Chapter 23 : Rats in the Larder

Sebastian's POV

"No, I will not be making—if you would all just—"

It was too loud, too much color and sound and light. Like I'd had too much to drink, or not enough of it. Where was Ayda? I could have sworn she was right behind me—where did she go? How could she leave me when I needed her most?

My mind was spinning, and all I could see were my father's eyes as he clutched my shirt front, foaming blood. He was so scared at the end. He'd been so scared—

"Bastian," Andreas was at my shoulder, crouched low to share my pain and offer his support.

I could feel the pressure of his gloved hand on my back, a reassuring anchor as I spun, lost in the void of my own grief. I was the last, the last of my family, the last of the Lykaios.

"Bastian, you…you have to let him go. We have to make arrangements. We have to—"

"I know," my voice was rust, the decay of steady iron against waves of loss.

First Mother, then Alex, now Father. Alone, always alone.

"Th