She eyed him consideringly. Changing the tables on him. “Who were you, before you became what you are?”
Sebastian looked at her tucked under his arm. Looking so sorrowful and small next to him. He gave a short laugh. “Nobody. I was nobody.”
“Then how did you become so special.”
“It was my brother’s fault.” He said flatly.
“Alazareth? What did he do?” Her voice rose.
“Don’t give him so much credit.” Sebastian said dryly. “He’s deeply awful.”
She giggled. “Don’t be so dreadful to your brother.”
“He’s dreadful.” Bast retorted. Though his tone lacked conviction.
They grew more somber, and he continued. “He was the one that wanted to be a hero.”
She gave him a quizzical look.
“I was content being an aimless carpenter. But Alazareth wanted to join the cause of our world.”
“Which was?”
Sebastian thought it over. His mouth twitching as he thought how best to illustrate it for her. “In ou
Sebastian tasted the ripe flavor of fresh rabbit and forest cabbage in the broth. Combined with some unknown weeds and spices. “This is actually quite good.” Sebastian confided. Swallowing greedily. Elsabet nodded. Something adds a wild flavor. “Is that rabbit?” “No. It’s venom.” She nodded so sagely that he gave her a wary look. After an impossibly long moment, one corner of her mouth crooked. His body relaxed with relief. “It’s rabbit.” She said. Lifting a spoon and making a concentrated effort to not meet his assessing study. “The one I brought you?” He choked a little. She slumped, giving him a dark look. “Does it taste that old?” “No.” It’s not it.Reassured, he opened his mouth for another spoonful.Definitely not old. “You hunted?” He queried. “You’re magic faded when you passed out.” “No.” Her head shot up. “What do you
Sebastian groaned aloud. Closing his eyes and tightening his body as he kept them in. Using his will to tamp them down. Elsabet stood back from him. Watching in surprise. “Are you going to tell me what that was about.” “I have more beasts than you think, just waiting under my skin.” He explained. “You haven’t touched me in a while.” “And?” “You excited all of us.” Her brows shot up. “Sebastian.” Rhyers’s voice drew their attention to just inside the doorway. Rhyers’s usual immaculate hair was looking a bit tousled, and he had an urge look in his eyes. “Alpha needs you.” “No.” Elsabet shook her head. “He’s still injured.” “It’s to help with the Fallen.” Rhyers explained as he grimaced. “I’m sorry Elsabet, he has to go.” “When the alpha calls,” Sebastian weakly climbed from the bed. Grateful to be out of it, truly. But he swayed slightly as he got to his feet. “We must go.” The blanket fell away, a
Meadowbrook in Grier Country “Why is Rhyers in my caves, and us here?” Acharius asked, curiosity tinging his voice as he eyed the Grier Tutelage and the students meandering out of it as the day came to an end. The men all stood, leaning against the wrought iron fence surrounding the circular drive at the entrance of the tutelage. “Would you rather be at your cave?” “No.” Acharius said decisively. “There are demons running rampant in Meadowbrook right now. They can sense the Fallen is here, but they can’t pinpoint her unless they see her.” Acharius nodded. “I know all of that.” “Well, that’s what we’re doing.” “In Meadowbrook yes, but why are we at this…” “Tutelage?” “Place of gathering children and merciless lecturers.” Acharius corrected contemptuously. “Apparently you didn’t like your studies?” “My studies were on a boat.” Acharius said flatly. “And with a swor
Though Nora Bishop had already gone into the tutelage, Deragan had restrained Bast and Acharius from leaving. “I sense something. We’re waiting. I had a feeling this would be the case.” “What?” Acharius asked. “They’ve been waiting for her.” Deragan blanched. They all knew he was talking about a demonic presence. Though none could sense it as keenly as Deragan. Just then there was a crash from inside the tutelage. Even the horses attached to her carriage were beginning to tug their reins, pulling against the handle of the carriage, in their efforts to escape this place. A bad sign. Black shadows crossed over the windows spurring Deragan into action. He lurched into a blurring black mass as he crossed the abandoned drive. His body switching forms as it looked for the right one. Bast and Acharius were on his heels. “Keep a run to her carriage clear. I’m going in.” Deragan’s voice emerged from the shadow h
WaterRose, Meadow Mountain, Grier Country Elsabet wasn’t so oblivious, upon his return to WaterRose. As usual, he was weak and exhausted. Though in rather good health compared to usual. However, when he joined her for the evening meal her keen gaze snapped to his thigh. Her lips twisting in fury. He followed her gaze and grimaced. At some point, one of the minor gashes bled through his pants and began a trail down his leg. He’d been too busy battling the cimmerii to be aware of it. Which means I had no idea it was there. Or I’d have bothered to change my pants rather than rushing in to see her! “Elsabet.” He sighed. Deflating before she even began. “I won’t.” She tightened her mouth and shook her head adamantly. She rose from the table, abandoning a partially eaten plate, in order to push her chair in. “I won’t say it all again. I will give you this though, envision for a moment, just one
Radix murdering the child of the Fallen and their alpha, had been something the knights had blissfully refused to consider up to that point. Sebastian had offered to protect the child, to keep it at WaterRose and safely from Radix. But Deragan’s response had dashed that meager idea. “And have me explain to him how I could not protect his mother, and now he must go on without one? As I go on without her?” He’d shaken his head. “No, my brothers, I cannot.” They’d all looked at him sorrowfully. “And what if said child, were not born immortal as we are, but doomed to die as my Fallen always does? It would be my worst fear, even worse than losing my mate, to outlive my child and then wonder if they might return, and as whom? As whose child, that I would not get to raise?” A dreadful thought. “You see, I can barely survive the loss of her… How could I do that?” It was easy to see Deragan’s point. They’d all acknowled
Sebastian saw at first a glimpse of booted feet shuffling over stone. And chained hands around thick, dark arms. Covered in muddy filth. He lifted his head and saw the bars of a wall dungeon cell before him. He was in some kind of cave that smelled of the foulest things. Surrounded by cimmerii which scuttled the floors. Fires burned further down the corridor and made the whole cave stifling. Nearly unbearable from the heat and smoke. “Here’s your food, warlord.” An ugly firoque man with decaying skin and rotting fingers. He pushed a wood platter under the bottom of the bars. It splattered muck onto the floor. “I don’t want it.” The voice came from the person Sebastian was within, but he recognized it. Chavias. Chavias was watching Radix speaking to a few firoque. “I’ve sensed her for months, she’s in Ardae.” “We’ve searched the whole continent, my lord!” A firoque woman complained. “There is no creature like that.” “She has da
RHYERS Rhyers was in WaterRose’s library, patiently waiting for Sebastian to come down. As he often did. He sat quietly in the blue chair awaiting Sebastian, knowing he always wandered down when he was good and healed. Rhyers had leisurely picked up the book Elsabet had left set open on the counter. He’d picked up reading where she had left off. He was surprised to find it was plump with old-world tales. Some of the characters were very similar to the Forever Knights. Which he found intriguing. It was obvious she was trying to learn more about them. And the books stacked next to that one reflected a deep interest in history, and philosophy. Books that no average individual would’ve picked up. These books indicated she was a woman of deep intelligence. Something Rhyers had suspected it, but found it hard to discern, behind the layers of her rage. He nearly tossed the book when he saw her stalking through the doorway. He