Reluctantly, I release her, but not before kissing her plush pink mouth thoroughly once again. She's everything I've ever wanted, and more.
Chapter 20
The Hall of Zohar
Trouble is coming, and we need to get two steps ahead of whatever it is.
-Arabella
He sets me down on shaky legs and nips at my lips again. He cleans us up, much like he did at the marshes, as we continue our walk-in silence. My experience is limited, but no one has ever made me feel like Sebastian just did. The dirty things he whispered, the feel of his fingers around my throat, how he relentlessly took me over the edge was better than anything that’s ever been done to me.?
A shadowed fingertip caresses my cheek, sending shivers down my body. "You're welcome."I yank my arm out of his ironclad grip, his face is expressionless, but he sends a laugh inside my mind.Asshole.I pinch his arm, making him yelp which brings me explicit joy. He takes my hand into his, and we continue our walk.
I can’t stop my pout.It’s not fair that you can hear my thoughts, but I can’t yours.
He nods.Now that we’ve mated and solidified the mating bond, you can.?
My side eye comes out.??What do you mean by solidified?
He shrugs.?It was never my intention to take you before explaining but nonetheless, I don’t regret it.?
I roll my eyes.?I told you I’d only give you ten minutes to explain yourself, but now you’re only getting five.
He turns to me, his lime green eyes glowing.No Bells, you’re wrong, I get forever.?
There is no more conversation after that, the closer we get down the hall, the louder the sounds of people talking become. My grip tightens on his hand, he’s a jerk, but a jerk that surprisingly makes me feel calm. The sound of dueling pianos and people cheering engulfs us.?My intestines turn inside out, and the present company excluded, I’ve never been this nervous.
This will be my first big outing as The Chosen. I would rather be on the battlefield than have to make small talk with people I don’t know. Swords are easy, people are not. Light radiates from the entryway of our destination. Sebastian tries to say something, but I don’t hear it because of the sounds around us. He smiles, takes my hand, then kisses my knuckles. A goofy grin spreads across my full lips, he is breathtakingly beautiful.?
My cousins rush to my side and gently take my hand out of Sebastian’s. Startled, I take a step back. Deen looks at Sebastian with a raised eyebrow while Jeremiah sways his finger back and forth in front of his face. Ethan nods in understanding and shrugs his shoulders at them. Giving me a wink, he disappears into the crowd.Each cousin offers me one of their arms so that together we walk inside my first dinner as The Chosen. The pianos shout, and the people grow quiet. Every eye bores into me, while the expression of all the onlookers is one of awe.
Running away would be ideal, but that can’t happen, gone is the carefree girl from Savannah. The old Arabella can’t come to the phone right now, because she’s dead.?
The Hall of Zohar exceeds my expectations. A million candles line the room and are on the tabletops. The walls are gold, and the ceiling is a glittery black making it look like a dozen stars on the darkest night. There are two oval tables overlooking the room. King Aramayus, Amelia, and Kamila Kelli and her husband sit at one. My uncles and Aunt Adalia are sitting down at the other. They have been awaiting our arrival. Why isn’t Sebastian sitting with his family?
Surveying the room, my mouth runs dry. There must be at least 300 pairs of eyes staring back at me. I thought we would have a low-key meal with family, some Guardians, and maybe some high-end military officials. That is not the case, as the crowd looks back at me expectantly. I hope they don't want me to talk or anything. I look toward my aunt and uncle for direction.
Aunt Adalia smiles encouragingly at me, then back at the crowd. She raises her hand, and they stand. "Lux, and Pyralis factions, The Chosen One has finally come home. We will soon be on the front lines, for the Great War is almost upon us. While under her leadership, we will be ready. Arabella, address your people."
No. Nope. Never. My mind rebels, but my body obeys. I move to the center of the stage and Uncle Jo whispers behind me. "You can do this, Arabella."
I spot Sebastian in the back of the crowd, and he gives me an encouraging wink. Breathing in and out, for the first time in my life I try not to overthink things, I’ll just speak from the heart. “Thank you for supporting me and my family tonight. Asyou know, I didn't grow up in this world, so I feel like a fish out of water, but someone once told me that leaders aren’t born, they’re made, and no one will work harder for you than me.”
I look behind me at Aunt Adalia before turning back to the crowd and finishing. "A wise woman reminded me today that I was chosen for a reason, as this is all our destiny. Before my mother married my father, she was a Pyralis. Isabella Grace St. James was fearless and the best of the best. My father was Lux, and he never backed down from a fight. I come from a long line of rulers and masters of their trade, it’s in my blood. We will win this war as a united front. We can’t idly sit back and do nothing as terror comes our way. The world may never know who we are, but we don’t fight for fame or glory, we fight in the name of hope, peace, and justice for all. As it is written, there is a time for peace and a time for war. The age of peace is almost over, but the era of war is coming quickly.”
The crowd erupts in applause, I calmly take my seat next to Uncle Radix, my cousins are on the other side of me. All the members of my family are grinning from ear to ear, which tell me it must have been a decent speech, I’ll take it. The adrenaline rush has left my body, and now my face feels somewhat numb.
There is a feast set before us, every type of meat including brisket, steaks, pork chops, seafood, not to mention there are sides galore. Mac and Cheese will be my first thing I reach for, my mouth waters as I spot chocolate cake to the left of me, that will be my last thing.
"Thank you, Arabella. Such wise words from someone who thinks she doesn't know how to lead! You're halfway there, dear girl. Societies let's feast! In one week’s, time the first battle for the Lux’s top two begins." Uncle Radix squeezes my hand lovingly as King Aramayus addresses the crowd.
My cousins pat me on the back, so I take the opportunity to ask them a question. "I think everyone knows who will be in the top two for the Fire Trials, but my question is, which one of you will finish first?"
"ME!" They both shout at the top of their lungs, earning a disconcerting look from their mother.?
"You both can't finish at number one, boys." I fire back.
"Men. You mean men." Jeremiah rolls his eyes at me.
