Note: Very lightly edited. Full version on AO3.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The End of an Eventful Day
Will guessed the dinner wasn't a complete wreck. She only wanted to stop existing, oh, a half-dozen times.
Phobos proved to be a rock, unfazed by anything, and she was grateful for his lack of much emotion. As she felt overwhelmed by her own.
She was trying her best to be her normal, self-assured self. But she was human, even with all her magic, and sitting across Matt, next to Phobos, was like a knife in her chest every time she locked eyes with her first lover.
The pain and confusion were so clear on his face. He was never a fan of Phobos, but the heat in his eyes at the prince was worse than she could have guessed. Caleb was not happy with the turn of events, and Raythor was just icing on the 'Who's pissed at Will' cake.
Those that took part in the rebellion were outwardly disgusted and confused, looking between her and Phobos with scorn. The Browns were pale and quiet through dinner, sending fearful glances at the fallen prince. Ms. Rudolph, while not as visibly disproving, nervously patted at beads of sweat along her brow. Julian was, oddly, unbothered. The older rebel leader had probably dealt with stranger, considering who was the mother of his son.
There were others there, further down the table, who sent her curious glances. Irma and Hay-Lin seemed to know them, chatting happily as a group. Will felt bad, knowing she had spent the entire trip so far avoiding everyone but Phobos.
Heck, she never even bothered learning his guard's names, this set or the last. Even if the last turned out to be assholes.
In fact, other than meeting the cutest kid in the entire universe, Achilles, she hadn't interacted with anyone new.
Maybe it was time to stop running away?
After dinner, everyone parted, and Will journeyed with Phobos to his room, feeling exhausted from the day's events.
"You should take an early bed," he said as they walked side-by-side. "This day has worn on you."
She tried to give him a playful grin, but it felt forced as she answered, "What about our plans?"
He chuckled, arms folded as he walked with fluid, ghost-like steps, barely making any sounds as he moved. "We have time. No need to wear yourself down all in one day, agreed?"
Will thought over the last few days that didn't include her four day magic disappearance and felt a sudden flair of uncertainty.
Did they really have time?
Just like she had to choose between Matt and the Heart, she might have to make the same choice again, if the council had its way.
"Well, maybe I'll still drop by," she said, lowering her voice so the guards walking behind them couldn't hear. "A hot bath sounds like a good way to end this day."
Phobos nodded, still expressing she should just head to bed, but told her where he would be later.
In her room, Will dropped on her bed for a moment. She was tired, but she also wanted to see him again.
Was she being clingy?
The last few weeks had been a confusing ride, not knowing if she was being to pushy, not knowing if her interest was mutual. Now that everything was coming to light, she still held some doubts.
Phobos was still bound by magic.
There were still moments where he wanted to speak with her but was gagged.
And she had been blind to his plight this whole time, so there was still a chance there was something else amiss.
It was just odd he was trying to send her away when he had been so insistent on ending the night together.
Was something wrong and he couldn't tell her?
Or did he just want space after that tense dinner?
Her instincts told her to go check on him. If he still pushed for her to go rest, she would, but at least she would know he was fine.
She undressed completely, pulled on a thin dressing robe, and recalled the Heart into her body to put Xin Jing to sleep. Her behavior today would have to be addressed, but that was most likely better done as a group, with the other Guardians, as the nymph was proving to need more than one guide. While she was happy Phobos could help earlier, she knew him having any influence over the Heart would scare Kandrakar, even if he was just giving the nymph a time-out.
Xin Jing seemed to like Elyon a lot, as she was desperate to clear the air with the queen. Maybe Elyon could help Xin Jing learn modern ways?
Will, hoping not to startle the prince to bad, as she did not have the moxie to just walk right into his bath for all the staff to see, teleported from her room.
The scent of sweet flowers and honey hit her nose as steam twisted around her exposed skin. The hot, wet air clung to her cool skin, shocking her mind from the temperature change.
She was floating in the air, above the magic fueled hot springs. The roof was open to the night sky, and a cool breeze blew the steam away for a moment, letting her see the tall wooden fencing surrounding the mid-sized pool, with plants and a trickling stream. There was a closed door behind her, with a neatly folded pile of clothes on a stone bench. White and gray rocks made up the somewhat circular shape of the pool that looked slick with the thick humidity.
Across from her, lounged the object of her deepening affection, arms up on the rocks, long hair cascading into the water, shining in the starry night and dim torches around him.
His chest was bare, water just above his waist, skin wet and glistening.
His eyes met hers. Raising a brow at her entrance, he simply stated, "You know, most people knock before entering an occupied bath."
A strange impulse overcame her, and she grinned, making him frown, and released her magic, dropping into the water with an enormous splash.
Phobos sputtered in shock, water in his eyes and mouth, and she hurried through the hot water and jumped on him, grabbing him around his neck as she let out a mirthful laugh.
Phobos huffed out an annoyed growl, grabbing her, pulling her flush to him, and spinning so her back was to the rocks, him trapping her with his body.
"Keeper," he hissed, still annoyed, not finding her antics amusing when it messed with his peaceful bath.
Only before she could speak, the doors behind him open. She locked eyes with one of his guards, the man's eyes widening just as Will ducked to hide from view against the prince's wet chest.
"Sorry, my lord! I heard noises and came to check," the guard quickly explained, his voice strained.
Phobos was staring down at her, a smug smirk on his face as he coolly answered, "All is fine. You may take your leave."
"Yes, sir!"
The door closed and Will sunk down into the water, mortified once again that day.
Phobos pulled her up and pushed her wet hair from her face.
"I think we are free to make excessive noise now, don't you agree?"
She looked away, cheeks red from more than the heat. "Shut up."
Will expected him to kiss her, with how close he now hovered. Only he just watched her, hands on either side of her now, trapping her, eyes tracing her face. Confused, she looked at him, reaching to touch her hand to his wet chest.
A thrill filled her at the contact, mind becoming drunk on the pleasant sensations he invoked in her. Ever since she spied him alone in the courtyard, she wanted more of him. All of him. And he was more than willing to give her that.
Her hand moved slowly, tracing his defined collar bone down to his hard pecks, fingers grazing his nipple as her hand, and eyes, moved lower. She swallowed as her hands reached the divide between skin and water, seeing the beginning of fine blond hair.
He caught her wandering hand, stopping her. He grabbed her other, holding them both up in the air as his face hovered closer to hers. She was breathing harder, eyes heavy as his face drifted closer, lips brushing hers, his blue eyes lidded.
Only he didn't kiss her still, lips ghosting hers and moving along her cheek to purr in her ear, "Let's get you cleaned up after today's mess."
She shivered, not sure of his plan, but didn't object as he pulled her robe off and tossed it to the side with a heavy, wet plop. He moved swiftly, sitting along an underwater lip and pulling her back against his chest.
"Relax," he cooed, voice like fine silk in her ear, long fingers dragging down her arm. "Let me wash everything away."
He reached for a bottle behind him and squeezed a clear, sweet substance in his hands.
"Wash away your troubles," he said, mouth still at her ear, making her body tingle and her gut fill with aching fire. He lathered the soap against her skin, starting at her shoulders and neck.
His hands massaged her flesh as he went, his long fingers digging into her and pressing into the knots she didn't know she had collected.
She moaned deeply, his hands rubbing firmly at her neck and shoulders, teeth now biting her earlobe before sucking.
"Wash away all that worries you," he went on, slick hands slipping down her front. She watched, eyes struggling to stay open, as he traced the outline of her breast, nails scraping for a second across the hot skin.
"Wash everything away until all that shall be left is you and I," he declared, hands drifting lower, rubbing a light circle around her navel, making her belly twitch.
"Look at how your body craves my touch," he pointed out as he blew a gentle breath in her ear, causing her to reflexively shy away from the tingling sensation. Only his powerful arms held her in place. "Do you know how wild you drive me? Kissing you underneath the waves that day, unable to fulfil what we both craved so desperately, still plagues me. And then at the lake? You in my lap. Mouth, ah, so inviting," he groaned, soapy hands traveling back up her body. "So many times before today."
Hands suddenly grabbing her breast roughly, making her gasp and eyes snapped wide.
"Phobos," she whimpered as he pinched her nipples, his mouth at her neck, teeth pressing down. Under the water, he was rocking against her, and she could feel how ready he was. Yet, still, he kneaded her soft chest, pinching and pulling and twisting as he kissed her neck.
"Tell me what you want," he panted, voice deep. "Who you want."
Will felt so hot. From the water. From him.
"You," she pleaded. "You." She couldn't take it anymore. "Phobos,please." He wasn't the only one sexually frustrated from the last few weeks.
It was a blur as he finally snapped, pulling them both from the water and dropping her to the stone ground, the chill of the night biting her skin only for a moment before he dropped on her, eyes wild and excited.
"Ah," she cried, tears of relief brimming her eyes. "Yes!" She went to hold him, only he grabbed her hands and pinned her wrists above her head.
"Tell me who you desire, who your body craves," he demanded, wet silky hair cascading down all around them like a shimmering curtain of moonlight. Blue eyes ablaze with desire.
It was funny how needy he was, like this, when he was so reserved in his day-to-day life. It made this better, in some odd way, seeing him fall apart because of her.
"You," she gasped, falling apart in return and letting go of everything. Every worry. Every doubt.
It was okay, like this, for now.
It was okay to be with him and not worry about tomorrow.
They slipped back into the hot water and Will felt herself doze off as he resumed a less charged version of his treatment. He seemed to enjoy it as well, lightly massaging her shoulders and neck, lathering soap across her skin, washing her short hair. It was oddly intimate, considering they had just crossed the physical boundary that day. But she understood a bit better, the clearer she saw him.
He was, in many ways, broken. And with her, he could have something whole. Someone that wanted him the same, no matter his status.
She knew that bothered him. The appearance of inequality between them. But she never once thought she was his better. Just hoped for the best in him.
"Phobos?" she called, laying back against him, looking up at the steam dissipating in thick ribbons into the chilly night sky.
"Yes?" he answered, arms around her, head leaning on hers.
She had wanted to ask about dinner and what Elyon had said about his 'status', and a few other things, but his mood always soured at the mention of his sister, so she asked, instead, "Do you want to hang out, tomorrow? After the meeting?"
He softly kissed her wet hair. "Of course. I believe we established you are a splendid use of my time."
She yawned, closing her eyes and sinking back into him more. "Glad you finally agree."
His chest shook against her back as he chuckled. "You should head to bed. There is no telling what nonsense you will deal with tomorrow."
"I will," she said, even as her mind became sluggish. "It's just so nice, like this. With you."
His arms tightened, and it took a few long moments before he said, voice suddenly troubled, "Yes, it truly is, my dear Wilhelmina."
Her heart skipped, understanding the weight of his words, and knowing now was not the time to address it.
It was cruel of fate then, that at that moment, a coughing fit overcame the prince at her back. She pulled away as he turned from her, blood leaking between his fingers as he covered his mouth.
Since being on Meridian, she knew the prince had suffered a few wounds, from a cut on the beach, to an attack in his own room, he had needed aid a few times. And she knew there was more behind the scenes she wasn't privy to, that was kept from her. She hated being left in the dark, not knowing what was happening under her very nose.
Yet, seeing Phobos' body heave for each breath, blood spurting with each convulsion of his chest, she almost wished she remained ignorant to the realities of his life.
"Phobos!" she yelled as she rushed to grab him, trying to support his shaking frame. "Shit! Hang on, I'll go get Cornelia-"
"No," he gasped out, bloodied hand grabbing her forearm. He was visibly pale, lips turning blue. "It will pass."
"What will pass?" she demanded, pulling free of his weakening grip. "The fucking blood you're hacking up?"
He grabbed at the side of the pool and held himself up as he answered, weakly, "Yes. This is mild."
"Phobos, if you don't start making sense, I'm taking both of us, naked or not, to Cornelia's room right now," she said, reaching out to help support him.
Only he pushed her away, making her stumble back.
"Leave me," he managed, blood around his mouth, eyes flashing. "Now."
"Phobos," she tried to approach him again, only he clenched his teeth, looking almost feral, hunched away from her.
"Go!" he snapped, voice harsh, breaking.
Will swallowed, heart thundering in her chest, and stepped back.
Her hands pressed firmly to her own mouth as she fought a sob in the back of her throat, her watery brown eyes holding his icy blues as she forced herself to do as he asked, and teleported away.
