Page 46 of Sebastian's Secret
‘Out for a fly?’ Cole’s voice reverberated through Sebastian’s mind and turning, he caught sight of his younger brother rising through the clouds.
‘Guilty.’ Sebastian chuckled as Cole’s blue wings stretched out beside his turquoise ones. ‘You’ve caught me in the act.’
‘Ha!’ Cole’s green eye winked at him. ‘I’ve come with news from our brother.’
‘Oh?’ What had Draco done this time?
‘Balthazar has a message.’ Cole’s voice was serious. ‘He wants us all to meet at the lodge.’
Cole glanced his way before they both darted around a looming rocky elevation, Sebastian gliding left, while his brother zoomed right. Laughing, they met again on the other side of the terrain.
‘When?’ Sebastian asked.
‘Now.’ If it were possible in his shifted form, Cole’s brow rose. ‘He seemed rather agitated.’
‘Typical.’ The last thing Sebastian needed was an irritated older brother, but not even Balthazar could dampen his good mood.
‘You seem happy, though.’ Cole’s tone was knowing. ‘May I assume that things are going well with your new lady?’
‘Yes!’ Sebastian glanced at Cole’s deeper blue beast, pleased that he could share his good news. ‘I am happy.’
Bursting to tell Cole more about the reason for his sudden sunny disposition, Sebastian leveled out and headed for a snow-covered ravine. Folding his wings behind him, he waited as Cole landed a few feet away. ‘I think this woman is special.’
Sebastian’s heart thundered. He was desperate to tell Cole more about Rebecca, to share the strange and unyielding feelings that bubbled at the memory of her, but standing on the verge of the huge confession, he was less certain. Perhaps it was too early to say anything meaningful. Would he jinx his and Rebecca’s incredible connection by mentioning it?
‘We don’t have time to talk now.’ Cole tilted his head in the direction of Fireside. ‘We should get back to Balthazar.’
Damn it, Cole was right. When had his youngest sibling become so intelligent and mature?
‘Okay, we can talk later.’
Sebastian ceded the point, offering Cole a reassuring look. It wasn’t only Cole’s wisdom that stunned him. Glancing at the gigantic blue beast beside him, Sebastian was suddenly struck by his sheer size and capability. Although he was now a dragon, even in his human form, Michael Vaughn’s youngest son was no longer the smallest, or the weakest. A pang of regret echoed in Sebastian’s chest. Hadn’t he promised Balthazar that he’d keep an eye on Cole after Michael’s death? When had Cole grown up? He’d barely been past the tempestuous teen phase when their father died. How was he suddenly a man?
‘I’d like that.’ As though Cole had read this mind, his tone softened. ‘We haven’t caught up properly for a while.’
‘We went clubbing a few days ago,’ Sebastian reminded him, his thoughts once again returning to the flame-haired goddess he’d encountered there.
“That’s not what I mean.” Cole’s lips widened as he spoke, as if he too was recalling something of the same night. He was definitely no longer a boy.
‘What then?’ Sebastian pressed, concerned that in the haze of his recent experiences, he might have missed something significant in his brother’s life.
‘Nothing.’ His sigh was hardly audible on the wind. ‘I’d just like to hear more about your lady.’
‘Okay.’ Edging closer to him, Sebastian made a mental promise to ensure that they did just that. ‘Now, let’s get back. Big brother will be waiting.’
***
Taking a seat on the couch, Sebastian watched as Cole ventured out onto the terrace after Balthazar. It might have been the elder brother who had called the family meeting, but he, too, seemed oddly distracted.
“Bal?” Cole’s voice caught on the mountain breeze while Sebastian watched on.
“Don’t call me that.” Turning at their brother’s voice, Balthazar frowned. “You know I loathe it.”
“I know.” Cole smirked as he turned back to the lodge. “That’s the point. Are you joining us or not?”
“Yep.” Balthazar answered, peering back at the snow-covered peaks one more time before stalking through the open glass doors. The immense cabin was equipped with an efficient heating system, but Sebastian often wondered why. The Vaughn family gene meant all four of them were permanently over-heated and had little use for an elevated temperature. It was why they relished the mountain air so much.
“Finally.” Leaning back on the leather sofa, Sebastian hooked one ankle across the other. “About time, big brother.” He couldn’t help ribbing Balthazar about his tardiness, not when the oldest of the four was usually so irritated about other people’s lack of punctuality.