Family of Lies: Sebastian (25 page)

Sebastian smiled and watched as Turren’s face filled with wonder. “I get to see your expressions instead of always guessing. This is very nice.”

“I see that,” Sebastian said as he glanced down to Turren’s hardening cock. “You’re more enthusiastic than when you first woke up.”

“That’s because now I know you have confidence in me, and you care for me.”

Sebastian pointed at Turren’s crotch. “Not enough for me to do anything about that until another day.”

“I have healing salve,” Turren said. “It could soothe any sore muscles and we could try again.”

“Your fingers couldn’t get deep enough to soothe all my sore muscles, Prince Too-Well-Endowed.”

“I don’t necessarily have to apply the salve in your ass with my fingers.”

Sebastian blinked. “Are you sure this was your first time? Because you’re quite perverted.”

“I merely offered a solution,” Turren said.

“A most convenient solution, but I admire your creativity.”

Turren looked at Sebastian hopefully.

“Not that much,” Sebastian said. “You may clean me, and then apply salve with your fingers, but then we go back to sleep. Understood?”

“Yes,” Turren said while looking down like a chastised puppy.

“You would be more believable if this….” Sebastian reached over and brushed his thumb across the tip of Turren’s leaking cock. “Wasn’t so wet,” he said and tasted his thumb. “Salty but not horrible.”

Turren’s jaw dropped. “That’s not fair!”

“What isn’t fair?”

“You’re still wearing clothes and you got to taste me.”

Sebastian rolled his eyes. “Fine.” He flung off his cloak and unbuttoned his shirt. Next, he lay back, fully displayed for the prince. “We’re even. Happy?”

“Yes and no.” Prince Turren gulped as he gazed at Sebastian’s body. More cum dropped onto his thigh.

“It’s still not going into my ass again,” Sebastian said.

“May I at least taste your seed?” Turren asked.

“I don’t know if I’m in the mood to produce any more,” Sebastian said.

“I assure you, Bastian, that I will make you cum again.”

“Fine, but don’t say I didn—” He broke off as Turren bent down and his tongue touched the tip of Sebastian’s cock. Turren kissed it and opened his lips to pull it into his mouth. Sebastian gasped out “Cheater” and wrapped his hands around Turren’s head. Turren pulled him in deeper, and Sebastian’s cock stiffened. “You’ve done this before.”

Turren popped Sebastian’s cock out of his mouth and said, “Yes. No one asks or considers marriage during this act, and it has far less repercussions than bedding a man.” His mouth encircled Sebastian’s cock again, ending any further discussion.

The sound of a bottle being uncorked interrupted Sebastian’s moans. Mint filled the air and fingers returned to Sebastian’s ass. Between the invading fingers and Turren’s wet mouth, Sebastian’s balls tightened far quicker than he expected. His back arched as seed spurted down Turren’s throat. Turren’s fingers kept thrusting inside of him, and Turren refused to release his cock. It wasn’t until Sebastian was completely dry that his cock was permitted to fall from Turren’s mouth. Sebastian breathed heavily and covered his face with his arms. He was too boneless to do anything, but Turren did exactly as Sebastian had asked. When Sebastian’s breaths evened out, a warm, wet cloth rubbed down his abdomen and to his cock. Then Turren spread Sebastian’s legs to clean out his ass.
This is too intimate.
Another cloth, dry this time, swept over the areas the rag had passed, and then the covers were placed over him. Turren scooted closer to him, and so Turren couldn’t see his tears, Sebastian buried his face in the prince’s chest. It was stupid to be sentimental and even dumber to become emotional at such a late stage. During would have made more sense, but regardless of what he wanted, Sebastian couldn’t stop crying.

“Are you all right?” Turren asked, his breath touching the top of Sebastian’s head.

“Yes. Just ignore me and go to sleep,” Sebastian ordered.

“As you wish,” Turren said and kissed the top of Sebastian’s head.

His tears did finally stop, and Sebastian realized why he’d cried. Turren might be the only person Sebastian could love, but Sebastian had a promise to keep in order to protect him.

C
APTAIN
P
EMBROST
struck his sword against the queen’s blade and hoped he could withstand her strength. “I still… don’t see… why… you… trust….” The queen’s next blow brought him to his knees, and he rolled away to evade her next swing. “The boy,” he said after standing again.

“You’re going to lose the argument and the fight,” King Harris said without looking up as he turned a page of his book.

“But it makes no sense.” Captain Pembrost ducked her next blow but fell as Queen Anne’s boot caught him on the sternum. “I give,” he coughed out.

Queen Anne swung her blade over her shoulder and slid it into the scabbard on her back. “He passed my first test, so I’m confident he is not using Turren.”

“What test?” Pembrost asked.

“That cake I ordered was a mood cake.”

Captain Pembrost frowned. “I’m surprised a chef would make a dish that could corrupt their skills based on the eater’s feelings.”

“I had to pay extra for it, and I wouldn’t reveal she baked it unless the subject had a positive reaction,” Queen Anne said.

“And?” the captain asked.

“Sebastian guessed that Margaret made it after one bite,” King Harris said as the queen smirked.

“He’s been around her and Harold for years,” the captain said. “The boy could have guessed that even with a magicked cake.”

“No,” the queen said. “If his feelings weren’t real, the cake would have tasted odd, and he never would have guessed that Margaret made it. But the cake tasted delicious, and nothing was different to him.”

“Which means he’s in love with the prince,” the captain murmured. “But men do things to hurt loved ones if they’re forced to choose family.”

“I’m not blind to that possibility, but I trust him,” Queen Anne said.

“Sebastian lies constantly, and you must have felt that spell too, Your Majesty. He’s up to something. King Harris, are you going along with letting Sebastian do whatever he wants?”

“I agree with Anne’s assessment of the boy, but I also believe that not watching his every move grants us the ability to catch him in whatever schemes you believe he’s mixed up in when Sebastian thinks he’s unobserved.”

Anne walked to the throne steps and sat down next to Harris. She dug into her pockets and pulled out five gold coins. “Indecisiveness is not a trait welcomed in a ruler. Pick a side, and put down a wager.”

Harris closed his book. “Do you want to make a wager concerning our son’s love life?”

“I have no doubt that I’m right, so yes.”

“And I’m the one stuck betting against him?”

“If you had more faith in a positive outcome, you would have suggested it first,” Anne said. “This is your punishment for being a cynic.”

“We’ll see about that,” Harris said and grabbed the amulet hanging from his neck.

Minutes later, Frederick swiftly walked into the throne room. After the doors closed behind him, he looked around in confusion. “You said it was urgent.”

“It is,” Harris said. “What is your opinion of Sebastian, and do you think he is planning to endanger Turren’s life?”

Frederick looked at Captain Pembrost. “I thought he updated you about Sebastian’s recent activities.”

“But I still need your opinion for how I’m going to proceed. Turren will be devastated if we don’t act quickly,” King Harris said.

“I know there is little evidence supporting it, but I think the boy is acting on his own motives. I have the same feeling about Lord Orwell. If Lord Orwell was helping Trenton, then Trenton would be using the Heart of Light by now. I just don’t know what father or son is up to.”

“So a third opinion,” Queen Anne said. “Sebastian is working in Turren’s favor; Sebastian is working for his father and by that thread also for Trenton; or Sebastian has his own motives.”

Frederick frowned at Harris. “This is a bet, isn’t it?”

“And you’re even more indecisive than me,” Harris said. “I think you can put him down on Anne’s side.”

“You’re betting against Turren?”

“I prefer betting against Sebastian’s integrity,” Harris said.

“Turren will not see it the same way,” Frederick warned.

Queen Anne smiled. “I know my son. His pride would make him bet on Sebastian’s love for him.”

Frederick shook his head. “But Harris is at a disadvantage because our goal is to turn Sebastian to our side.”

“That boy is just as stubborn as Lord Orwell, so my money is safe,” Harris said.

“I want to believe in Sebastian, but I’m too close to the boy to see him clearly,” Captain Pembrost said.

“Are you voting against him because he lied to you?” Frederick asked.

“Him and Turren. I’m not saying Sebastian is evil, but we’re going to need more than that boy’s will to get to the bottom of this.”

“I’m working on that as we speak,” Anne said.

“Of course you are. You always cheat,” Harris said.

“It’s the only way I captured a stubborn man like you, and fighting fair won’t get Turren his love.”

“But what if Sebastian is guilty of conspiring with Turren’s enemies?” Captain Pembrost asked.

“Then we get him out of it before he’s in too deep,” Harris said.

“That’s your solution if things go badly?” Frederick asked.

“It’s the only solution that Turren won’t defy,” Harris said. “He’ll trust Sebastian no matter what he finds out, and his cooperation is the only way we can guarantee his safety.”

Anne poked her husband’s side. “Look at you becoming an expert in the ways of love.”

“I know firsthand how love can make people do irrational things.”

“Is that aimed at me or yourself?” Anne asked.

“Truth be told, both.” Harris sighed.

F
AINT
LIGHT
streamed past his eyelids, and Sebastian stretched out his arms. One arm was blocked by a large object, and he suddenly remembered the night before. Sebastian stopped moving and tried to think. There was an arm tightly wound around his waist, and something hard pressing against his thigh.

“You are ready to go at all times of the day, aren’t you?” Sebastian whispered to the man at his back. Remembering the morning in the woods when he’d tried to escape out from under Turren’s arm, Sebastian slid as slowly as possible out from under Turren’s reach. He had a lot of bed to crawl across without waking the prince, so it felt like forever until his feet touched the floor.

Crawling, so Turren wouldn’t immediately see him if he suddenly woke, Sebastian gathered his clothes. He had to press his head on the floor to get his underwear and pants on, but the rest of his clothes were easier to maneuver in his position. Peeking at Turren one more time, Sebastian crawled to the door and turned the knob as quietly as he could. It didn’t squeak, and he opened it just as delicately. Turren didn’t stir, and Sebastian scooted out the small opening to run into the legs of Captain Pembrost. Ignoring the man, Sebastian gently closed the door behind him and stood.

“Good morning, Sir Orwell,” Captain Pembrost said.

“Good morning.” Sebastian turned in the direction of his room.

“Will you be staying for breakfast?” Captain Pembrost asked.

Sebastian rolled his eyes under his hood. “Stop being nosy.”

“I will when you’re truthful with me.”

“Would you leave the subject be if I told you I’m more honest with the prince?”

“That would mean Turren is being just as dishonest as you.”

“I didn’t tell you that so you could pester him with your nonsense too,” Sebastian said.

“Your protectiveness of the prince is a good sign.”

“I have better things to do.” Sebastian pushed past the captain.

“Breakfast with your father, who I’m sure doesn’t know you’re here.”

“An empty threat, because no matter how much you’re mad at me or Turren, you won’t betray him,” Sebastian said.

“Can I make the same assumption about you?” Pembrost asked.

“I’ll do what I have to in order to keep him alive,” Sebastian said as he walked away.

“Y
OU
’
RE
LATE
,”
Lord Orwell said as Sebastian pulled out a chair at the large table. “Lord Piadas chose to wait for you before eating.”

Sebastian looked at his father’s half-eaten plate. “A sentiment I see you didn’t share.”

“You’re my son. I have no reason to impress you.”

“And I can’t fault a sane man for balking at an impossible feat,” Sebastian said.

“I wasn’t waiting just because of propriety, Sebastian. I would like to speak with you in private,” Lord Piadas said.

“About what?” Lord Orwell asked.

“It’s a sensitive subject, and Frederick wanted you to help him search Turren’s belongings today.”

Lord Orwell put his fork down and leaned toward him. “Lord Piadas, I have known you for a short amount of time, but you are still a guest of the king and queen, who have shown too much interest in my son. Why would I allow you to be alone with him?”

“What I want to discuss is not of a romantic nature, but a favor. Sebastian is old enough to make his own decisions.”

Sebastian knew he was being baited but took it anyway. “He does have a point, Father.”

Lord Orwell glared at him. “And I will not give you an excuse to disobey me.”

“If he makes an outrageous request, then I will be your ever-dutiful son.”

“Remember, defy me and we return home immediately,” Lord Orwell said.

“It is a simple matter,” Lord Piadas said.

“It better be,” Lord Orwell said.

I
NSTEAD
OF
a private room, Lord Piadas led Sebastian to the library. They were the only ones inside, and Lord Piadas had locked the doors placed wards on them.