Hellbound Heart

This bonus chapter is dedicated to @Ivette_M11 and @Sacogun!! Thank you so much once again for the supergifts!!!

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They stayed like that for an immeasurable amount of time. Elle was too shocked at his sudden action to move or say anything. Her mind could not seem to process anything. r

Only one thought was ringing and spinning around in her head. He was… Sebastian was hugging her? She was utterly speechless. This seems so unreal to her. Like a dream. She did not dare make any movements, not to even lift her hands that were hanging loosely at her sides. It was only for fear that this wonderful dream would vanish like the sea mist and reality would come crashing down on her. r

She wanted for this moment to last longer, even if it were only a few extra seconds. Because with this, her severe fear was finally dissolving. He was not going to end it all. Her fear… it was not going to happen… At least not yet.r

Soon, he moved again, only to scoop her up into his arms. Then he went to grab the towel that was placed on the counter. r

He put her down and gently, making sure that she could stand steadily and would not fall over before wrapping her in her bathrobe. Then he picked up the towel and proceeded to dry her hair with it. r

Elle looked up at him with eyes circling wide. His face looked so severe. But his actions were the exact opposite – they were extremely gentle!r

"You were sick just a couple of days ago. And here you are, soaking there in the tub and getting yourself wet like this for so long." He grumbled with a frown on his forehead. But his hands remained so… tender as they rubbed her hair in the fluffy towel, absorbing the moisture and drying her. r

His face remained severe as he continued towel drying her hair. r

"I was late because… something happened on my way back…" he suddenly said. "The jet's pilot was apparently Elijah's mole. He deliberately made an emergency landing in a different country. And that had delayed my return." r

Shock filled Elle's face once again. She had not expected any explanation to come from him. Those questions she threw to him when she had burst out earlier… she was never expecting him to answer. But here… here it was… she was so stunned that she could not react for a long while and just stared up at him blankly.r

"Now get out of here and get changed before I end up dragging you back under the shower and…" his jaws worked and he opened the door, unceremoniously guiding her out before shutting the bathroom's door behind him. r

Elle blinked, as she slowly turned to look at the closed door. r

…r

Sebastian took a long time in the bathroom. Elle was already lying on the bed when he finally came out. When he took a look, he found that she was fast asleep. r

He had deliberately taken his time in the bath, so she would have time to fall asleep and rest. It was already dawn and he knew she had not gotten any sleep yet. r

Sitting next to her, Sebastian threw his head back and stared up at the ceiling. No one knew what were the thoughts that had lingered in his mind.r

Then he laid next to her and waited for her to snuggle up to him as she usually did. But she did not even move after minutes of him waiting patiently. His hand was itching to grab and pull her close to him, but he was afraid he would wake her up. r

It was better for him to not accidentally wake her. Because if she was awake, he was currently not that confident in his self-control in keeping his hands off her, even if he knew she badly needed her rest. r

He continued waiting, impatiently. But Elle did not roll towards him as she used to do. Then he remembered the scene of her and that f**king wolf. His expression turned sour thinking of how willingly she had cuddled the wolf and he slowly and carefully pulled the blanket off her. r

She curled in a little from the loss of heat of the blanket being removed. That caused Sebastian to shut his eyes close, looking a little exasperated and sour. He was about to cover her with the blanket again with much displeasure when she finally moved! She rolled halfway on her side, her hand patting on the mattress as though looking for something, which he assumed to be the blanket. When her hand brushed against him, she paused for a moment. It was as though subconsciously; she was registering his warmth and then she immediately snuggled herself close to him. r

Sebastian silently cleared his throat when he realized that he was smiling foolishly by himself like an idiot. He carefully and gently wrapped his arm around her and soon, he drifted off to sleep as well. r

…r

The next morning, Sebastian was the one who woke up first. Well, it was because Elle had slept until noon. r

He was already impeccably dressed when Elle finally woke up. r

"You have work today?" she asked him.r

"No." he replied. "We're going somewhere." That had gotten her attention and she lost all her sleepy vibes.r

"W-what? Is it an important event?!" r

"No… so don't panic. You don't need to rush. You don't need to put on any gowns." r

"But you're… dressed up like you're going to attend an international award ceremony." r

"What do you mean? I always dress this way." Sebastian tilted his head slightly.r

Elle could only take a deep breath and climbed off the bed. He was damned right. How could she forget that he always dressed like this? Impeccable and without flaw.r

"So… where are we going?" she asked, a little unsure if he would even answer her. r

"We're just going to a certain village, near Black… a certain forest. As promised, I'll reveal them to you, the secrets that I was telling you about. There." r