Together, we headed toward our room, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
The future was uncertain, but we had each other.
9
BASTIAN
After the restof the group got back yesterday from retrieving the last ingredients, we ended up falling asleep in the room and slept all day and night until this morning.
Fawn had said that our vessels had been exhausted, and she was right. We all woke around the same time and found ourselves energized.
The other guys were in a meeting with the emperor again while Fawn and I worked on the potion in the potion room. The air was heavy with an array of herbs and spices that filled the room with a pungent smell. Pots, pans, and beakers littered every surface as we gathered all of the ingredients we needed to make the potion.
Fawn had lit several candles around the room with her fire magic, and it cast a soft glow over everything.
“Thanks for helping.” I handed her a mortar and pestle. “It’s nice to have the company.” I started measuring out all of the ingredients.
“I don’t mind. It’s nice being around you.” She smiled brightly, grinding down the scales of a lava lizard to powder form. “Besides, I like brewing potions.”
“I’m glad.” I felt myself become lost in a trance-like state as I focused solely on mixing the ice wraith dust and glow wisp essence together in the cauldron before dripping in the glidaton acid.
Fawn managed to crush the shell of the vortex turtle, lochie tooth, brain of a scutterfly, and the heart of a dragon and set them aside.
I added the ingredients to the cauldron in just the right amounts and correct order. As the potion bubbled and simmered, it turned a deep shade of blue before settling into a deep, rich purple. The room filled with a thick, colorful mist that swirled around us.
Fawn and I exchanged a look of excitement, and it flooded the bond. We both knew the power this potion held and the consequences of making even the slightest mistake.
She was the only mage that wasn’t a potion mage who understood the gravity of it.
But we were careful. We measured, mixed, and stirred with precision, our movements in sync as we worked in perfect harmony—just another reason I fell in love with her.
The potion simmered and bubbled, filling the air with a heady aroma.
I set the ladle down and turned toward her with a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. “Now we wait.”
“How do we know this potion will even work when the immortality potion itself is rarely effective?” Her hopeful look flickered away, replaced with worry. “Matthieu and I were the only spirits that successfully took the potion.”
“If the potion worked on him, the antidote will, too,” I assured her, stepping closer and tilting my chin to stare at her. “There’s a reason he’s scared.”
“You’re right.” Her gaze lifted to meet mine.
“Promise me again that you’ll never try to create this potion, and you won’t ever use it on yourself…or us.” The words fell out of my mouth as anxiety crept inside of me.
Ineverwanted to lose her. Iwantedto spend eternity with her, and I knew my shield brothers did too.
“I’m not going to try to break this curse again. Ipromise.” She leapt forward, wrapping her arms around my neck and sealing her lips over mine.
Desire swept through the bond, and I caught her, stumbling back away from the potion. My hands gripped her waist as I deepened the kiss, my tongue tangling with hers.
The room and bubbling potion faded away. All I felt was the warmth of her body seeping against mine. Our mouths melded together as we kissed deeply, our bodies pressed close.
I ached with need for the woman I loved. Every touch was a bolt of lightning, setting my nerves alight with pleasure. I ran my fingers through her hair and pulled her closer, feeling a warmth blossoming in the depths of my soul.
The intoxicating taste of her lips was like a drug, and I wanted to make this moment last forever, savoring every second we were together. I ran my hands down her back, feeling the curves of her body and the gentle pulse of her heart as we stayed locked in an embrace.
Fawn's lips were soft and pliant against mine, and I savored the taste of her. I pulled her closer to me as we kissed in the midst of the swirling, colorful mist of the potion.
I rested my forehead against hers as we panted for breath, and her hands moved under my robe.
