Page 24 of Bonded By Moons

ELEVEN

Willow

Ember sleeps soundly, twisted in my sheets. I can’t believe she’s here, in my bed.

It could be the moons making me mad, or it’s just the fact she looks like an angel sent here created just for me. The stars and moons dance in the sky above, charging both of our magics as we rest. The moonlight seeping through the windows cast her body in its soft light, causing my chest to tighten for my little dragon.

I can’t seem to fall asleep. Resting on the sofa across the room, stoking the fire with my magic like a lover's caress. The flames warm my skin and respond lovingly to being near to Ember. It’s like the palace can sense her here and has started to purr because of her presence.

After completely inhaling the food I brought her tonight, Ember’s body overpowered her and pulled her into another deep, restful sleep. She’s been here for a few days now, and has slept almost the entire time. It’s taking so much restraint to not wake her and learn everything there is to know of her. She is such a temptation.

She tosses and turns quite a lot, and I wonder what she’s dreaming of? Sometimes I can even hear her whine and mumble in her sleep. All I wish I could do is hold her and make it all okay.

I have this deep instinctual impulse to keep her safe above all else. As if the moons themselves have made me vibrate with the need to keep her safe, loved, worshiped.

My eye snapped onto ember as I felt her heartbeat quicken.

“Help, please. Stop, don’t hurt the–”

I race to the side of the bed in the blink of an eye. Ember’s tussling in the sheets while sweat glistens her forehead. I can see her chest is flushed under her soft pink nightgown. My poor dragon is being haunted by something in her dreams.

I can’t stop myself from sliding into the opposite side of the bed. I keep my distance but I just want to make sure she’s okay and keep a close eye on her. Resting my head back against the darkwood headrest, my mind draws blank. I feel a sort of silent, inner peace while sitting next to my mate.

Slowly, relaxation takes me as I accompany her into a deep sleep.

TWELVE

Ember

Again, I woke up in Prince Willow's room. Except this time, there’s a massive body underneath me. I don’t recall this being here when I fell asleep…

Snore.

I suppressed a giggle. Wow, he’s a rock beneath me. I can feel his powerful thighs, as our legs are currently intertwined like vines.

I know I’m sleepy and haven’t had coffee yet, but I think that was the best sleep of my life. I felt so safe, feather-light. I felt at home.

Why do bad things have to feel so good?

I know that people say love is the best thing in the universe, but I for one have yet to see that. I can feel it in my bones that my parents had the most loving bond, but at the end of the day they got murdered because of it. I just refuse to make the same mistakes. Love is a weakness.

I coughed, waking the Prince. “Sorry,” I sheepishly slid back to my side of the bed. Awkwardly untangling our limbs, the Prince smiled down on me like I was the most beautiful thing to exist.

I swear my heart stopped.

“Goodmorning, little dragon.”

Choosing to ignore the fact we were just snuggling, I stretch in the covers. “Why do you keep calling me that?”

“Well, you are very exquisite and fierce, for one. Secondly, dragons are rare and beautiful, just like you.” He reached across the bed and pushed a stray strand of hair behind my ear. My whole body shivered from head to toe at his touch.

Ignoring his corny response, I sat up and looked down at him now. “Do you mind telling me how you ended up in this bed with me last night, when I so clearly remember falling asleep alone?”

He folded his hands behind his head, looking all the much like a rotten prince. “You were crying in your sleep, something about ‘please save them’ and I sat closer to keep an eye on you. It’s not my fault you couldn’t resist snuggling me.”

He’s talking about the nightmare I had about my parents' deaths. I can’t believe I talk in my sleep. “Well, I’m fine. Thanks.”

The mattress shifted as he stood and stretched, revealing his lower back muscle as his shirt lifts with him. He is beyond toned, honestly I don’t know how anyone could be this beautifully strong.

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