Apprentice of Death
Chapter 4

Cinder, Sebastian, and Riley had a meal together, and afterward, Sebastian helped Riley get started with his bath. Cinder placed some of Sebastian’s older clothes on the bed for Riley to change into. He thanked her and rose out of the tub to get dressed once she had left the room. Riley exited Sebastian’s room, dressed in the extra clothes, and turned for Cinder to see.

“Well, they are a little baggy on you, but we’ll fatten you up yet,” she winked at him. He smiled and looked down, a slight blush creeping onto his cheeks.

They spent a while discussing Riley’s last memories as a person, with Cinder and Sebastian doing their best to update Riley on the world. They concluded that he had been a Feral for about six years, perhaps seven. Cinder did her best to comfort his mind when he felt overwhelmed or when things felt strange to him, like the feeling of wearing clothes and sitting in a chair even, had him feeling unsure.

An evening meal was brought to them, and afterward, Sebastian read to them for a while until later evening.

“Alright, you had better turn in and get some sleep,” Cinder suggested to Riley.

“But where am I going to sleep?” Riley asked, looking at the floor.

“You’ll sleep in my room, in my bed,” Sebastian stated, motioning for Riley to return to his room where he had bathed. Riley looked confused but didn’t object.

“Are you going to share with me then, Sebastian?” he asked as they walked into Sebastian’s room.

Sebastian chuckled a little, “No, Riley. You will sleep in my bed alone but don’t worry, you are safe here. If you need me or are afraid, just call out for us. I’ll stay with Cinder for tonight.”

Riley’s mouth dropped open in surprise before he snapped it shut. It had been years since he had been a human, but even he knew that a witch would barely associate with their kind; the idea of Sebastian having a relationship with Cinder shocked him. Riley had hardly been able to hold on to Cinder during their ride, for fear of it; only his frightened state had convinced him it was ok. The idea of Sebastian being together with Cinder was also a shock, simply because he hadn’t noticed; he had been too distracted by staring at Cinder when they weren’t talking.

“Oh!” he said, blushing again. Sebastian evaluated Riley as he turned and crawled into Sebastian’s bed. Sebastian’s intuition told him that Riley had formed a crush on Cinder out of gratitude for her saving him.

“Goodnight, Riley. Sleep well and if you need us, just come and knock on the door or call out for us.” Sebastian warmly said to him, with a hand on Riley’s shoulder. Riley nodded and watched him leave the room.

“You know, don’t you?” Sebastian thought as he closed the door to Cinder’s bedroom behind him.

“Know what, exactly?” she answered him from the bed.

Sebastian took off his tunic and threw it over the back of one of the chairs in the room. He walked to the bed, pulled back the covers, and climbed in next to her.

“Riley is enamored with you,” he laughed in his mind.

She smiled at him and laughed back, “Yes. It’s just a little crush. He hasn’t seen a woman since his transformation, and I saved him. Once we get him around his people, he will do well to replace a woman werewolf and settle down.”

Sebastian gave a goodhearted chuckle again and blew out the lamp on his bedside table. Cinder lay on the far side of the bed with her back to him. Sebastian turned and pulled Cinder up against him and then encased her in his arms, nuzzling the back of her neck playfully. She smiled in the dark and reached behind her to grab a fistful of his hair and then run her fingers through it, sighing with his closeness; the week apart had felt far too long. They hadn’t even touched or kissed when Dominique stayed at the Fortress to hide their relationship from him. Even the simplest of touches from him had her heating.

He kissed the back of her shoulder, kissing his way up her neck, sending shivers running down her body. She arched her back and leaned her head back against him when his mouth found the sensitive patch of skin just below her ear, his palm sliding up the top of her thigh, sliding her nightgown upwards.

Shivers of pleasure ran down her body again as he continued to kiss her just below her ear, whispering, “It feels like forever since I’ve touched you.” His hands pulled her nightgown up her body and over her head, throwing it to the floor, forgotten.

His hands ran up and down her exposed skin as he continued to kiss her neck and shoulder, his hot breath and mouth making her gasp. His hand slid around her to cup her breast, pulling her tight back against him, and then his thumb and finger started to tease her there, making her moan and arch against him. His free hand slipped under her head, down to her jaw, pulling her head back so he could capture her lips in a demanding kiss while his other hand worked her up almost in a frenzy. He slid it down her curves, still kissing her, to replace the center of her throbbing need; he swallowed the moans he brought out of her when his fingers found her.

“Sebastian,” she sighed his name in his mind, reaching up behind her to fist his hair, pulling him to her more.

She gasped, breaking their kiss when his nimble fingers slipped up inside of her, curling to replace the perfect spot to stroke her, working her up until she was gasping on every breath. He sucked on her neck as his fingers tipped her over the edge, sending a wave of pleasure through her system that made her cry out and then moan, melting back against him.

He looked down into her lidded eyes with adoration, admiring the sight of her flushed cheeks while she rode out the last few waves of pleasure coursing through her. He turned her around in his arms, pulling her to his bare chest, her curves molding against his firm muscle. His eyes were illuminated in the dark, and so were hers.

A hand on the back of her neck pulled her to him for a deep lingering kiss of passion, his mouth ravaging hers, his tongue possessing hers. She already knew she was his, but his kiss reminded her all the more, setting her on fire again with the need for him; she wanted him to possess her fully. She ran her hands down his muscled chest, over his navel, and then hooked them on his loose sleeping pants to pull them down and throw them on the floor.

She already had him moaning her name from need as her hands trailed over his skin, setting him on fire for her. Her hands caressed their way downward, teasing him while he moaned until he sucked in a sharp breath and caught her hands, raising them above her head.

His wicked half-smirk met hers, and he held her still in his grasp as he slid on top of her.

He kissed his way down to her breasts, where his hot mouth stayed to drive her crazy, making her arch off of the bed to offer him more of her flesh. The fingers of his free hand slipped back up inside of her, making her buckle and gasp with the pleasure he brought her. Before he brought her too high, he withdrew them and sat up to look into her eyes. He kissed her, still looking at her with his illuminated eyes; hers were a mirror of his, lit up with passion and desire.

“Are you mine, Cinder?” he asked before kissing her jaw.

“Yes,” she whispered with conviction. She sucked in a sharp gasp and strained against Sebastian’s hold on her when he took her with a quick thrust of his hips, filling her completely. Her gasp melted into a moan as he sat back up to look into her eyes.

“That’s right, Cinder,” he whispered, leaning down to her ear, “And you always will be.”

He released her wrists and brought both hands down to frame her hips with them, as he pulled out of her, to claim her again on a quick thrust. Her hands gripped his shoulders, and she gasped again, her knees raising to frame his hips as he plunged into her over and over again, claiming her over and over, until she cried out his name as he tipped her over into the abyss of mind-blowing pleasure. He drove it on, continuing to move inside her until her pleasure pulled his from him, and he moaned, his forehead leaning down on her chest.

Her fingers relaxed on his shoulders where they had been digging into him with her pleasure. She slipped her hands around him, running them up his back, caressing him as he relaxed on top of her. They breathed out the remainder of their moment, caressing one another. Sebastian kissed her again gently.

She held his face as their eyes slowly returned to normal, and she thought, “I love you, Sebastian.”

He smiled at her and kissed her again, answering her, “I love you too, Cinder.”

The following day, Sebastian dressed quickly and checked on Riley, leaving Cinder to prepare. She was going to present Riley and herself to the King; therefore, her riding frock and armored ‘Eradicator’ gear wouldn’t do. She selected a fitted-bodice, black dress with gold embroidered trim around the waist, collar, sleeves, hem, and built-in hood. The sleeves were fitted until just above the elbow, where they hung loose with lots of flowing fabric from there, just like at her hips. She wore a matching headdress with a pointed gold emblem resting on her forehead. The headdress pulled her hair out of her face, so she left it loose and put up her hood.

When she was finished, she met Riley and Sebastian in the sitting room. Riley gulped a quiet hello at her when he saw her, still affected by her presence. They headed down to the courtyard for Cinder’s horse. Celeste had another horse brought out for Sebastian to ride this time. Riley would ride behind Cinder for their journey.

They took off after Celeste reminded Cinder that she was to be an ambassador for her there; she was to serve the King however he wished. The more the King could occupy her time, the more of an excuse she would have to not do more time under Dominique. Cinder only hoped that the King would look favorably on this arrangement and allow her to serve. Werewolves also mistrusted witches simply because they were looked down upon and exploited by them when they used a witch’s services to help them.

Their ride to the Kingdom was uneventful, and with Celeste’s directions, they easily found the passage through the mountains to the Kingdom. They rode leisurely, so the journey took some time, but Cinder knew that if she ran her horse, it would be a quick journey. Sebastian looked above them along the way, seeing guard patrols keeping an eye on their journey, through the ravine. He was grateful that word had been sent ahead of their arrival, so they were expected. It would be all too easy to be killed by archers, from their vulnerable position below the patrols that watched them.

The pass was a short ride before it opened to a guarded stone wall with a gate and gatehouse. The trio’s arrival was announced, and the massive gate was opened to allow them to enter the Kingdom.

Sebastian looked above them as they passed through the wide open gates and under the portcullis, the soldiers on the wall observing them carefully. Sebastian could feel their gaze on them as they continued.

They rode along a road for a distance until the stone wall and gate to the Kingdom had just faded from their view, and then they entered a town area. People would stop and stare at them, noticing the three immediately, curious about who they were and why they had come; they were not the usual tradesmen.

The outer town area was of decent size, but not a huge city, and seemed focused on trade. It was bustling with activity and people milling about, selling, or buying at booths and shops. Wagons were moving here and there, some coming from deeper in the Kingdom and others leaving or coming from the outer gate they had just come from.

The main road continued through the trade market and up a large hill to what looked to be the palace and the central city area off to the side. They approached the large gate, being stopped by a guard who inquired as to who they were.

“Celeste has sent us,” Cinder answered the guard. He nodded his understanding and ordered the gates to be opened to allow them entry to the palace.

They passed through the gate and portcullis and into the outer courtyard, passing another portcullis into the inner courtyard. They rode into the courtyard, their horses’ hooves clattering on the cobblestones as they were announced to the gathered crowd that seemed to be awaiting them. The crowd quieted down some and cleared to the sides of the courtyard. The mounted trio looked up to replace the King waiting on an outdoor throne, watching their approach.

They were halted by some guards and told to dismount before approaching any further. The guards were looking at them with a mixture of uncertainty and surprise. Riley riding behind Cinder, his arms wrapped around her, had not gone unnoticed by anyone present. Sebastian also was making them nervous, as they took in how he was armed and his strong presence.

The three dismounted and their horses were led off to the side. Cinder looked to Sebastian, and he nodded for her to lead the way. He flanked her on her left, and Riley trailed along behind her right side.

All of the attendants and a good group from the royal court were present, awaiting their arrival. A witch coming was a spectacle, it seemed. Curiosity was at a high, as the crowd observed the visitors. Cinder’s hood was up, covering her face from view, which allowed her to grab a quick glance around, as they approached.

The courtyard was vast and rectangular, framed by a covered terrace on all three sides, which the entrance wall didn’t occupy. The terrace served as a hallway that other hallways branched from. It had a white marble railing and thick round pillars with ivy climbing them, in-between places where steps went down to the courtyard, just sunken below. There were large flowering trees in the middle of the courtyard at various locations and more beautiful ivy climbing them and the outer wall. It was royalty framed by the elegance of nature and it appealed to her.

She turned her eyes to the King as they approached him. She could tell he was tall and broad, even though he sat on his throne, watching her. He had short, dark brown hair, a shadowed beard, vibrant blue eyes, and copper-colored skin. He wore black-leather pants and boots, with a cape of furs and a livery collar made of large, round, gold disks, with moonstones in the center of each disk. His muscled chest and arms were bare. He was looking at them closely, his striking blue eyes showing a sharp intelligence in them.

The three visitors stopped at the bottom of the stairs, and the King gave Cinder the nod to approach. Cinder was unsure of the proper protocol, so she stopped several steps lower than the throne the King sat on and knelt before him. She bowed her head in submission and reached up to lay her hood down, revealing the top of her head while not looking up.

Murmurs and whispers broke out among the gathered crowd at Cinder’s humble displace of subservience. Their thoughts were amazed that a witch would bow before their King; apparently, most witches thought themselves above even their most high.

Riley followed Cinder’s example and bowed down on a knee where he stood at the bottom of the steps. Sebastian remained standing but gave the King a polite bow of the head.

He then met the eye of the guard next to the King, who had whispered, “How dare you!” The guard moved to come and force Sebastian to bow when the King’s arm outstretched and stopped him.

“Can you not sense him?” the King directed his question to his guard, who stopped to take more notice of Sebastian. The others around also gave more focused attention, and gasps broke out.

“He is within his right to not kneel,” the King announced. The King returned the polite bow of the head to Sebastian and then turned his attention to Cinder.

“Celeste’s message alerted us to your coming but did not state as to why I should receive you. Why have you come?” he demanded of her.

Without lifting her head, Cinder answered him, “I need your help.”

Another shocked gasp came from the crowd. A witch had never been known to ask for help from them in anything. The witches had always come to demand something from them, not ask; they always took, never offering. No witch had ever lowered themselves before the King to ask for help humbly like this. The King’s mind was as taken aback as the others.

Cinder could feel him staring down at her from where he sat on his throne, trying to figure out what to make of her and her humble request. She slowly lifted her face a little and then lifted her eyes to see the King through her lashes. His gasp was inaudible but was felt by Cinder’s mind.

“It can’t be,” he uttered in his mind, staring at her, frozen. He studied her face for a long moment, taking every detail with his intense blue eyes.

After a moment of silence, he asked, “What is your name?”

“Cinder, Your Majesty,” she answered as she dropped her eyes, showing submission again.

“Look at me,” he gently told her.

She lifted her eyes back to his and slowly turned her face up to him, gently holding his gaze as he looked at her. The look on his face was neutral, but something deep within his eyes captivated her; he was looking at her like he was transfixed. He held her gaze and she felt something stir in him, a longing mixed with pain from the past. She could also hear how her beauty and humble demeanor had him on unsteady ground.

“What could you need my help for?” he asked her, curious.

“I have brought Riley,” she motioned with her hand to Riley and continued, “to live among his people and receive the help he needs to live a successful life. Riley was a Feral, but I have freed his mind. I was hoping he could receive some help from you on functioning in your society.” More whispering started when Cinder stated that Riley had been a feral, and even stifled laughter broke out.

“Feral, you say?” the King doubted. “No Feral has ever returned to their human form before. You jest.”

“Feel free to send some scouts to the woods, where you can follow his scent to the cave he used to dwell in. I believe it is very close to the outer Kingdom gate,” Cinder offered without offense. Celeste’s reaction had already shown her what people believed was impossible regarding Ferals.

The King motioned to a soldier nearby, saying, “Captain, send out two of your fastest riders and make it so.” The Captain nodded and left in a hurry to follow his orders.

“Call for Jenny,” the King ordered. Moments later, a beautiful blonde werewolf, in a white medical smock came and bowed before her King. “Jenny, escort this werewolf to your hospital, where he needs a full health examination.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” bowed Jenny again. Jenny walked down the steps and motioned for Riley to follow her back in the direction she came from. He did with a look back to Cinder, in which she gave him an encouraging smile and nod.

“I’ll come to replace you, Riley, when the King is done,” she thought.

“Ok, Cinder.”

Cinder turned her face back to the King but didn’t move from kneeling. The King and many others had noticed how Riley had looked to her for reassurance, showing his trust and loyalty to her, amazing them yet again. Cinder met the King’s gaze again.

“May I speak?” Cinder appealed to the King. The King again was taken aback by her humble respect.

“Who are you, Cinder?” he asked himself, searching her face, unaware she could hear him.

Very gently, she answered him in his mind, “I am a friend, Your Majesty.” She infused every word with the truth and feeling of submission and honesty. ”Do not be afraid, Your Majesty. If you give me a chance, I can explain everything, but perhaps not here?”

The King had not broken eye contact with her, from the moment he had felt her in his mind, staring intently. He rose from his throne, still staring into her eyes. On the outside, he seemed very calm, but inside, he was alarmed by Cinder’s power.

“Why else have you come here?” demanded the King.

“Celeste has sent me, as an ambassador to your people, to serve Your Majesty however you wish, in whatever capacity you require,” she answered, holding his gaze as he towered over her. His mind became suspicious of Celeste’s motives in sending Cinder to him.

“How can I know you don’t have ulterior motives, or Celeste doesn’t, in sending you? Every witch I have ever known, Celeste included, has had at least a small amount of prejudice or ulterior motives when interacting with us. No witch has ever treated us as equals, worthy of an ambassador, let alone a witch subservient.”

Cinder swallowed, unsure what to say in reply; she just held his gaze with a concerned look while searching for the right words to answer him.

“Cinder has none of those prejudices, I can promise you,” assured Sebastian from behind her. The King finally broke eye contact with Cinder, to look at Sebastian.

“What do you mean? How are you involved in this, King Alpha?” the King demanded of him.

Sebastian smiled knowingly, “I am Cinder’s chosen Bondmate.”

Whispering and shocked gasps were heard from everyone in the courtyard. The King’s mind was going in a thousand different directions, trying to process this information. He examined Sebastian from where he stood up on the steps above him. The King’s mind slowly absorbed the image and aura of Sebastian; a King Alpha with a formidable presence and evident strength, despite his youth. The King’s mind noticed a collected calm in Sebastian’s eyes and in his bearing that he appreciated; Sebastian carried himself with confidence but not arrogance. The King took in the steady gaze of Sebastian, the King’s intuition telling him that Sebastian was an honest man but could be very deadly.

The King’s gaze pulled from Sebastian as he dwelled on what Sebastian had revealed about his relationship with Cinder; now that he had mentioned it, the King could feel the strong bonds between the two; they positively radiated power and deep connection.

The King looked back down at Cinder, who continued kneeling at his feet, mentally asking, “He is your Bondmate?”

She nodded a little, answering, “Yes, Your Majesty. He is my oldest and closest friend. I would give my life for him.” Her words left no room for doubt in his mind.

Just then, a rider came galloping up on horseback and pulled up short of Cinder’s standing mount; the cave had been very close to the Kingdom’s entrance, so it was a short journey. He dismounted, walked up behind Cinder, and kneeled before the King.

“What have you found?” asked the King.

“It is as she says, Your Majesty,” replied the soldier, his voice colored with astonishment.

More gasps and murmuring erupted from the surrounding crowds. The King thanked and dismissed the rider; the soldier rose and made a hasty exit back to his post.

The King looked back down at Cinder and held out his hand, saying, “Rise, Cinder. It seems we have much to discuss.” She held his gaze as she slipped her hand in his and rose before him. “Walk with me,” he quietly commanded and held out his arm, releasing her hand.

She took his offered arm and fell into step next to him, as he descended the steps, shock going throughout the crowd that a witch would touch him again. The pair walked across the courtyard and up a flight of steps to the terrace, continuing down a large hallway.

His guard and inner court members made to follow them, but he held up his hand, saying with authority, “I will speak with Cinder alone.” The others returned to the courtyard, leaving the two in the hallway together. Sebastian followed them, his protective gaze trained on Cinder, but he stayed at a polite distance, keeping them in sight. He could intervene if needed but didn’t pressure them with his presence. The King glanced at Sebastian for a moment, before he turned to continue walking with her on his arm.

He smiled a little, thinking, “He is very protective of you.”

“Yes, Your Majesty, as I am of him.”

He stole a glance over at her as they walked, asking, ”How is this possible? How did you save Riley?”

She answered, looking back over at him, “Your Majesty, I am what the witch community calls a ‘Seer.’ I can see into the minds of others. It is why we can communicate like this, in your mind. Others are not able to hide the truth from me. I saved Riley by entering his mind and putting his human form back in control. He still needs coaching and more help to ensure that he stays in control.”

The King was quiet, thinking over what she had told him, while they continued to walk together. He had heard of Seers but had yet to learn of them himself. He knew very little of them in reality. His mind was filled with curiosity but was also cautious.

He inquired of her, “So you can see everything? Nothing can be hidden from you? ”

Cinder shook her head, replying, “Not if I want to see it, no. I hear immediate thoughts and emotions and if I look deeper, I can see all, even the very core of your being.” He found this thought disturbing but wanted to trust her. Celeste obviously trusted her if she sent Cinder to them.

Which had him wondering, “Celeste knows?”

Cinder smiled at him kindly, clarifying, “Yes, Your Majesty. I will apprentice under her after I have worked for you.”

He was surprised at that, almost thinking to himself, “If you seek an apprenticeship with Celeste and she has agreed, you must be extremely powerful.” Cinder said nothing in reply. He accepted her silence as a confirmation of his assumption. He continued, “What did Celeste intend for you to do here exactly?” She smiled again at him.

“Whatever you wish or need, Your Majesty.” He began thinking about how he could use her help. Could he trust her?

“Why you, Cinder?”

She answered him with a touch of sadness at her own people, “Because I do not hold the prejudices that others of my world were taught. I see you as an equal race, and I want to help. I am not afraid to be close to you.”

He pulled up short and turned to her, looking at her. He stood facing her, looking at her with those piercing blue eyes. He was quiet as he studied her for a long moment. As he looked at her, the feeling of longing with an ancient pain returned to him.

Cinder studied him in her own way for a quiet moment before she gently asked, “Who was she?”

The King closed his eyes, sighed, and dropped his face, thinking, ”How did you know?”

She waited until he looked back up at her before she replied, “I remind you of someone. When you look at me, you feel something. You miss her, and it pains you. Who was she?”

He searched her face for a moment, coming to port in her violet eyes, admitting, “The first girl I ever loved. You remind me of her.”