Stay pt 2

After I placed the tray of food near Sebastian, my heart was pounding in my chest. I could hardly believe it—here I was, sitting beside him, feeding him. The tension, the emotions between us, felt thick, almost palpable. Each time I raised a spoonful of food to his mouth, he looked directly into my eyes. His gaze, steady and piercing, made me feel like I was the only person in the world at that moment.

Sebastian’s expression softened as he ate, the corners of his lips turning up in a small smile with every bite. He was calm, almost serene. And I, sitting there, could feel my cheeks burn every time our eyes met. It was as if the world outside of this room didn’t exist anymore. He was eating from my hand, trusting me in a way I hadn’t ever thought possible. I couldn’t help but smile too. I felt… connected to him, like there was an unspoken bond forming between us.

With every bite he took, I could see his strength slowly returning, and a part of me swelled with pride and happiness. For once, I didn’t feel like just a servant, a girl who was there to please him. This felt like something more—something deeper. He didn’t need to say anything; his eyes said it all. They were softer, warmer. And I couldn’t help but feel butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

Suddenly, the door burst open, shattering the peaceful moment between us. El Rado walked in, his presence commanding the room in an instant. His eyes scanned the scene, first landing on Sebastian, then on me. His expression hardened as soon as he saw me.

"What are you still doing here?" El Rado's voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a blade. There was no politeness, no courtesy—just pure annoyance.

I froze, unsure of what to do. I looked toward Sebastian, expecting him to say something. I knew I was supposed to leave, that this was a private matter between brothers. I was about to put down the plate and get up when Sebastian’s voice, firm and resolute, stopped me.

"No," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "She will stay."

El Rado’s face contorted in surprise and then anger. “Sebastian, what is this? Why is she staying? This is a family matter.”

Sebastian sighed, his gaze remaining calm but with an edge of irritation. "Brother, I’ve just woken up from days of unconsciousness, and you want to start a fight? We haven’t spoken in days, and this is the first thing you choose to argue about?"

El Rado clenched his jaw, visibly frustrated. "It’s not like that, Sebastian. I’m just saying this isn’t something she should be here for. Our family business is private. You know that."

Sebastian didn’t seem fazed by his brother’s anger. His voice was steady, his posture relaxed as he looked directly at El Rado. "It doesn’t matter who is here. If I’m going to trust any woman in this house apart from Raven, it will be her and if I’m wrong, I’ll face the consequences myself."

As sabstian scratched his head looking down my eyes locked with El Rado's and El Rado looked at me again, his gaze full of disgust. It was as if he couldn’t fathom why I was allowed to stay, why Sebastian would even defend me like this. He clearly didn’t like it, but he had no choice but to go along with it.

"Fine," El Rado muttered, though it was clear he wasn’t happy about it. His eyes darted back to Sebastian. "I’m just glad you’re back, brother. A lot has happened while you were... out. Everyone’s rushing to come back and see you. But I was the first here, and I have some good news."

Sebastian raised an eyebrow, signaling for him to continue.

"The war," El Rado said, his tone shifting to something lighter, "went well. We managed to take control of the territory. Evander got the documents, and everything’s settled. We own the land now."

Sebastian nodded slowly, taking in the news. "That’s good to hear."

"There’s more, but Evander will fill you in when he gets back," El Rado continued, though his tone was still guarded. "I just wanted to say... it’s good to see you alive, brother."

He smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes, and with that, he turned and left the room. As the door closed behind him, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. The tension in the room had been suffocating.

I hesitated for a moment before speaking, feeling anxious. "Maybe your brother was right… Maybe I shouldn’t be in the room when you two talk. You’re family, after all."

Sebastian looked at me, his gaze softer now. "It doesn’t matter if you’re here. He talks freely when Raven is around, so why should it be any different with you? My intentions toward you have been clear from the beginning."

I nodded, though his words didn’t fully ease the worry gnawing at the back of my mind. El Rado wasn’t to be trusted, I knew that. But without any solid proof, there wasn’t much I could do. The unease remained, but I chose to let it go for now.

As the evening drew on, we continued our quiet time together. Sebastian seemed more at ease, but after a while, his exhaustion caught up with him. He yawned, his body clearly signaling that it was time to rest. I stood up, ready to leave him to sleep.

"I’ll leave now," I said softly, gathering my things. "You should get some rest."

But before I could take another step, his voice stopped me again.

"No," he said, his tone softer now. "Stay. I want you to sleep by my side tonight... watch over me."

I froze, stunned by his words. Did he really want me to stay? My heart raced, my thoughts spiraling in a million directions. This was... unexpected. Completely unexpected. I had never imagined that Sebastian would ask me to stay with him, to lie beside him as he slept.

I looked at him, my eyes wide with surprise, but his expression was calm, almost vulnerable. I swallowed hard, trying to suppress the wave of emotions crashing over me. "Okay," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

With trembling hands, I climbed into bed beside him, carefully tucking myself in next to him. My heart was pounding so loudly I was sure he could hear it. As I lay there, staring at the ceiling, I couldn’t stop the smile that spread across my face. This was more than I had ever dreamed of. It was overwhelming, beautiful, and terrifying all at once.

He had asked me to stay.

As I settled in beside him, my mind was a whirlwind of emotions—happiness, disbelief, nervousness. But above all, I felt content. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I belonged, like I was more than just a servant.

I closed my eyes, letting the warmth of the moment wash over me, feeling his presence beside me. This was real. I was here, and he had asked me to stay.