StarShine (Temporarily On Hold)

17

Bennett sits quietly against Elara, listening intently to her words. She paints everything so vividly and at some points, he would swear he is seeing it in front of him instead of the rising sun.

He loved the feeling of his body resting against hers with her arms wrapped around his neck, just above his heart. It was innocent enough and yet still so intimate

The sun was peaking over the horizon, painting the sky a mix of dark blues and light pinks as Elara finished telling Bennett everything.

The sounds of birds singing their morning songs filled the silence as Bennett absorbed everything and Elara waited for what comes next.

She's almost certain that he is going to call her crazy and storm away. Her mind racing with different scenarios and pains she could feel but she had to tell him.

She won't keep things from her mate.

"I'm telling the truth," she whispers, willing him to say something, anything if only to confirm he's still actually with her.

"I know," Bennett turns slightly in her arms, just enough so that he can see her, "and I hate to admit it, but I'm a little scared. Vampires I can handle, but Gods?" Bennett scoffs and turns his face away, not wanting to show his shame and insecurities to his mate.

How can he protect her from the Gods?

"It's okay to be scared," Elara cupped his cheek and turned him back to look at her, "healthy even. But don't forget. Vampires you can handle. And Gods we will handle."

Bennett could not look away from her even if he wanted to. The way the early more sun danced upon her skin, bouncing off the house creating a glow around her.

She's an angel sent from the moon goddess to save him from the darkness that almost consumed him when his father and brother were killed.

A darkness that he would gladly swim in again if it meant keeping her safe.

"I've had weird dreams too," he says, reaching out and tucking a piece of hair behind Elara's ear.

Elara couldn't hide the shock even if she had tried. Had he seen her garden? Met Kamaria for himself?

Bennett laughed lightly. They may only have known each other for a few days, but he could read his mate like an open book. She didn't even need to open her mouth for him to know what she was going to ask.

"Nothing like your dreams. I didn't see your Goddess and I wasn't really warned either," his face turns serious as his eyes search Elara's, "thinking about it now, it was probably a warning though."

Bennett couldn't move. He couldn't feel any rope or wire around his wrists, but his hands wouldn't move from his side. It literally felt like he was frozen in place.

His heart began to pound against his chest. He could feel his anxiety spiking and the panic rushing through him began to overflow. But he couldn't risk letting it show.

He knew that danger was near the same way people could feel a change in the weather.

His eyes began to search the darkness but could see nothing around him.

Shuffled footsteps pulled his attention forward and he kept his gaze focused on where the sound was coming from.

Suddenly she was there. She crumpled to the ground across from him and he had to hide his wince at the sound of her body hitting the floor.

Bennett couldn't see her face, couldn't smell anything except for the salt in her tears but he knew without a doubt that she was his mate.

His will to escape whatever was trapping him rose, but no matter how much he fought, he couldn't move.

Couldn't get to her.

"Can you live without him?" the disembodied voice was harsh and he saw his mate on the ground flinch. Bennett wanted to see her, to hold her and tell her it will all be okay, but it was all no use.

"Yes," her response on the wind but Bennett knew it was a lie. It had to be a lie.

Pain exploded from his chest like a knife cutting through his body before he could say anything to her. He wouldn't scream, he couldn't scream. He knew she was already scared and he wouldn't add to that fear.

The dream had haunted Bennett long before he met Elara. He was terrified of losing his mate and had tried to convince himself that his fears were responsible for the nightmares.

It was all too much to be a coincidence. It was too late to stop the fear from taking root in Bennett's heart. His dream had been a warning, he can feel it in his bones. He had to protect his mate at all costs.

He watched as Elara took her turn absorbing his words. The way the sun showed the light dusting of freckles along her skin. How she tried to hide her emotions from showing on her face but failed miserably.

His knuckles swept across her cheek moving that lose hair back into place again and he couldn't help the soft smile that pulled on his lips.

She was everything and more he could have ever hoped for in a mate.

"I called you Starshine once saying that the stars were jealous of how your eyes shine," Bennett whispered, his palm moving to cradle her cheek. his palm moving to cradle her cheek, "but the truth is that you are the light in my darkness." A very small part of him knew that it might be too soon to say this.

But everything else told him that life was too short. Especially when dealing with vampires and Gods.

"I love you, Elara," his voice was firm as he confessed to her how he felt. There was nothing in this world that he would ever be so sure of except for when it came to Elara.

Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes locked with Bennett's. She could feel emotion building and all though she wasn't sure why tears were forming behind her eyes.

Elara wasn't sure if she made the first move or not because the moment her lips locked with Bennett's, everything else was forgotten. Her fingers found themselves moving through his hair, lightly gripping to pull him closer.

She clung to the warmth of his hands as they wrapped around her waist and she could feel their hearts synching their rhythms.

"I love you," she whispered, pulling just far enough away to look in his eyes, "I want to mark you," the light growl of approval from Bennett causes a shiver down her spine.

His lips met hers again before he eagerly exposes his neck to her. The only thing he wants more than her mark on his skin - is his mark on hers.

The sound of Elara's laughter makes his skin tingle. She turns his head to face her again pressing a soft kiss to his lips.

"Not here, somewhere more private," she laughs again, but it turns into a squeal as he's quick to stand, pulling Elara with him. He sweeps his arm under her knees, holding her body close to his as he walks into the house quietly, not wanting to wake Everett or Grace.

Bennett kissed Elara as they crossed the threshold to her room, his foot gently closing the door behind them. Nothing existed in the world beyond them as he gently laid Elara on her bed.

<3 <3 <3 <3
Hi guys! So don't be mad but I decided not to do a full marking scene because I just didn't like the way the words were coming together. I love you guys though! You are so amazing!