she was as curious as everyone else.

"Alakai, he's-" I paused, biting my lip and trying to avoid the three's stares. Although Kaleb already knew, from overhearing my conversation with my father. "He's my brother. The first sire of my father and mother."

Feyre choked on her pancakes, and Rhysand patted her back as he gave me an uncertain look. "Is that why you wanted to speak to Tamlin?"

I nodded, "I wanted answers. And, he gave me them."

I opened a window in my mind, inclining my head and allowing the High Lady and Lord to see what my father had told me. Their eyes glazed over as they did so, flicking through my memories like a book. Once finished, Feyre gulped and Rhysand looked troubled.

"This almost brings up more questions than answers." Rhysand shook his head and I nodded in agreement. "We need to meet with your older brother, and Tamlin, and we need to figure the riddle out together."

Feyre nodded, "the first step will be to meet Alakai."

Nervousness bubbled in my stomach. "What if he doesn't want to meet?"

Rhysand's gaze tore into me, "then we'll have to set a trap."

I tapped my foot rapidly, trying to hide my anxiety. Kaleb put a hand on my forearm, "Alakai won't be harmed, Acacia."

I turned to look into his brilliant blue eyes again, and the mating bond snapped inside of me once again, taking my breath away. I blinked, realising that soon there may be a war, or a battle, and I'd be fighting alongside my destined partner.

And then I thought, if I died, or if Kaleb died, before I accepted the bond, it would eat me until I lived in a pit of despair. Because I know that I felt something for him, something unending and desperate. Something like love.

Love.

"Kaleb." My voice was hoarse, and his eyes widened, as if aware of what I was about to ask. "Do- do you love me?"

I distantly heard Feyre and Rhysand get up and find somewhere else to be for a while. Kaleb's eyes were sourcers, and he cleared his throat multiple times, his hand growing heavy on my arm.

"I think I've loved you since the day we met." His own voice was raw and I froze, confused. "When I came to see you in the lounge, after you'd tried to kill me. And you looked at me, and something about your eyes just- it was like every one of my senses had awakened. I felt as if even if your father is my enemy, you weren't and you were different. You struck me instantly, and when you smacked me in my own home, in front of my family, it was as if you'd slapped me into reality."

I wasn't breathing.

"And then that day I found out we were mates, I knew that's why I felt the way I did. But I also knew it was deeper than that. I knew I loved you then. I don't know why, or how I fell in love with you in such a short time, but I felt it and I knew it deep in my bones. But I was scared that you wouldn't love me back, that you would spit on the mating bond and never speak to me again, so I pushed my emotions deep, deep down."

Everything inside of me twisted and knotted, and I felt my eyes sting. This, this is what it feels like to love. Kaleb's own eyes were rimmed with moisture, and he fiddled with his fork in apprehension.

"Kaleb." I said, his voice like a prayer on my tongue. "I love you too."

And it felt so right to say that, as if I'd been waiting to say it my entire life. Something so strong and real tugged inside of me, as if pulling on my ribs, and I breathed in deeply.

"That's-" I spoke, but Kaleb cut me off.

"It's the mating bond." He clarified. "It's strengthening. Acacia- do you want to... to accept it?"

Nothing I've ever felt before came over me and I nodded, leaning forward and connecting my lips against his own. "I want it," I murmured against his smooth mouth, that froze at the weight of mine.

Then, even though I hadn't done what most couples do and offered him food, I felt a link tighten inside of me that connected me to Kaleb. It brought tears to my eyes, and I sobbed into the kiss as Kaleb gently brought his hand around the back of my neck.

Nothing else seemed to matter, nothing else seemed real. I felt him inside my mind, and my soul, and even if this damn world was to go to shit, I'd always have Kaleb, and that bond that bound us. I'd always have this- this feeling inside my chest.

Although, it wasn't a feeling, it wasn't an emotion, it was stronger, deeper and it ran along my veins and bones.

Kaleb pulled away, and his hand slid to my tear stained cheeks, his own eyes were glassy. He pressed his forehead against mine, our noses barely touching. "You're my mate."

The clarification awoke some primal instincts inside of me, and I snarled softly as heat began to awaken in my core and I needed him. His scent changed, and I could smell the want and need coating him too.

He gathered me in his arms and left the kitchen, allowing my core to pound as he walked so slowly up the stairs.

And the next thing I knew we had entered his bedroom.

We spent the whole day joined together.

And the bond strengthened and grew until I could feel it, sense it, and smell it so strongly it overwhelmed my senses completely.

A/N: as much as I enjoy reading smut, I am no good at writing it. So you'll just have to use your imagination😏