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“What have you done to me?” I rasp, not realizing I’ve asked the question aloud until Scarlet stiffens under me. I raise my head to find her wide eyes watching my every move. “I wish you could understand what that felt like.”
“It felt amazing,” she says, releasing an airy laugh.
“I can assure you, the bond made it more so. I’ve been with plenty of women and nothing has ever felt like that.” I swallow the lump forming in my throat and force a smirk, trying for nonchalance.
She squints at me. “So, my husband is a whore?”
I gasp, feigning offense. “I am no such thing.”
Rolling onto my back with an exaggerated groan, I pull her against my side. Scarlet stands, not bothering to dress before she slips off to the bathroom, leaving me alone. When she returns, her white hair is bundled on top of her head, but the baby hairs frame her face in a messy way. A gown hangs from her shoulders by tiny straps and there’s something positively stunning about the sight that has my insides stirring into a frenzy.
She crawls into the bed, joining me beneath the covers, resting her head against my chest. Unsure of how this works, I settle my arm around her. I don’t think I’ve ever cuddled with someone before, but I don’t want to let her know that.
Within minutes, her breathing evens out and the steady rise and fall of her chest lulls me toward sleep. As darkness claims me, a single thought surfaces, reminding me that we’ll be sailing home in the morning, where I’ll be leaving her behind. She’ll be safe there, and taken care of, but she’s going to hate me for it...
11
Scarlet
Thehellflamecastsa warm glow over my bedroom, scattering an orange glow on the stone walls. The healer finishes her examination with a nod. As she replaces her cloak, she pulls the hood over her red curly hair and glances at me. “I’ll inform King Midicious that the marriage has been successfully consummated.”
She doesn’t wait for a reply before ushering out of the room and leaving the bedroom door open. Sebastian slips inside from the hall, leaning against the frame as I sit up.
“Well, did you pass?” he asks, arching a dark brow. He crosses tattooed arms over his bare chest and toys with the stone pendant on his necklace, but the smaller white stones that surrounded the larger orange one are gone. He's taken them off at some point. Maybe they're like wedding rings to pirates? Regardless, his shirt was torn to shreds in the gauntlet, so he’ll be leaving in only his leather pants and long red coat.
“What do you think?” A smile hints at my lips. Of course, he knows I’ll pass.
His dimples flash as he pushes off the wall. I swing my feet over the edge of the bed and the moment he’s near, he tips my chin. “I think we should get going.”
I can’t help but steal glances at him and reach out to place my hand on his chest, feeling the steady thump of his heart beneath my palm. “I’ve already packed,” I say, pointing to the chest near the door.
The memories that echo within these walls are both dark and bittersweet. This was my home, but it never offered me the warmth and love that a true family should provide. I’ll miss my sisters... I don’t think I’ll be offered a chance to say goodbye to them, and seeing as Sebastian isn’t keen on my father, I don’t think we’ll be coming back.
He fingers the maroon fabric of my dress. It’s casual, but still billows out at my hips and swishes around my knees. The sleeves are long and loose, and Sebastian traces the scooped neckline. “I like this,” he says, taking a step back to give me a once-over. “Come on. We’ll send up some of the guards to bring down the chest.”
I take Sebastian’s outstretched hand and he helps me to my feet. The castle halls illuminate as we head toward the stairwell and down to the bottom floor. We barely make it out the back door and into the courtyard, before a squeal slices the air. There’s a pad of little feet against the concrete and something wraps around me from behind. Twisting, I find a mop of white hair, just as wild and unruly as the little girl it’s attached to.
“You’re alive!” Her words are muffled by the skirts of my dress.
“Eva Midicious! You know better than just to—” One of the maids rounds the corner of the castle and stops dead in her tracks. “Miss Scarlet. I didn’t… I’m sorry if she’s bothering you. We’ll get her—”
“She’s not,” I say, picking her up and hugging Eva tight. She’s barely four years old. She, like the rest of my little sisters, who aren’t much different in age, will undoubtedly have questions. I did at their age with my older siblings.
“I’ll miss you, Scars.”
My back stiffens. None of my little sisters have seen my witch mark. My older siblings, yes, but they’re in boxes now. Honestly, it started with her not being able to say my full first name, and the nickname sort of stuck. On any other given day, I wouldn’t have batted an eye at the endearment, but in the presence of Sebastian, it’s risky.
I smile gently, ruffling her hair. “I’ll miss you too, but just know I’ll be going on an adventure.”
Her eyes light up. “Do you think you’ll see the beasts of the deep?”
“Those are just tall tales.”
Sebastian scoots closer, his voice changing. It’s innocent and sweet. “Actually, they’re real.” He takes his arm out of his coat sleeve, revealing a jagged scar on his forearm. “One tried to bite me once.”
Eva’s eyes widen, and her mouth drops open in shock. “Really?”
“Really.” He grins, flashing his dimples. I set Eva down and she runs back to the maid and is ushered to where the others play in the courtyard.
