Once Upon a Fiery Christmas (Return to Avalore Book 3) (8 page)

A thick cloud of dark smoke hovered near the ceiling, held there and away from everyone’s lungs.

He took one step toward Chantelle before Katie stepped in his path, blocking him. “I hope you have something really good planned. This isn’t going to be easy to smooth over.”

Sebastian’s heart plummeted. “Nothing happened, I swear it.” It sounded lame, even to him.

“I know.” Katie smiled at him, giving him some hope. “Deep down, she does too. Which is why I’ll help you.”

“How can I apologize if she won’t speak to me?” He tried not to let his frustration show.

She patted his arm, a brief, comforting gesture. “Give it time. I told you, and you might want to make note of this for future reference since you seem bent on upsetting her. Chantelle needs time to process and deal with things. Once she’s calm, she’ll be willing to talk again.”

He didn’t want to wait to talk to her. But he sure as hell didn’t want to upset her further. “I had hoped we could talk and straighten things out tonight.”

“You could. There’s nothing to stop you from trying, but I wouldn’t advise it. I have known Chantelle my whole life. Approaching her before she’s ready could make matters worse.”

He glanced over to Chantelle. She tried not to show it, but he saw the discreet swipe at her eye and the moisture shining on her finger when she brought it down again. “How long?” His throat was raw and he swallowed past a lump lodged there.

“A couple of days? Maybe a week. Not too long. I’ll be there for her until then, so try not to worry, okay?”

“Thank you, I appreciate it.” It wasn’t Katie’s fault, and he was grateful for her help, but how in the hell was he going to go a whole week without seeing her? It was near impossible for him to stay away for more than a day, and that was before he knew she was his mate. He lifted a hand, and scratched his jaw, only then remembering he was still in costume.

He had already made a mess of things with Chantelle. The last thing he wanted was to ruin Christmas for Max, and so he snuck back out. He had to leave Avalore. It was the only way.

Chapter 10

“Ouch!” Chantelle rushed to the sink to run cool water over her fingertips before patting them dry. Already, the reddened skin was blistering.
Damn it.
Learning to cook was hazardous. Whoever had—and was again—trying to knock her door off its hinges had better have a good reason to come knocking this early in the morning. Okay, she hadn’t been sleeping, but still, the sun had barely stretched over the horizon. She tucked her hair behind her ear with her uninjured fingers as she stomped across the room to the front door.

Halfway there, her steps faltered and her heart pounded. There was no good reason for anyone to come knocking so early. She tried to recall what Michael had told her about Sebastian’s mission. He had assured her it was safe and that Sebastian would be back in a week, but he had only been gone five days. Nothing more than routine patrolling of the borders, no danger. If anything happened to Sebastian… Her heart sank.

Another round of hard knocks had her rushing for the door. Her throbbing fingertips collided with cool metal, and she hissed at the lancing pain, while her forward momentum had her slamming the door shut again before finally swinging it open.

She expected Michael, or one of the other Coalition men. Certain her eyes were playing tricks on her, she blinked a few times, waiting for Sebastian to disappear. When he didn’t she took a tentative step forward. Not trusting the steadiness of her voice, she remained silent.

He looked at her, a fierce hunger burning in his eyes. “May I come in?” His deep voice made her shudder. He’d changed since he’d been gone. Not in his appearance, not really, but his energy. It weighed heavy around him, and his colors dragged down, dull. The smile he had pasted on his face didn’t make his eyes sparkle. She hated seeing him like this, but she couldn’t push the hurt aside and pretend like everything was okay.

“I’d rather we speak out here if you don’t mind.” She forced the words past her lips before she could change her mind. If she let him into her home, she’d want to touch him, and that could lead to other things best left alone until they settled everything.

His gaze drifted to a bright red box he held before him. “I understand if you don’t want anything more to do with me, but please, hear what I have to say.” His energy, hues of deep blue and purple, slowed even more. He lifted his gaze to hers again. The tentative smile he had been sporting when he’d arrived was gone. He took a step closer, lifting his hand toward her, his brows furrowing, then let it fall again.

“I know I’ve hurt you, and I know it will take more than just a few words to make it all better,” he said. “I just want you to know that I will never give up. Even if it takes me to the end of my days, I will continue to fight for you. I will win you back, Chantelle. I'm not willing to give up on you—on us.”

“Sebastian...” She couldn’t keep going through the emotional upheaval. The past week had been the most difficult of her life, and she couldn’t keep going through that.

Without trying, her energy reached for him, betraying her. At the first touch, Sebastian smiled, sending her heart fluttering.
Damn
. There was nothing sexier than Sebastian with hope shining in his eyes. She was kidding herself if she thought for one instant that she’d be able to let this man walk out of her life. He was
hers
, damn it. That blond bimbo couldn’t have him.

“I’ve brought you a Christmas gift. I know it’s late, but I hope you like it.” His smile tilted higher.

“I... thank you.”

Sebastian’s cheeks flushed as she took it from his outstretched hands. “I hope you like it,” he repeated.

“I’m sure it’s wonderful.” Her eyes misted, blurring her view of the festive silver bow adorning the top. “Would you mind holding the bottom while I untie this?" Pure heat pulsed over both her hands as he brought his up and covered hers.

“I should have been here sooner, I’m sorry. I didn’t know how to apologize, and I didn’t want to chance messing it up.”

Chantelle slid her hands from beneath his, her skin tingling where his had made contact. She shouldn’t have been surprised when her fingertips no longer throbbed.

“I wanted to do something special for you. To show you how much you mean to me, but nothing I’ve come up with is anywhere close. I have been such a fool. The truth is, when I’m anywhere near you, I can’t breathe, much less think.”

“I... I’m not sure what to say to that.” She grasped the silver ribbon and pulled it open.

“You don’t have to say anything. I just want you to know how I feel.” His hands tightened on the gift, making the paper crinkle in his grip.

Chantelle pulled tissue paper from the box, letting it drop to the white porch boards at their feet. Inside was a delicate wooden carving of a woman’s hand. Long, slender fingers tipped with perfectly rounded nails. The wrist at the base was engraved with a beautiful script in the ancient Avalorian language. Whoever had fashioned the piece was a true artist.

“It’s stunning. You made this?” She lifted it from the box, bringing it up to examine the symbols. “What does it say?”

“Forever I am yours.” He pointed to the first symbol. “Forever you are mine.” His finger slid to the second, and then the third. “Forever souls entwined.”

Chantelle gasped, her gaze meeting his. “I… that’s beautiful, Sebastian. I love it.”

He set the box down at his feel before reaching toward the table next to the door to get a smaller, plain brown parcel.

Chantelle hadn’t even seen it sitting there.

“This part is yours as well. When you’re ready to have it, I’ll gladly give it.” Sebastian held her gaze as he lifted the lid. He didn’t move a muscle, didn’t even appear to be breathing, as he waited.

Inside was the most delicate crystal heart she had ever seen. Fingers trembling, she placed it in the palm of her hand. The surface, etched in intricate swirls and flowers, glittered in the sunlight, creating a kaleidoscope of color against her skin that danced with every minute movement she made. “It’s exquisite, thank you.”

“You hold my heart in the palm of your hand, Chantelle.” He placed his hand over it, his fingertips brushing against hers. He did nothing more than gaze into her eyes for several heartbeats.

Chantelle couldn’t pull away, not that she wanted to, but his eyes kept her so mesmerized that when warmth seeped into her palm and travelled up her arm, she didn’t think to pull away. Her pulse jumped at the intimate contact, and her breath slipped out with a soft sigh. It would be so easy to get lost in him.

When he pulled his hand away, the cool morning air replaced his heat and she had to fight from reaching for him to keep him close.

Sebastian took the wooden carving and placed it on the table. It sat in perfect balance. When he faced her again, he took the crystal, holding it between his thumb and forefinger. “You have the power to take my heart and keep it whole for all eternity, Chantelle, or you can shatter it.”

The pain shining in his eyes stole her breath away. If she’d had any doubt of his feelings, she couldn’t deny them now.

Energy, strong and pure, rose from his hand, infusing the crystal, making it glow with a deep indigo that could only be his own life energy. Her heart stuttered then took off at a gallop. Chantelle took a step closer.

“My life is in your hands, Chantelle.” He stood the crystal on end with the point down a quarter of an inch from the center of the palm, then without breaking her gaze, let it go.

She gasped, ready to lunge for it, but the heart stayed where he’d placed it, suspended in air. “How did you do that?” The rainbow of color danced on the wooden palm.

“Evan’s mate, Brienne, helped me with a spell.”

He didn’t speak again until she pulled her gaze away from her gift and back to him.

“I’m sorry for everything that happened between us, Chantelle. The things I said, after we had… after we were together in the gardens, I never should have said. I should have known better. Hell, I did know better. I can only beg for your forgiveness. For as long as I live, I will regret causing you that pain.” He took her hand in his, stepping closer so that only a few inches separated them. “I swear to you, Chantelle, I did not kiss Kira.” His energy tightened around him, his desperation pulling it close. “I can’t imagine what it looked like to you, but I promise you, I didn’t.”

The longer she remained silent, the tighter his hand squeezed hers. Not enough to hurt, but enough to notice.

“I don’t know how I can prove it to you.” He rubbed his chin with his free hand.

“You don’t have to.” Chantelle took a step, closing the gap between them.

“I don’t?” His energy relaxed a little, encompassing her.

She shook her head, then released his hand, only to wrap her arms around his neck. “No. I went to speak with Kira while you were away. She avoided me for a couple of days, but I was persistent.” She breathed his scent in, and her phoenix preened within. “She explained everything that happened, and swears it will never happen again.”

His arms circled her waist, pulling her closer. “Thank the Goddess above for that.”

“Oh, and I may have promised to not allow you to have her exiled for speaking to me. I can’t say that we’ll ever be friends, but she and I had a good long talk and I can understand why she did what she did. From what she told me, she’s been to see the Elders to have her mate named, and it seems, their meditations have revealed no one. She didn’t say it but I imagine she’s afraid her mate may have left this world already. I feel sorry for her.”

“That didn’t give her the right to do what she did, but if you can put it to rest, then so can I.” He hesitated only a moment. “Does that mean you forgive me, too? Please say you do.”

“I do. What happened in the gardens could have been avoided with a little communication on both of our parts.”

“I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions.” He slid his hands lower to the hollow of her back, pulling her closer still.

“No, but then neither should I. When I saw Kira against you, with her lips on yours, I should have known you wouldn’t do that.”

“Never. I’d never do anything to hurt you.” His energy smoothed over her body like a silken glove, making her breath catch in her throat.

“What are you doing, Sebastian?” She turned her face toward him, placing her lips upon his jaw even before she knew she was going to kiss him.

His soft growl rumbled between them. “I’m acquainting myself with my mate. I hope you don’t mind.”

He bent his head to her shoulder, nipping at the base, making her heart race. What she wouldn’t give to let him mark her again right there on her front porch, were it not for all the neighbors to see, but she wanted to do things right. He nipped a little harder, making her phoenix surge forward, seeking his dragon. “As much as I want what you’re offering, and I do want it, now isn’t the right time.” She wasn’t very convincing even to herself.

He pressed his lips to the tender spot, smiling against her skin. “That’s a shame. I was looking forward to a lot more…
acquainting
.” He cupped her bottom in the palms of his hands, pressing her against his hard length.

Heat washed through her, centering at her core. “Maybe you should come in after all.”