“I did it to save him, Aefre,” he says softly. “Constantine found out about your dalliance and he was so angry, Vito would have suffered unimaginably before he killed him. I thought he would send him away and then once you were married and happy, he would go back for him.”
“But we didn’t get married,” I say. “If he was so for it, why did it never happen?”
“I think you know,” he says meaningfully. “You had found your true nature and you were enjoying it. He didn’t want to spoil your fun, but he couldn’t tolerate a fling with Vito.”
“We were in love!” I exclaim, forgetting in my anger and sadness that I had ended it with him anyway for his own safety. “It wasn’t just a quick fling.”
“He knew that,” Sebastian says quietly.
“Why are you defending him?” I
demand but keep my back turned, not ready to look at him yet.
“He is still my sire in spite of everything,” he says quietly.
I slump my shoulders and put my forehead against the wall. He comes close to me, not touching, but invading my space and taking over my senses.
“Give in, Aeval,” he whispers to me.
I shake my head, but I want to. Oh, the gods, I want to.
Chapter 8
The Dark Fae Kingdom, March 2014 – Sebastian
Step back. Just step back and let me hold you. He wills her, using his power on her and she muffles her whimper and leans back against him. He wraps his arms around her and puts his cheek against hers.
“That’s better,” he murmurs.
“Thrace!” she suddenly exclaims and it feels like she has slugged him in the gut. She spins in his arms and he glares down at her. How dare she call out his brother’s name while he is holding her!
“I have to get to Thrace,” Aefre says with an urgent look on her face.
“Why?” he asks suspiciously.
“I need his help,” she says.
“With what?” he snaps.
She looks away with a guilty look and now he is filling with rage. His brother has nothing that he can’t offer her.
“There is going to be a war with the Dragons. Drake said the Faeries need to be united to beat them,” she admits reluctantly. “I have to go and ask him for his backing.”
Except that. He cannot offer her a Kingdom for her protection.
“Then why can he not go to see Thrace?” he asks.
“It is my fight, Seb, I need to go and ask him,” she says vehemently.
“I don’t understand,” he says, confused. Why is she talking about war?
“I know you don’t, and I will tell you, all of you soon,” she says and strokes his cheek.
“I love you,” he says. “You can tell me anything.”
“Aeval,” Drake says, striding up to them at a very inopportune moment. “Are you going to the Light?”
“Not now,” Sebastian says firmly. “Whatever the reason she needs to go can wait until she is rested. She is exhausted.”