Chapter 465: Family
Kind of miffed. I hadn't been spreading that particular fate of mine around and here was the vampire side of me spilling it willy-nilly. Okay, not so nilly. But willy? Yup, yup.
At least from the startled look on my undead friend's faces the revelation was satisfactorily shocking. Enough to convince Sebastian to have my back?
From the sounds of it, he didn't really have a choice.
Sunny's flawless face looked so sad I hugged her, letting Sebastian go, breaking the bond as my vampire retreated again and let me take the reins.
"Syd," she whispered. "Oh, Syd."
No crying. Damn her and her sweet sympathy. I was so over it.
Yeah, right.
"Such a burden to carry alone." Sunny wiped at a crystal tear on her cheek, clearly not as concerned about the whole weepy thing as I was, making it harder for me to keep the grip sadness had over my throat from forcing me to sob.
"I wish it mattered." Sebastian's shoulders rolled forward and for the first time since I'd met him, he looked defeated. "We all know, if Pannera orders us, we'll be forced to participate when Syd is stripped of the vampire essence."
"No," Sunny said, suddenly grim, arm around my waist while Uncle Frank came to stand behind me. "I will risk everything for the young woman who has done the same for me." She glared, the guilt trip she tossed at him so tangible I could almost breathe it in. "For all of us."
"I'm with my family," Uncle Frank growled. "My real family. Sunshine. Syd. This vampire clan thing can go to hell."
"You will be killed." Sebastian's tone didn't change, remaining quiet, calm. "At the very least stripped and banished from your blood clan. Left empty, powerless."
"Not if I have anything to say about it." I tapped one foot impatiently on the floor. Though I knew he was battling his loyalties, I'd saved his damned life. And no way was I letting anyone hurt Sunny and Uncle Frank.
Or Sebastian himself for that matter.
"Okay, tell me how this works," I said. "Like covens and the High Council, right? So you," I jabbed a finger at Sebastian, "are like me and she," I flicked toward the door, meaning Pannera, "is like Mom?"
He nodded slowly. "Yes, in a way. But it's a much deeper attachment. She is the mother, literally, of all of us. Through her blood we were made. I carry it, and because of that, when I make a vampire, her control comes before mine."
Again with the all or nothing. Hmmm. I wondered if the coven would even consider it?
Yeah, not.
"I care for you deeply," he said. "My feelings will never be in question. And I owe you my soul. But you're asking me to betray my family."
Oh boy. All the anger slid out of me as I crossed to him and hugged him. His arms lifted, pulled me close, the subtle scent of roses just enough to tickle my nose.
"I understand," I said. "Family is everything."
He looked down at me in silence. Nodded. Stepped away, though his hand lingered in mine a moment before he released me.
"I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens." And hope I wouldn't have to do something drastic to the people I cared about. It would break my heart to have to kill Sebastian.
"I'm going to check in with my old clan." Sunny's gown rustled as she turned. "Find out what really happened to Yvette. If there is something we can use against Batsheva."
I nodded. She had to be the key to this. As always.
"I'm with you." Uncle Frank turned and motioned to Sebastian. "Coming with us?"
"Not quite yet," he said. "Sydlynn, a moment?"
Wasn't like he was going to attack me or anything. Though from the worried look on Uncle Frank's face he wasn't so sure.
Charlotte completed her round of the room, now opening the door on the far wall, sliding through. I caught sight of a giant four-poster bed on the other side.
"Pannera saved my life too, once." Sebastian leaned on the back of a sofa, hands crossed before him, eyes on the carpet as his mind went to memory.
"You don't owe me an explanation." Yes, I was curious, of course I was. But I didn't want to push him when I had my own hide to worry about.
"I want you to understand," he said. Turned and sat on the settee before patting the cushion beside him in invitation. Why did the look in his eyes as he did so make me blush? Shunting aside the totally inappropriate thoughts racing through my head, reminding my libido this was a serious conversation and naughty thoughts about his deliciousness had no place, I perched next to him, hands fisted in my lap so they wouldn't shake.
He was so freaking yummy.
"When Nicholas turned, he came to me at once and attacked me." Sebastian shifted forward, one arm around the back of the sofa, leaning in as he spoke. No way was he hitting on me or anything. But wow, did it make it hard to concentrate when his face was so close to mine, chiseled jaw begging to be stroked, silken hair falling over his forehead. "I was dying, would have died, if Pannera hadn't rescued me. Turned me into one of hers." His power slid over me softly. "I owe her everything. Not just my life. But my eternal loyalty. And no, it's not just the pull of my blood, Sydlynn. It's true family." His eyes pleaded with me as he reached out and slid his fingertips over my cheek, tucking a stray strand behind my ear. "I should have come to my Queen when the essence claimed my soul." She hissed inside me, cracking the spell he seemed to hold over my hormones, but only for a moment. "But I was afraid. This is all my fault." He sat back then, sighing from lungs which didn't need air. Old habits never died, I supposed.
Time for a wakeup. "This isn't your fault," I said. "Or mine. It's Batsheva's and Ameline's. And the damned maji who made you in the first place."
"I swear I will do everything in my power to keep you safe." He leaned in again, the weaving of his magic drawing me toward him as if he'd never pulled away. "I will convince my Queen. Somehow. But please, believe me. I had no idea this was coming." He shook his head, dark hair swaying, beckoning, tempting. "There was a time she and I were close." I didn't want to know how close as jealousy jabbed me, though I could guess from the old longing in his voice. "But no longer. When I chose to make a home for myself and my blood clan in the New World, she became cold, though geographical distance means nothing to us."
There was much more to this story than he was telling, but I didn't care. I just wanted him to keep talking and never stop.
"It's been worse between us since you freed me from the essence. I fear she will never forgive me for allowing such power to slip through her fingers." So he knew she wasn't perfect. Okay then. "But we have enough history, I think I can sway her."
"We'll see." I couldn't help myself, reaching out to take his hand, breathing in the scent of roses his clothing carried. "This has to end well."
"Why is that?" His lips twisted into the sexiest smile I'd ever seen.
"I'm immortal," I said. "No way am I spending eternity on my own. I'm going to need friends," I licked my lips, remembering our only kiss, the cool but delightful feeling of his mouth when he rewarded me in the cave after his release, "to spend it with."
Sebastian's eyes narrowed, heavy lidded, smile spreading as he bent closer. So close, too close, too far.
Damn it.
"Oh, how you tempt me, demon girl," he whispered.
"I'm not a girl anymore," I whispered back.
And I'm positive, absolutely positive, had Charlotte not chose that moment to walk through the bedroom door, I would have found out what kissing Sebastian could really be like.
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