The City on the Edge
Thirty-two

In the bathroom, Sebastian leaned against the counter with his shirt draped over the sink and a fresh bandage around his shoulder. Catrine did a decent job of patching him up quickly. She hadn’t fully healed him, but she managed to get the bullet out.

Sebastian winced as Ronnie dabbed at his swollen nose and lip with a damp cloth. Anya had done quite a bit of damage with just a simple bash of her head. A flare of hurt flashed through her. Sloan had finally killed someone close to them. A friend and sister. An absent void that would remain forever unfilled. The last living member of Malik’s blood family- gone.

Maybe Alukorra was right- she couldn’t afford to ignore the problem and stay on the sidelines anymore.

Ronnie’s fingers tightened on the cloth, sending trails of red tinged water down her wrist. Sebastian gently grabbed her hand, taking the cloth from her. Ronnie knew from the look in his eyes that he had deciphered how she was feeling. Privacy was a thing of the past, it seemed. He’d always have a front row seat to her feelings and she to his.

“I know I already said it, but I am sorry about what happened to that girl,” he spoke softly, as if he were afraid of being overheard.

“Her name is Anya.” Was. “And you didn’t do anything to her. It was Sloan.”

Sebastian sighed and the press of his guilt grew against Ronnie’s chest. “I am responsible. Your friend is right. Even in the Marble City, we hear the rumors about Sloan but we never act because it’s just the Edge. Our high council thought that maybe Sloan’s rumored experiments could hold value in the guard.” His lip curled, like the very idea disgusted him. “I didn’t think that by the time I finally convinced my parents to let me come down here, it would already too late.”

“You’re here now.” A small comfort that didn’t mean much and even he knew it.

Sebastian huffed out a bitter laugh. “For all the good that it’s done. I was almost killed by a vampire my first day here. Sloan and his men have almost killed me. I got shot in the shoulder. My nose was almost broken. In fact, if it weren’t for you, I’d probably be dead by now.”

“Yeah, you probably would be.” Ronnie couldn’t keep the humor out of her voice.

Sebastian smiled at her. “You know, where I come from, guys like me are supposed to be the ones saving girls like you.”

Ronnie quirked a brow at him. “Well, where I come from, girls like me can usually save ourselves.”

His smiled widened. “I believe it. You certainly took me by surprise. I’ve never met anyone like you. Maybe that’s why you imprinted on me.”

That was unexpected. “What?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe you and I being so different had something to with it.”

“Oh. Opposites attract, huh?”

“Maybe.”

Opposites? Ronnie studied his face, taking in the bright blue of his eyes and golden curl of his hair set against his fair skin. The physical differences were there. She looked down at where his fingers still held her wrist. Her skin was darker. Her hair was darker. She was stronger than him, faster than him, and she could hear the beat of his pulse speed up every time she leaned in close.

Her eyes moved over the expanse of his chest. Though his arms and chest were defined, he didn’t compare to her. He was soft where she was firm. A lifetime of running and thieving had left her with a build of lean muscle. A life of luxury hadn’t paid him the same favor. She reached out and touched, spreading her fingers over the warmth of his torso. He inhaled sharply and she felt the muscles jump beneath her fingertips.

Attraction went beyond the physical, though, and Ronnie considered what she knew about Sebastian. She supposed he was kind. He had helped them escape from the manor, despite knowing that he was placing himself in danger by doing so. So, maybe he was also brave? A little?

He was human, the son of Premier Donovan King and Lady Regina King. That leant a weight to his name and the reputation of a lifetime spent being pampered. He had probably never known struggle like she had. But did that make such a difference? Could she blame him for the circumstances they were born into? A part of her wanted to, but then again, that part of her wanted to blame every human for the state of things.

Desire to explore him burned in her hands and in her chest, this person with whom she had bonded. Ronnie looked up at him. He watched her intently, patiently, calmly waiting for her to come to whatever conclusion she may. Silent permission to touch and do what she pleased. Ronnie realized that, with everything considered, she actually knew very little about him. Perhaps there was some merit to the legend of fate weaving people together after all.

“Maybe you’re right,” she said softly.

Sebastian leaned in suddenly, capturing her lips with his and sending a shock through her. There wasn’t any passionate heat. Instead, he acted as if he were simply moving on impulse, satiating the need for some kind of contact, though Ronnie couldn’t tell if he was acting on her desire or his own. Would it always feel like lightning every time they touched?

“I’m sorry,” he mumbled, pulling back with a worried look. “I shouldn’t touch you without your perm-”

Ronnie tugged him back in, her hands cupping his cheeks, and pressed her lips to his. He made a sound of surprise, but relaxed into her hold. He tilted his head back slightly, allowing her to bear down on him with the few inches she had over him. His looped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer.

The need to be close and need to touch thrummed beneath her skin and she knew that it burned under his as well. They’d formed a chain of attachment that they would have to accustom themselves to from now on and in this moment, Ronnie most definitely didn’t mind.

She ran her tongue over where their lips met, touching his gently and wondering if he tasted as sweet as he smelled. Before she could replace out, Sebastian pulled away from her, sliding her hands from his face and holding them. Ronnie gazed at him, her mind a little clouded from the kiss and the sensations settling in her body.

Oh.

She raised a hand and traced beneath his eye. The blue iris had been over taken by a swirl of silver that hadn’t been there before. She recalled the mixing colors back when they were in the alcove. She hadn’t realized it was a sign of contact.

She looked down at where their hands were joined and brought his up to touch her lips, still warm and moist and sugary sweet.

“I get it now,” she whispered to herself.

“Get what?”

“What color are my eyes?”

Sebastian took them in, studying her, and when his brows raised, she knew he understood. “Wow,” he breathed. “Will that happen every time we touch each other?”

“I don’t know,” she answered uncertainly. “Maybe? This is all new for me.”

“It’s definitely new for me. I guess we’re on the same page then.”

Ronnie smiled. It felt good to smile, to allow his presence to lift some of the weight of the day’s events from her shoulder. She reached out, trailing a finger up his wrist, over the crook of his elbow, and across the lines of his bicep.

“I was wrong. You’re stronger than you look.”

He shrugged. “The few muscles I have, trust me.”

“Not just that. You used that sword fairly well back at the manor.”

He nodded, tracing fingers across her jaw and into her hair, exploring for the first time. “Mandatory training. I was never any good with my instructors. They all but gave up on me. My older brother Noble took up training me himself.”

“Older brother?”

Sebastian smiled fondly. “Yeah. I looked up to him when we were kids. I still follow his steps and advice to this day.”

“Something happened to him, didn’t it?”

“He was killed while out on survey. The premier’s sons have the responsibility to protect the city we serve.” His words sounded like the recitation of a pledge said every morning. “It’s a long standing rule. We pair up with guard leadership and patrol the city and its borders. We call it surveying. Noble was supposedly killed by a rouge group of witches while checking the city border.”

“Supposedly? You don’t believe he was?”

Sebastian’s brow furrowed. He took both of her hands and brought them to his chest. “He was surveying with Sloan and Blackburn, his instructors at the time. I know for a fact it wasn’t a group of witches that killed him.”

The door opened suddenly and they broke apart as if burned by fire, Ronnie taking several steps back. She turned to see Lorna standing in the doorway with a couple of towels in her arms. She looked from Sebastian, who was pulling on his shirt, to Ronnie, who stood awkwardly by the tub.

Her jaw clenched, but she spoke politely. “Hazel thought you two might like some towels.” She flicked her gaze to Sebastian. “They wouldn’t be needed, though, if you could manage to keep your clothes on.”

“Lorna-” Ronnie began but Lorna shoved the towels in her arms and turned on heel, storming down the hall and disappearing through her bedroom door.

“I get the impression you guys are close. Real close.” Sebastian said, pulling on his shirt and buttoning it.

“Yeah. She’s my best friend. We’ve known each other since we were kids.” Ronnie stared after her.

“…Lovers?”

Ronnie sighed. “Sometimes, but that words seems wrong. It’s hard to describe.” She looked at him. “Do you think its possible to love someone without being in love with them?”

Sebastian didn’t hesitate to nod. “Yes.” The far away look on his face made her wonder who he was thinking about.

“Is it the girl you were with?” she asked, thinking back to when she first saw him. “In the white dress?”

“Who?” It took him a moment before he laughed. “Oh, her. No, that was my little sister Laurel. No…” he trailed off, lost in thought before his attention snapped back to her. “I understand, though. Back home, I have a childhood friend that I’m actually engaged to.” He stumbled over the word with a wince, as if he just realized it might be an issue. “I can only imagine how she’ll feel when she replaces out what happened. If she replaces out.” He paused a moment. “When she replaces out. It would be wrong to keep it from her, though I don’t think I’ll enjoy the conversation.”

The thought of Sebastian with someone else sent an unpleasant curl through her stomach. “Engaged? Do you love her?”

“Yes.” His straightforward answer surprised her. “Adalind is such a bright person that it’s difficult not to, despite her monster of a father. She knows my favorite food and my favorite color, what books and music I like. But, I’m not in love with her. She’s an old friend. Our engagement is a political one. My parents want her family’s support in the court. Even though it’s all politics, I still care about her.”

“Monster father?” Ronine’s lip quirked up. “Where is your human politeness all of a sudden?”

Sebastian shook his head, a grim smile across his lips. “Her name is Adalind Blackburn.”

“Yikes.”

“Yes. It’s all politics and it’s a total waste of a good friendship. Especially when I know that our marriage means more to her than it does to me.”

“Yeah.” Ronnie nodded slowly. She understood what that felt like. She’d always known that Lorna wanted more than Ronnie had to give.

Sebastian took the towels from her. He nodded down the hall. “You should go talk to her. Good, lasting friendships are hard to come by.”

Ronnie hesitated. “What am I supposed to say to her?”

“Tell her what you tell yourself.”

Ronnie shook her head. “No, I can’t. It’ll hurt her even more. Malik is outside burying his only sister, we just lost a piece of our family…this isn’t the right time.”

Sebastian cupped her cheeks. “Ronnie, there is never a right time to tell someone you care about that your love just isn’t enough for them, that it isn’t what they want it to be, but they still deserve to know.”

Ronnie felt certain that Sebastian spoke to himself as he spoke to her, his words meant for the both of them. She nodded. “You’re right. I guess I’ve put it off long enough.”

“You’re strong enough to face down Sloan and his ghouls, you can handle speaking honestly to a friend.” Sebastian smiled encouragingly.

“I think I’d rather face the ghoul than break her heart,” Ronnie muttered as Sebastian nudged her out of the bathroom.