Page 75 of Sebastian's Secret

“Balthazar just means, what’s wrong with sharing your life with someone special?” Sebastian’s stare pinioned Draco. “Dad had it with Mum and he wanted the same for us.”

“Sebastian’s gone soppy.” Draco’s laughter was mocking. “Which is odd since he’s spent years avoiding relationships.”

Sebastian tensed at the criticism, pressing his lips into a hard line. Draco was right and there was little point denying it. The only way he could explain his change of tack was elaborating on his last few days and deep down, Sebastian wasn’t ready for that. He loved his brothers but wasn’t ready for their judgment on Rebecca. Especially once they discovered who she really was. Unease twisted in his belly at the disconcerting thought. She had become the most important person in the world to Sebastian, and he couldn’t share that with his family. The thought saddened him in a way he hadn’t expected.

“You’ll find no such weakness with me.” Draco continued. “I know exactly what women are good for.”

“Leave him be,” Balthazar chided. “We’re all entitled to be different.”

“I’m certainly that.” Leaping to his feet, Draco crossed the floor toward Balthazar. “I’ll find someone to take the Vaughn name, but there’s no way I’m settling down.”

Sebastian sighed. Draco had been churning out his ‘treat ‘em mean and keep them keen’ routine since puberty. It might not have been so irritating if Sebastian believed him, but he sensed that at his core, Draco was just like him—waiting to find the right one.

“I hate to be rude, but…” Balthazar interrupted Sebastian’s thoughts. “I have to get this place cleaned up and prepare supper. Any chance you guys can fuck off?”

Sebastian chuckled at Balthazar’s brutal honesty. It was possibly the most sincerity he’d heard since he’d arrived. They were close as brothers went, but increasingly, Sebastian sensed there were things that went unsaid, admissions that weren’t aired. The ball of disquiet about Rebecca tightened at his astute analysis.

Soon. He pulled in a breath as he rose from the couch. I’ll tell them soon.

Chapter Thirty

Rebecca

Glancing out of the vast glass window, Rebecca rested her forehead against the pane. Sebastian would be back from his family meeting soon, but until he walked back through the door, she was restless as though her part-dragon beau had become the anchor she needed to stay grounded.

“What’s wrong with me?”

She should be able to go an hour without Sebastian without falling apart, should have enough love for herself to find solace on her own, but every time he walked away she sensed herself crumbling. It was fucking pathetic.

“It’s probably just hormones,” she said aloud, although there was no one else there to hear her. Ever since Sebastian had crashed into her life, she’d lurched from one high to the next low. No wonder she was exhausted.

Focusing on the cityscape, Rebecca tried to quiet her mind. From Sebastian’s elevated view, the city looked so beautiful it was easy to be deceived by the smokescreen, but Rebecca knew better. Even her privileged life had taught her that demons lurked in every dark corner, and that not everything that glittered was gold. Jonas was her demon, and his infection had already spread to Oliver.

As if the reality required reinforcing, her phone vibrated, drawing her focus from the twinkling lights of town.

Maybe it’s Sebastian?

Though even as the thought resounded, Rebecca sensed that it wasn’t, and heart racing, she saw a message from her father.

“Don’t read it,” she instructed, still leaning against the enormous window. “Just ignore it.”

But she couldn’t. Despite Sebastian’s charm, Rebecca hadn’t yet left the menace of the Monroes behind her. That would probably take years of counseling.

Heaving in a shaky breath, she read what her father had to say, instantly regretting the action.

I don’t care where you are, you little bitch.

Her brow furrowed at the opening line. After so long, she should have been immune to Jonas’ vile vitriol, but after finding such happiness with her new lover, her father’s words were more wounding than ever.

As far as I’m concerned you can stay there.

“Good,” she whispered, her breath steaming the glass. “I’m never coming back.” She had considered calling the Monroe house home but realized it had been more than a decade since the place had been that. The palatial residence was more like a prison than a home.

You’re no daughter of mine.

Scanning down the message, Jonas’ words spewed more hatred and as she read on, she couldn’t help the tears that formed in her eyes.

What had Rebecca ever done to warrant her father’s revulsion? All she had ever wanted was to be accepted, but it seemed like the more she sought approval, the more Jonas loathed her. That was why she’d decided to seek love and validation outside of the family—anywhere she could grasp an hour of even feigned affection.