Family of Lies: Sebastian (20 page)

“I used to abandon my brothers and sightsee on my own,” Sebastian explained.

“Captain Pembrost is going to be thrilled if he finds out.”

“We needed a private place to go where it was unlikely anyone would try to kill you. The old rooms of King Harris’s brother qualifies.”

“I wonder where he’s spent his banishment all these years,” Turren whispered, looking at all the old bric-a-bracs that hadn’t been boxed up or thrown away. “It’s amazing. Half a year he ruled, and in that time he brought Larnlyon to civil war, and rebuilding meant we couldn’t help Anerith in its time of need against Orsen for years. This is all that’s left of Alchone’s legacy. Then again, my parents might not have met if my father hadn’t needed a knight’s protection.”

Sebastian chewed on the inside of his mouth. “I thought there wouldn’t be unpleasant memories for you because you never met him, but if you want to move this to another place….”

Turren shook his head. “I’m fine. Like you said, I never met him, and I doubt he ever thinks about me in good terms. Why did you want to meet alone?”

“I’m surprised you didn’t assume I brought you here for a romantic rendezvous.”

“I’m optimistic, but I can be a realist too,” Turren said.

“You gave me the mirror by way of Frederick, so it’s likely to have one of his spells on it.”

“Probably as one of his safety precautions.”

“Yes, but if I want to confide in you, I don’t want to confide in him too.”

“I don’t know if I can take off whatever spell he cast on it,” Turren said. “I’m powerful, but he is more knowledgeable.”

“And that’s where I come in,” Sebastian said as he stepped closer to the prince. “The best way to remove a spell is to place an even stronger one on the object.”

Turren frowned. “What kind of spell?”

“A sealing spell using both our powers,” Sebastian murmured, now standing directly in front of Turren.

Turren gulped. “That kind of magic is usually more powerful if….” He cleared his throat. “If it’s sealed with a kiss.”

“You don’t want to kiss me?” Sebastian asked. “You were so enthusiastic last night. Have your feelings soured that quickly?”

“You know they haven’t, Sebastian, but I know you’re getting something out of this,” Turren said. “I am not stupid.”

“My motives aren’t pure, but do you want to turn down a chance of me being the one to initiate an intimate moment?” Sebastian trailed his finger down Turren’s chest. “You claim you want to free me from my curse but balk at the price of accepting the unknown. How am I to accept your advances as sincere?”

“You know I’m going to say yes,” Turren said.

“I’m counting on it.”

“You spend a great deal of your life pretending not to have magic. Are you sure you know how to perform the spell?”

“Lord Bast is aware of my magic and has been personally training me since I was eleven,” Sebastian said.

“Have you ever performed this sort of spell before?”

“No. Harm won’t come to either of us even from a botched sealing spell, so I have no idea why you’re concerned.”

“I just want to be clear. Have you actually done the spell before, and with anyone you’ve had a physical affinity for?” Turren asked.

“No, and I don’t see why that matters.”

“If you are determined to go through with this, then I am too.”

“I can’t have anyone sensing my magic when they touch one of our mirrors, so your power will be the base,” Sebastian said.

“I’m fine with that.”

“Take out your mirror,” Sebastian instructed, and Turren obeyed. They held them out, the surfaces touching each other. Magic flowed out of Sebastian’s fingers into both mirrors, covering them in light green flames. Turren’s stronger magic burned blue and surrounded Sebastian’s, blending them into one and breaking all other magical ties on the mirrors. Turren stared at Sebastian, waiting like a patient puppy.
This wasn’t so bad
, Sebastian thought.
One kiss and I’ll have what I want.
Sebastian wrapped his hand around Turren’s neck and pulled him forward.

Sebastian decided to be a little kinder and opened his mouth as their lips met. He slipped his tongue into Turren’s mouth and sealed their mouths together. Warmth slowly built up as magic flowed from his body into their mouths. When Turren’s power met his, Sebastian buckled under the force. Waves of power flowed between them, but Sebastian couldn’t break the connection at their lips. Instead of pulling away, Sebastian leaned in closer as heat coursed through his body. Turren held on to him tightly, and they slammed against boxes. Sebastian gasped as their mouths finally separated, but magical surges made him moan against Turren. When blue light no longer flared in his vision, Sebastian frowned at Turren. “It’s not supposed to do that.”

“A funny thing about bond-seals.” Turren chuckled breathlessly. “They amplify desire between spellcasters if they’re attracted to each other. Harold probably had no reason to explain it to you because your relationship is only that of teacher and pupil.”

Sebastian looked up into Turren’s smirking face. “You fucking—argh!” Another wave went through him, and Sebastian hung on to Turren so he wouldn’t fall. “Gods, when does it stop?”

“I’m hoping not for a while.” Turren gripped Sebastian’s shoulders and moaned. “But if they don’t stop soon, I will need to attend to my underwear.”

“You do not have my permission to do that.”

“I’ll take that into consideration once your cock stops pressing into my thigh,” Turren said.

“I am no—” Another wave tingled through Sebastian, and he practically humped Turren’s leg.

“This is one of those times when your arrogance works in my favor. I hope you want to do another spell.”

“Don’t be shitty,” Sebastian said. He waited for more waves but nothing happened. More minutes passed with no new sensations, and he was able to withdraw from Turren. Catching hold of a nearby stack of boxes, Sebastian leaned on them and caught his breath. Turren looked at him but said nothing. “What?” Sebastian asked.

“I’m grateful to you for sharing your magic because I’ve discovered one of your secrets,” Turren said.

“What is that?”

“You want me. Our powers wouldn’t have reacted that way if there was nothing between us.” Turren pulled his shirt out of his pants and stretched it out to its full length.

“I don’t see why you’re doing that. Not too many people could tell the state of your excitement right now.”

Turren cleared his throat. “That’s not exactly why I need to cover my front.”

Sebastian’s eyes narrowed under his hood. The bulge had lessened since they had separated. “You didn’t.”

“I told you I was close,” Turren said sheepishly. “I might have been able to control myself if you hadn’t been so into it.”

“That was the magic’s doing!”

“Only if we were performing a love spell.” Turren sighed. “But we weren’t, and you were so enthusiastic. I wish I didn’t have to wash my underwear. I could store them in the royal museum to commemorate the occasion.”

“Whatever moment we had, you’re ruining it.” Sebastian placed his mirror in his pocket. “You’re going to live with only the memory, and so help me if you don’t wash them, pervert, I will curse you.”

“If we do other things, I definitely want to keep a memento,” Turren said.

“You don’t need—” Sebastian stopped talking as he heard furniture move above the room. “Dammit!” It would ruin his plans if he was caught with Turren, and that embarrassing spell would be for nothing. Grabbing Turren’s shoulders, he shoved him as hard as he could. Turren went over the boxes with a yelp just as the hatch above them was pried away. Sebastian searched the objects around him for anything magical and spied a crystal bottle sitting on a shelf. Ignoring his usual care, Sebastian opened the stopper and smelled its contents. It had to be an animal conjuring. He didn’t remember the fool king, Alchone, having too many dangerous pets in the history texts, so Sebastian dropped the bottle. Pink-and-orange puffs of smoke sprang into the air, and Sebastian stepped back.

“What are you doing?” Turren whispered without lifting his head up from his hiding place.

“Shut up!” Sebastian whispered back.

“Sebastian!” Lord Orwell called from the hatch.

“I’m down here. I accidentally knocked over a potion when I heard the noise over me.”

“What are you doing down there, and how did you get inside?” Captain Pembrost asked from beside Lord Orwell.

“I came looking for old books. I’m sure there are a few forgotten down here.”

“That’s actually a good idea,” Frederick muttered from the hatch. “Captain Pembrost and I are going to get you out.”

“What do you mean you and Pembrost?” Lord Orwell asked. “Your horrible security is the reason why he’s down there. Losing your prince, and then losing my son. Your incompetence leaves me speechless.”

“I wish,” Sebastian and Captain Pembrost said at the same time.

“I’m going down there!” Lord Orwell shouted.

“And risk the possibility of harm coming to you, Lord Orwell?” Frederick asked. “We might incompetently leave you down there after rescuing your son.”

“I don’t deserve threats from a court wizard living off his cousin’s hospitality,” Lord Orwell growled.

“I don’t care,” Frederick said. “If you try to go down, I will leave you frozen on this ceiling. It is your choice while your son is down there with unknown free magic.”

“I would appreciate the help soon,” Sebastian called up. The puffs were coalescing into a figure larger than Sebastian had expected.

The captain dropped out of the ceiling and landed gracefully on his feet. “I’ll have a word with you after this is settled, Sir Orwell,” he promised. “Frederick, get down here. I think he released a drake.”

“That is just fucking splendid,” Frederick said before dropping down too. “Where’s its container?”

Sebastian pointed to the bottle lying on the floor. Pembrost picked it up, and Frederick raised his arms in the air. The wizard chanted in a snakelike tongue that hurt Sebastian’s ears. He checked them for blood twice, but they appeared fine.

“Sebastian, go to Captain Pembrost and hold on to him. He’s going to need your support,” Frederick said.

Sebastian obeyed, and he and the captain stood against the force of power returning to the bottle as Frederick commanded it inside. When the smoky plumes were gone, Frederick ran to them and stopped the bottle with his thumb. Searching the floor, Sebastian saw the top and snatched it up before Frederick lost control.

After the bottle was properly stoppered again, Frederick called up to Lord Orwell. “He’s safe!”

“He better well damn be. Now, may I come down?”

“There are still magical remnants, and I don’t want you to be exposed,” Pembrost said. “And you should stop worrying about our prince. The kitchens contacted my amulet while Frederick put away the creature, and they told me Turren was by the kitchens the whole time. It was a misunderstanding because he was digging around in the pantry,” he said as he walked around the boxes. Pembrost glared at his prince and none too gently kicked Turren’s shin. Turren winced but stayed quiet.

“Fine! I’m returning to the library, but there better not be a scratch on him!” Lord Orwell’s face moved away from the hole, and Frederick pointed at the opening. The hatch closed again, and Sebastian and Turren were trapped with the two angry men.

Turren scrambled to his feet. “We only wanted to speak in private.”

“While assassins are after you?” Pembrost asked. “While I hate to admit anything Lord Orwell says is true, we do look incompetent when you disappear. We thought there might have been another attempt!”

“What are you trying to hide?” Frederick asked Sebastian. “I know you, boy, and you are far too clever to accidentally knock over that container.”

“You two did surprise me,” Sebastian said.

“I second his opinion,” Pembrost said. “You two are hiding something or you wouldn’t be up here. And Gods, Alchone’s rooms?” Pembrost shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I have to tell your father where I found you.”

“Sebastian’s idea was sound, but I take full blame for distracting him from his task,” Turren said.

“Why couldn’t you just tell me instead of sneaking up here?” Frederick asked.

“Why should we bring up hurtful topics if we’re not sure we’ll find anything?” Turren pointed out.

“I have no doubt that your father’s and Frederick’s feelings would have been spared, my prince,” Captain Pembrost said. “But that still leaves me.”

“You report to the king,” Sebastian spoke up. “We might as well have summoned King Harris if we were going to tell you.”

“You two truly have an answer for everything,” Captain Pembrost said. “It amazes me what days in each other’s company can accomplish.”

“I’m surprised myself,” Sebastian said, not rising to the bait. He would vent his temper at Turren in private.

“Since you’re already here, go through the boxes over here, and the captain and I will search on the other side. You two will not open anything unless we inspect it, understood?” Frederick asked.

Sebastian and Turren nodded, and everyone went about their tasks.

S
EBASTIAN
STRETCHED
as he walked down the halls to the royal library. Frederick had made them shove around heavy boxes from one corner to another. It was obvious that the manual labor was their punishment, but they did resurrect a few batches of books, cementing Sebastian’s story. Frederick had looked annoyed at the find, and Captain Pembrost muttered about Sebastian being the slipperiest bastard he knew.

“So you’re the one responsible for all these books,” Lord Piadas said by way of greeting Sebastian when he walked inside the library.

“I’m just doing my duty.”

“This work ethic seems to be lacking when you’re at home,” Lord Orwell said as he swept his finger across the text in front of him.

“You’d be amazed at how being asked nicely affects my moods,” Sebastian said.

“It must be nice to have the fickleness of youth.”