A/N: Sorry for the wait! Life has been kicking my butt lately and I've been kind of consumed by Monster Hunter... Anyways, I hope you enjoy!
I tried something new with this chapter which is part of the reason why it took so long. Trying to get everything from Stellar's prospective can be a little hard considering I really don't want to add a lemon into this, at least not yet, should it come down to it.
Let me know what you think. Like, love, hate, I really don't care.
The instant the pain flashed through me, strong arms wrapped themselves around me and lips crashed into mine. They held a passion unlike any I had ever experienced and it took my breath away. This kiss was so different from the first we had together. The raw emotion shook me to my very core and I gasped.
I was swept away and utterly mesmerized by… my mate. My mate. This male whom I had never met in my life and yet, I knew him. It was the first time in my life that I felt like I belonged anywhere. This was home. He was home and I couldn't part with it.
With that realization, I finally saw that line, the mating bond, which was tugging us closer together. It filled my senses and I was falling into Tamlin as he fell into me. We were both kissing each other desperately. As Tam kissed down my throat, I moaned his name. It was a sound I had never uttered in my life.
"Stellar." Tamlin wrenched his face from mine and looked into my soul. "You're mine." The possessive tone he used sent a shutter down my spine. "Mine." The tingle rippled down my spine and I couldn't help the shudder that wracked my body.
Yet, my stubbornness refused to let him claim me easily. "Earn it, High Lord. Earn me." I taunted. A growl was all I got before strong hands threw me onto the large bed. And then all kinds of male were on top of me and I was being smothered in that intoxicating smell. Before I could get lost in Tamlin, a small, subtle nudge made itself known in my head and I suddenly remembered the mission I was sent on.
'How could I be so stupid!' I thought to myself as I disentangled myself from the delicious male that had, somehow, managed to wrap itself around me. "Tamlin, I have to go." A growl was all I received. I fought harder and managed to get my torso free. "Let. Go. Tamlin." The struggle was getting absurd and I had to meet Feyre soon. I had a promise to keep.
"Never."
That one word stilled me. It held all the promises that had yet to be said. It was so full of hope that I met intense emerald eyes. What I found there swept me off my feet and I was falling hard for this male.
With a shake of my head to clear it, I shrugged my shoulders. "I promised Lady Feyre that I would meet her soon. She had a few things she still wanted to discuss with me." I pleaded with him to let me go for a bit. "But I promise, after that, you can have my undivided attention."
A growl was emitted from Tamlin and I smirked to myself at his childishness. So protective. "You have exactly one hour, Stellar, and then I'm going to claim you." There was absolutely no room for negotiations. And I secretly loved it.
I let him see my amused smirk as I crawled off the bed. "You can certainly try, High Lord, but I'm not easily claimed." I winked at him as I slipped out the door and headed to Feyre and my most uncertain future.
Feyre
"Rhys! Calm down! I promise this ruins nothing! Stellar already has a plan and, if Cassian trusts her, then I trust her as well. You should as well."
Ever since I had left Stellar, I had been arguing with Rhysand about the latest development in my extraction. It wasn't like Stellar could have helped that she was the mate of Tamlin. Hell, I couldn't help that I was the mate of Rhys, but that didn't stop me and it shouldn't stop Stellar.
"But she just ruined the mission and you will be stuck there forever! How can you be so calm about this?! You are literally in hell."
"Calm down Rhys. She couldn't help that she is his mate." I felt a flash of irritation swiftly followed remorse. I sent a chuckle down the bond and let me know that I had forgiven him. Even if he could be annoying as hell, I loved my mate with all I was.
A glimmer of love sparkled down the bond from Rhys and I savored it for a moment. "Forgive me, my love. Not having you near me is driving me insane and I need you soon." Lust pulsed through him and straight into me. "I miss your mouth and all the smartass things you say and what it can do to me." Images from the cabin flashed through my mind and I was instantly needy.
"Stop that Rhys! Do you want to cause me more problems?" I paused, savoring his slight meekness. "But I miss that wicked tongue all over my body." Lust raced down my side and straight to him. "Trust me, and trust in Stellar, love. We can do this and I'll be back in your arms sooner than you think."
Warmth flooded my body at remembering his strong arms embracing me. How I longed to be in his arms again, enclosed in his wings. To smell his citrus and sea scent made me weak with desire. "I miss you so much Rhys."
I hadn't allowed myself to feel the loneliness with all the problems I needed to solve here in the Spring Court. I knew that if I had dwelled on it, I would have ran right back to Rhys and back to the life he offered me from the start. All my feelings were sent down that special bond between us and there was more love than I could comprehend that flew through the bond.
"I miss you too, Feyre, so much. Soon, we'll be able to take comfort in each other again. For now, darling, be the High Lady, and fight your way out. Maybe we could start making children." His chuckle made me want to smack him.
"Prick. Go bother Cassian. And you know my thoughts about children. Now off with you. Stellar and I have a meeting… Once I drag her away from her mate." I snickered at the thought and with a gentle caress to the bond; I put my mental shields back in place.
'Now to… interrupt dear Stellar.' With that thought, I let my powers out and found hers, and Tamlin's mind for that matter, in her room. Without thinking about what they could be doing, I gave her mind a gentle tug and instantly withdrew. There was no need to be in her head longer than necessary especially when she was tangled up with her mate, even if she hadn't officially accepted the bond.
Within five minutes, Stellar was approaching my room and I opened my door before she could knock. "Welcome Stellar. Please, come in." I graced her with a smile and tried to make it look like it was just two females getting together to chat about nothing. The less that knew about this meeting, the better.
Stellar
"Thank you, my Lady." I headed into her room and sat down in the seat by the window. "I am sorry for being… delayed." A blush crept up on my cheeks at what she had interrupted.
One of Feyre's graceful hands waved dismissively. "Think nothing of it, Stellar, and please, just call me Feyre." Her eyes twinkled. "I understand what being near your mate means. The craving to be closer and the absolute rightness of it." She smiled a knowing smile. "I envy you at this moment, Stellar."
Her words shocked me. How could she envy me? I was the mate of Tamlin, our court's sworn enemy. I could have potentially ruined everything the moment we had locked eyes with each other and yet, she envied me? Impossible. There was nothing to envy, I was nothing to be envied. I was nothing.
Feyre gave a great sigh and sat down next to me. "Stellar, listen to me. It's a rare thing to find your other half. We both have been lucky enough to find them and I envy you because you get to be near yours right now. I don't know. Mine is on the other side of the continent." The sad smile she gave me almost made me cry.
I bowed my head in shame. "Forgive me, Lady Feyre. I completely forgot about that one fact." I raised my head and looked into her eyes. "But, I'm here to fix that. No matter the cost." Everyone deserved to be with the one they loved. "Now, let us discuss my new plan so that you get home faster to your mate." I gave her a cunning smile and started laying out my plans.