#update with chapter 12!! | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

anto-pops · 3 months ago

Text

The Serpent's Paramour CH 11 - Sebastian Sallow x Female!Reader

Summary: Following your escape from the Ministry, you think. You think about Ominis, and about your developing abilities. You think about the path ahead to the relic and how exactly things will pan out from this point on. But what you're scared to let yourself consider is your relationship with Sebastian. It doesn't take Leglimency to figure out that your dynamic with him is changing...

But the question remains: will you embrace that change?

Word Count: 5.6k

Warnings: 18+, aged up characters, emotional turmoil, minor angst/fluff

New chapter is also up on Ao3 !

It was hard to say exactly what happened after unleashing Isidora’s magic within the Detention Area. Partly because your vision had flashed red and rendered you momentarily blind, and also partly because your entire body was wracked with so much pain, you couldn’t differentiate between your own writhing and the shaking of the tenth floor. But the ground was quaking– there was no mistaking that.

The violent creaking of the cell doors told you that much.

Through all of it, you only had one thought in mind; the wellbeing of Sebastian and the other Ashwinders. You didn’t want to hurt them– you hoped you hadn’t hurt them– but there was no way of knowing while your magic ran rampant throughout the room. Ominis had at least been given the courtesy of a heads up before you attempted to destroy the place. Nora, Devlin, and Joshua were petrified in place, likely suffering in forced silence while the chamber shook and crumbled around them. Chunks of the tile walls cracked and fell to the floor, shattering upon impact and contributing to the deafening sounds that echoed throughout the holding cells. You were positive you heard the sound of a cage door groaning before clattering to the ground, the booming impact reverberating through the quaking floor as unrestrained cries tore from your throat.

Shit… you really needed to stop doing this to yourself.

You had no idea how long you were curled up with your nails digging into your scalp, but after what seemed like an eternity, you felt a cool hand brush your hair from your face. You didn’t dare open your eyes– those still felt like they were melting inside their sockets– but you did whimper in a form of acknowledgement.

A feminine, panicked voice said something unintelligible, to which Devlin shouted his response. There was a crack of magic as someone apparated away, and then the hand on your face fell to your shoulder, squeezing tightly before you, too, felt the familiar sensation of apparition alongside the grueling agony that wracked your tense body.

Despite the misery the pain left you in, you were relieved. Apparating meant that you had succeeded in breaking the wards preventing escape. The cost had been astronomical– you had no idea if Ominis was even alive– but you had done it.

The shaking tile floors of the Detention Area were suddenly replaced by still, smooth, hardwood ones. You were aware enough to deduce that you’d returned to the manor, but beyond that fleeting thought, there was only pain. Stabbing, white hot discomfort that continued to incapacitate you.

It was a mercy when your brain finally plunged you into unconsciousness, and you didn’t even bother trying to fight it. You were all too willing to let your mind go blissfully dark. The last thought that filtered through your dazed mind was one, nervewracking question.

Was Sebastian alright?

—

It was dark when you woke up.

The sun had long since set behind the treeline that encompassed the Ashwinder base, fleeting rays of moonlight acting as the only source of light within your spacious room. The soft, cotton sheets on your bed had been pulled over you at some point, encasing your half-dressed body in a cocoon of warmth that you relished in. Someone had removed your chiffon dress and left you laid out in the chemise and petticoat you’d worn beneath it, which you were grateful for.

The last time you’d been in this predicament, you had woken up with no pants on. This was a definite improvement.

As you sat up to lean back against the mountain of pillows behind you, your eyes landed on a shadowy figure perched in a chair, tucked away in the far corner of the room. Sebastian wouldn’t have bothered to maintain such distance from you had it been him, so you squinted and let your eyes adjust to the darkness, a few seconds passing before you realized it was Devlin. That ridiculous hat of his was set over his eyes, his head tipped back as he dozed. You hesitated to say anything– not wanting to wake him up if he was in a deep slumber– but your concerns were too prudent to put off.

If Devlin was here, where was his daughter? Where was Joshua and Sebastian? Were they all okay?

“Devlin,” you whispered hoarsely, your vocal chords rough from all the wailing you’d done. It was a bitter reminder of what had transpired, but you cleared your throat and repeated yourself when the older man didn’t budge. “Devlin.”

He twitched minutely, his hat sliding down his face and landing on his lap as he stirred awake. Cool blue eyes reflected the minimal light that streaked through the windows as they bounced around the room, then eventually landed on you. Devlin blinked in surprise for a moment before raking his fingers through his short, graying hair exhaling sharply as he took in the sight of you upright on the bed.

“We didn’t think you’d be awake so soon,” he muttered thoughtfully. “Sebastian said you were out for a full day the last time you pulled that stunt.”

It was an astute observation. But when you’d lost control the last time, you hadn’t been using your magic for days. This time around, it had been a calculated, willful action that had followed you expelling the dark power bit by bit for an entire week. You wouldn’t pretend to understand the ‘how’s’ or the ‘why’s’, however. All of this was just as unfamiliar to you as it was to everyone here.

“How long was I out for?”

“About six hours. Not long,” Devlin stood from his seat in the corner and strode over to you, leaning against the canopy post at the foot of the bed before crossing his arms, his hat dangling loosely in his hand. “That was a risky move, destroying the place like that. You have a penchant for bringing buildings down on top of me, you know.”

Despite the circumstances, you found yourself smiling. “It worked, didn’t it?”

He nodded, the hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. “It did. It was a gamble, though. How did you know it would actually destroy the apparition wards?”

You shrugged, winding the top sheet on the bed around your fingers. Doing so made you wince, though. Now that you were awake and coherent, you were made aware of the dull ache in your wrist. You didn’t know if it was broken or sprained, but there would be time to treat it later. “It’s the Ministry… magic is used everywhere there. I figured the Detention Area would be the only place where apparating wasn’t allowed. Take out the tenth floor, take out the wards, one plus one equals two…”

“Smart lass,” Devlin mused, and his smirk transformed into a full blown grin. “You saved our hides today, that’s for damn sure. I never thought I’d be thanking you for collapsing a ceiling on top of me again, but here we are.”

“Here we are,” you echoed gently. Your eyes fell to the door straight ahead, and your serene expression shifted into one of concern. “Where is everyone else? Did they make it out okay?”

The older man sighed, giving you a lopsided shrug as he directed his next words towards the window. “For the most part. Sebastian was able to undo the petrification on Joshua since he was closest, and then the kid unfroze Nora and I. We apparated out of the cell to get you guys out– Sebastian was being a nuisance about it, though.”

You furrowed your brows in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“He was ready to try apparating with you back here even though he was bleeding out all over the fucking place. Bastard would have ended up splinched in a ditch or something, so I took him with me while Nora handled you. He’s as good as can be after losing so much blood, and he’ll have one hell of a scar, but he’s mostly healed by now.”

The tension in your shoulders dissipated upon hearing the words, your relief apparent if Devlin’s dry huff of laughter was any indication. “Good… that’s good…” you trailed off, reminiscing on the waves of power that had emanated uncontrollably from you. It sounded like everyone had escaped with superficial injuries, but you still had to ask, “I didn’t hurt anyone, did I?”

“‘Hurt anyone?’” He echoed curiously, his brilliant blue eyes narrowing as he scrutinized you. “What do you mean?”

“When I… when my power came out like that. Did it hurt anyone?” You hadn’t seen anyone following the whole debacle– only flashes of red behind your eyelids. “I don’t suppose you know if Ominis is alright?”

“Gaunt? I have no clue. I heard you tell him to protect himself before all hell broke loose, so I’m inclined to believe he listened. He was gone by the time we made it out of the cell. The man doesn’t seem nearly as suicidal as Sebastian.” That was the understatement of the century, you were certain. Devlin uncrossed his arms and faced you fully, his expression turning serious. “But the rest of us? We were fine. That pain magic of yours didn’t affect anyone.”

You let loose a heavy sigh, immensely thankful that no one had been hurt or incapacitated by your abilities. When you’d lost control in the manor all those weeks ago, you knew Joshua had felt it to some degree. Maybe you had more control over the repository’s magic than you thought… or maybe you’d just gotten lucky this time around. There was no way to know for certain, and now that you knew everyone was alive and okay, you didn’t much care to dissect the discovery.

Appeased by the information, you threw off the blankets to swing your legs over the edge of the mattress, standing swiftly to make your way over to the dresser. A change of clothes was definitely in order.

“What are you doing?” Devlin asked, still planted firmly beside the bed post while you flittered about the room.

“Changing. I’m going to go see Sebastian.”

“It’s the middle of the night.”

“I just slept for six hours,” you retorted. “I’m not tired.”

“Whatever. Be my guest– my bed is calling my name. Sleeping in that chair has left me with enough back pain to last throughout the week.” He turned and started for the door, pausing with his hand on the handle before turning around to watch you rifle through the drawers. Then he muttered, “Hey.”

Your head swiveled towards him, your brows raised in silent acknowledgment.

Devlin seemed to struggle to find the right words, his lips pursing and his eyes narrowing while he wracked his brain for the proper thing to say. Eventually, he went with, “Thanks again for what you did. Saving my old ass is one thing, but you saved Nora, too. I know you ladies have your differences, but… well, she’s my kid, you know?”

His words struck something deep within you. Parental love was something of a foreign concept to you. The closest you’d ever gotten to experiencing it yourself was with Professor Fig the summer leading up to your fifth-year. It made your heart hurt to think about the sweet old man who had taken you under his wing, and you swallowed thickly around the lump suddenly forming in your throat. “I know,” you murmured gently. “I’m glad she’s alright.”

Pleased with the conversation’s end, Devlin nodded to himself, opening the door before slipping out into the hallway without another word. Alone in your bedroom at last, you stayed crouched beside the dresser for a minute longer, then slowly resumed your hunt for some decent trousers.

One pair of black, linen pants and a white blouse later, you absconded from your room to make your way downstairs. Your wrist throbbed with every hurried step you took, so you did your best to keep it pressed against your chest as you maneuvered your way through the manor. The corridors were deserted, the flickering candlelight from the lanterns mounted to the walls casting dancing shadows all across the halls. Your footsteps were muted as you padded barefoot through the dining room, veering right towards the office where you knew Sebastian was likely holed up. You hesitated in front of the door for a few seconds, waiting with bated breath for any sounds to indicate if he was awake, and when you heard none, you sighed.

What the hell were you doing?

Sebastian’s wellbeing was hardly any of your business. If anything, he deserved the lashing he’d received– especially considering he had ignored your warnings. Not only had he jeopardized everyone for the sake of rescuing his informant, but he had likely put Ominis back on his trail after Merlin knew how long. Your former friend had been made aware that Anne factored into Sebastian’s plans. St. Mungo’s would be crawling with Ministry personnel now– you were sure of it. Whether or not the Auror was in one piece remained to be seen, but you weren’t looking forward to the day the two of you crossed paths again. If there was one thing you knew to be true, it was that Ominis had always excelled at holding grudges.

Anger was a pointless feeling to entertain right now, though. A valid one, most definitely… but you would feel more comfortable ripping Sebastian a new asshole if you knew he was alive. That last lingering memory of him– pale and slumped over in a pool of his own blood– was one you wanted replaced pronto.

Steeling your nerves, you squared your shoulders and rapped your knuckles against the door softly, fully prepared to barge in regardless of whether he was awake or not. The sound of something hitting the floor inside reached your ears, followed by a muffled curse. Evidently you weren’t the only one wide awake in the dead of night. Sebastian’s heavy footsteps reverberated through the floor until he was right near the door, and then it swung open to reveal his half-dressed body.

His curly, chestnut hair was slightly disheveled as though he had been asleep earlier, the unruly strands at the top of his head sticking in varying directions. It made him look… boyish. Younger in a way you hadn’t seen since your fifth-year.

The youthful appearance ended there, however. Sebastian’s toned, muscular body was the exact opposite of juvenile, his broad torso lacking a shirt to better accommodate the bandage wrapped around his waist. It coiled over his ribs and stretched around his shoulder, the white color contrasting heavily with the dark, jagged lines of his ever-shifting tattoo. It was the first time you were seeing it in its entirety, and you found yourself staring unapologetically.

He took a few seconds to process you standing there, which gave you the chance to sweep your eyes lower to the incredibly thin pajama pants he wore. They were tied loosely, the waistband dipping down a bit to reveal a sparse trail of hair and the sharp ‘V’ line of his hips. You felt your face heat up remarkably quickly at the sight of him so underdressed, and your eyes jumped back up to meet his tired ones.

“I’m surprised to see you up and moving,” he drawled lazily, the fatigue evident in his voice.

You blinked, then gestured pointedly at his bandaged body with your good hand. “I could say the same to you. How are you feeling?”

“Like I got trampled by Thestrals,” he deadpanned, absentmindedly running the tips of his fingers under the bandage over his shoulder. “If I drink anymore Wiggenweld potions in this lifetime, I think I’ll puke. I’ll live, though.”

You nodded in understanding, awkwardly shifting your weight between your feet in the hallway. “Can I come in?”

Sebastian pursed his lips, the muscles in his arm twitching as if torn between shutting you out or opening the door further. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” he muttered slowly.

“Why? Scared I’ll yell at you for making dumb decisions?”

“You do that no matter the occasion," came his flat remark. Your lips quirked up, if only barely. If he was willing to banter with you, why wouldn’t he let you in? With a defeated sigh, he cast his stormy gaze to the floor and said, “I’m… probably poor company right now. Too busy wallowing in self-hatred, thinking circles around myself… that sort of thing.”

“Well,” you chirped, stepping forward to shove the door open yourself. Sebastian moved back to give you space as you essentially bulldozed your way into his office, his frown deepening as you planted your uninjured hand on your hip, turned, and stared him down. “It just so happens that talking about those things tends to help them go away.”

“Oh, so you want to play counselor now?” Even though his tone was harsh, he closed the door gently, taking care not to rattle the walls by slamming it shut. “You said it yourself; I made a dumb decision. A stupid one, really. I’m figuring out what that means for my plans, for my sister– for everything I’ve spent the last two years working to accomplish.”

He strode away from the door and brushed past you without a second glance, snatching a small book off the floor before tossing it on the chaise lounge. The novel bounced off the cushions aggressively, then slipped into the crack between the wall and the seat, ending up on the floor again. Sebastian glared at the spot as though he were offended, and you sighed. “What do you think it means?”

“I think it means I’m royally screwed!” Sebastian exclaimed suddenly, everything about him embodying the literal definition of agitated. “I think my chances of getting to Anne after obtaining the relic are slim to none. I think the shit I willingly agreed to in order to make all of this happen was all for nothing. I think I’m as weak-willed and brash as I’ve always been. I nearly got three people killed in some pointless attempt to save one person that I knew was a lost cause, and you–”

He stopped mid rant, fixing his gaze on you as his frustrated expression transformed into one that seemed distressed. You stilled with your wrist still planted against your chest, your mouth firmly sealed whilst Sebastian fumed. His biceps flexed as he cautiously lifted his arms to rake through his hair, expelling a breath that spoke volumes of his internal turmoil, and it was at that point you opted to ask, “What about me?”

With a resolute shake of his head, Sebastian sat down on the lounge, perching his elbows on his knees to hunch forward. It was safe to say you had never seen him look so… defeated before. “I know I said your abilities might come in handy, but I never wanted you to be forced to do what you did to get us out. You put yourself through something I can’t even fathom to save us. I was just… bleeding on the floor, ready for it all to be over, but then you broke the wards and… your screams…”

“Sebastian.” Your voice was firm when you said his name– enough so that he looked up at you with a shadow of surprise crossing his face. “It’s fine. I’m fine. I’m not looking for accolades or praise for what happened, and if it’s all the same to you, I’d rather you not pity me for it.”

“I– what? I don’t pity you,” he countered defensively, sitting up slightly. “I’ve already told you what an asset your powers are. If anything, I envy you. But that doesn’t mean I can’t feel bad that I put us in a position where you had to subject yourself to pain like that. Watching you writhe around on the floor and yell like you were being burned alive? That’s not exactly something anyone sane should just dismiss, princess.”

You weren’t sure that you wanted to relent to his logic, but you did appreciate his concern. But be that as it may, you were more interested in hearing what he planned to do next. The less time he spent dwelling on Isidora’s cursed magic, the better you would feel. Instead of waving off his remorse, you nodded, turning to look out the massive bay window behind his desk. The memory of what had transpired there just days ago made your stomach flip, and you wondered what Sebastian thought every time he sat down there to work.

That was a thought you did banish.

With a heavy sigh, you ended up asking, “What now?”

Thankfully you didn’t need to elaborate. Sebastian groaned behind you, “I don’t know. It’s probably too soon to tell what Ominis will do. The Ministry is no doubt on high alert after everything, and sending someone to check on Anne at St. Mungo’s is out of the question. For now… I guess we pick up where we left off. Go to the ancient magic site, unlock it, and get the relic.”

“And then what?” You turned to face him again, your brows furrowing in frustration. “Ominis had a point, Sebastian. If Anne has made her peace with her condition, what if she wants nothing to do with a cure? How will you even get to her? You’re a wanted man– the Ministry is going to be hunting for you non-stop after what happened in London. How do you see any of this ending the way you want it to?”

Sebastian said nothing. He looked down, pursed his lips, and didn’t respond– and that was infinitely more infuriating than him saying something stupid. It had been his meddling that had landed you in this mess to begin with, and your fates were intertwined in a way that scared you. There could be no going back to your old life after this. Not knowing what came next didn’t just leave you fearful, it made you feel vulnerable.

“I don’t know what to tell you, princess,” he finally said, sounding more tired than he had previously. “I’m still figuring all of this out. Since we got back earlier, my brain hasn’t exactly been cooperating.”

“That’s a cheap cop-out,” you snapped.

“Maybe, but it’s the truth. Trust me when I say that whatever ends up happening, I’ll deal with it. The consequences, the fallout, whatever you want to call it– I knew what I was signing up for when I left Azkaban.” He stood from the lounge then, grabbing his wand off the end table before he strode closer and planted himself directly in front of you. “You don’t have to worry about the ‘after’. Just focus on getting me inside that site, and then you’ll be free to leave.”

You wanted to argue with him. You wanted to tell him that avoiding the trouble that came ‘after’ wasn’t what had been driving you. Somewhere along the way, you had begun to want to see Sebastian succeed. Anne deserved to be free of her curse, and her brother deserved to be around once it was all over. It worried you to hear how detached he sounded while talking about repercussions and sacrifices, but with no knowledge of what he had promised or agreed to in the wake of his escape, you couldn’t tell what any of it meant.

He might be a fugitive supported and protected by dark wizards, but Sebastian was a good person. Losing him to the Ministry or any other threats looming in the shadows was the last thing you wanted.

You were still staring at him with your mouth agape, dreary thoughts whipping through your head faster than you could process. Sebastian just smiled at you fondly, his unruly hair brushing across his forehead as he glanced down to gingerly pull your injured wrist away from your chest. You winced slightly but allowed him to cradle the limb delicately in his large, warm hand. His gaze softened as he took in the sight of the swollen skin there, then lifted his wand and whispered, “Brachio Emendum.”

The dull throbbing that had persisted there since you’d woken up vanished. The red, inflamed skin transformed back into its usual shade, and when Sebastian carefully let go, you rolled your wrist testingly, pleased to discover that it was genuinely healed. “How…” you trailed off, then looked up at him with your lips parted. “Since when do you know healing magic?”

He stepped away to lean against his desk, setting his wand down before crossing his arms and shrugging. “It became something of a necessity in recent years. I can’t exactly set foot in hospitals anymore.”

Touché. “It was probably just a sprain… you didn’t have to–”

“I did,” he cut you off firmly. “I really did. You’ve done enough for me today, princess. Just let me have this. Please.”

A few beats of silence passed with neither one of you willing to look away from the other. It was strange… you knew Sebastian was working through his own thoughts about everything, and you knew he felt stuck, but he seemed different. Correction: the air between you both felt different. Like something had shifted or changed in some small, indiscernible way. You weren’t sure what it meant in the slightest.

But you were willing to take a chance to find out.

You suppressed the nervousness that overtook you as you reached out with your healed hand, gently prying Sebastian’s crossed arms loose so you could thread your fingers through his. “Come with me,” you instructed softly.

His grip was lax in yours– as though he were hesitant to do something as simple as hold your hand– but he still allowed you to lead him through the office towards the door. Guardedly, he asked, “Where?”

“Upstairs. It’s late, and you need to sleep.”

“I sleep here,” he countered evenly, and you opened the door before turning to look at him over your shoulder. Maybe it was a trick of the light, but you swore you saw a hint of amusement twinkling in his dark eyes.

“Yes, on a tiny lounge chair that’s stiffer than a board. You got hurt today. You should sleep in an actual bed while you recover.” You turned away from him so he wouldn’t see the flush that crept over your cheeks and heated your skin. There was no guarantee that he would even follow you, but you wanted to extend the offer anyway. Not because you wanted to be close to him, or because you cared to put an end to the war waging in his mind. It was purely because he looked like shit and probably hadn’t had a decent night's sleep in days.

At least, that’s what you told yourself.

When he chuckled under his breath, you took that as your cue to step out into the hallway, pausing momentarily so he could close the office door behind him. After that, the two of you were making your way through the dining room, silently rounding corners before ascending the wide staircase that led to your bedroom. At some point in the midst of the short walk, Sebastian’s hand had tightened around yours, the warmth from his skin bleeding into yours and leaving your palm clammy. You flexed your fingers briefly, a blanket of calm settling over you as you accepted the fact that he was letting you do this.

Maybe you would regret it later, but you would cross that bridge when you got to it.

The door to your bedroom was still slightly ajar, moonlight spilling through the cracked entryway. You were quick to push it open, tugging Sebastian inside before letting go of his hand to shut the two of you in. Even though he had been in here numerous times before, he looked incredibly out of place amidst the ornate furniture. His posture was rigid as you strode for the bed and pulled the covers on the unused side of the mattress down. You wordlessly fluffed the pillows, and once you were satisfied with your work, you pursed your lips and turned to face him.

Gesturing to the bed, you said, “Get in.”

One singular brow rose up his forehead, and Sebastian carefully traced the edge of his bandages again. “You realize I’m mostly healed, right? The wraps are just for show while the scar forms some more. You don’t have to mother me–”

“Get. In. The. Bed.” You emphasized each word tellingly, your heart beating so fast that you were certain your shirt was moving in time with it. Sebastian couldn’t have looked more wary if he tried, so you sighed and added with a bit more care, “Please.”

His eyes skipped away from yours, falling on the spot you’d prepped for him. Then, ever so carefully, he started towards the bed, dragging his feet as though there were weights attached to them. “You’re not going to smother me in my sleep, are you?”

“Not unless you give me a reason to,” you deadpanned. Sebastian let you move out of the way so he could climb into bed, pulling the covers up to his waist as he leaned back against the pillows. You let him get comfortable while you rounded the mattress to the other side, mirroring his actions without hesitation. If you gave your current predicament any additional thought, you were certain you would lose your nerve and end up sleeping in the bathroom.

The sound of the sheets ruffling around eventually ceased, and you flipped over so you were laying on your side to face Sebastian. He was still on his back, so you could only make out his profile in the dim lighting, but you assumed that he was comfortable. He seemed less tense, at the very least. You stayed like that for a few minutes, the silence that filled the room serving as a reminder of how awkward all of this was. All the same, you said nothing– continuing to stare at Sebastian as your eyes drank in the sight of his upturned nose, his unruly hair, and the steady rise and fall of his bandaged chest. His long, full lashes fanned across his freckled cheeks, and those lips that you knew to be as soft as they looked eventually parted around a sigh.

His low, throaty voice shattered the tranquility, and he murmured, “Are you going to sleep, or are you going to watch me sleep?”

Busted. “Both.”

“I won’t leave, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“I’m not worried,” you whispered, bringing your knees closer to your chest so you were curled in a protective ball. “You can leave if you really want to. I just thought you’d like to sleep in an actual bed for once.”

Sebastian sighed again, and you glimpsed the whites of his eyes as he opened them before turning his head to look at you. The longer you spent in the darkness of the room, the better your vision became, and you couldn’t help but think that he was impossibly handsome with fleeting moonlight shining on him. The shadows that streaked across his face accentuated his features, and in that moment, you felt something festering within you. An emotion that you were too scared to put a name to for fear of ruining everything.

Thankfully, you didn’t have to. Without a word, Sebastian carefully rolled over so he could perch on his elbow. His other hand reached out for you beneath the covers, coming to rest on the small of your back so he could pull you closer. A swarm of butterflies erupted in your stomach when you straightened your legs so your knees wouldn’t dig into his stomach, and the new position allowed him to maneuver you directly against his chest. The arm he supported himself with disappeared beneath the pillows, and the other moved away from your back so he could sling it over your shoulder, effectively cocooning you in his embrace.

This wasn’t at all what you had anticipated when you’d brought him up here. It was far from unpleasant, though. Just… unexpected.

“Go to sleep, princess,” Sebastian murmured into the top of your head, strands of your hair likely ticking his nose. “I’ll be here in the morning. You have my word.”

It was alarmingly intimate. Being so close in the wake of such a heavy discussion definitely meant something, but if dwelling on it risked soiling the moment, you didn’t want to take the chance. Instead, you dumbly answered with, “It technically is morning now, you know.”

His dry huff of laughter reverberated through his chest, and the palm you had braced against his sternum stiffened in response to the vibrations. “Shut up and go to bed, wiseacre. I can’t get any beauty sleep if you keep talking.”

He couldn’t see it, but you rolled your eyes at the quip. Regardless, you obeyed his instructions and let your eyes slide shut, sucking down deep, calming breaths that were laced with the comforting scent of parchment and cedar wood. It was so specific to Sebastian– so uniquely him– that you found yourself melting into his hold. Any lingering doubts as to whether or not it was a good idea to invite him into your bed vanished, and your mind began to settle.

It didn’t take long for the sound of Sebastian’s even breathing to reach your ears, the fatigue that had been dogging at his heels finally catching up to him. You relished in the moment for as long as you were able until you, too, slipped into a blissful sleep.

Sebastian didn’t need to know that it was the most peaceful night of rest you’d experienced in months. That tidbit of information would stay safely locked away in your mind until the day you died.

#WIP TSP #sebastian sallow #hogwarts legacy #sebastian sallow x you #sebastian sallow x reader #sebastian sallow x mc #hogwarts legacy fanfic #hogwarts legacy fanfiction #sebastian sallow fanfic #sebastian sallow fanfiction #sebastian sallow x female!reader #my writing #if this chapter is kind of boring I apologize but I gotta segue into the juicier bits somehow #also trying to write at break neck speed because I don't want to leave you guys with a cliffhanger come chapter 12 #planning for a double update but we'll see if I can make that happen

21 notes · View notes