Sebastian stepped lithely from the dark. Wearing a dark shirt, frilled at the cuffs. Long blonde hair waving in a cloud down to his shoulders. Making him luminesce in the blackness, as vivid gold as the moonlight was silver.
Chastain immediately reached longingly to touch him. His face and hair. She leaned up on her toes. A slender wraith in the dark. Wearing her white muslin nightdress. She stretched to reach for him. Her fingertips itching to feel his skin. To touch that hair. She ached to be closer to him.
When she could just touch his cheek, her expression changed. Realization dawned.
He tilted backward, evading her touch. Eventually, he was forced to catch her wrist to stay her.
That moment gave her the chance to think. To see beyond her primal desire. Her hand fell and recognition brightened her face.
Thank heaven He thought. Realizing that she’d recognized him.
And somehow, she’d managed to resist the urge to touch him,
Chastain reared back, astonished by Sebastian’s vehemence in his cryptic statement. He realized how angry he likely sounded. “I apologize for my harsh words. You are not the source of my ire. That lies in my home.” “I understand.” She nodded. “I only need know where Acharius is, to discuss this with him?” “Oh, no, Miss. I need be well from here before you find him. For he’ll want to wring my stringy neck.” She looked at him in horror. “You have to tell me!” “No.” He said firmly. “I don’t.” Before she could stop him, he launched through the window. She ran to it behind him. Catching sight of him below. He lunged through the garden, his clothes shredding to pieces as he moved. Bits which dissolved before hitting the ground. His body erupted from itself like an overflowing pond. He jerked and twisted. Finally tipping forward onto his hands as his back flattened. Glistening black fur peeled through the skin of his
Netherlands Tavern SEBASTIAN Serdephe seemed quite happy to explain to Teverius why she perceived him as a villain, oblivious to his affront. “You only arrive at night. You’ve gazed on me unclothed while lying with my wolves. You’ve put your hands on my undergarments. You’ve crept around following me.” She said matter-of-factly. “You’re far closer to a villain.” He blanched. “It does sound rather awful when you word it such.” “I don’t mind.” She went back to eating her meat. And Teverius immediately missed her greasy little hands on his. Sebastian sat in the corner blissfully intrigued by all he’d witnessed. When he could contain his curiosity no longer, he strolled over to their table. “You called for me?” Teverius jerked, staring at his food as if afraid to look up. Which only brought Sebastian more joy. Recognizing his voice, Teverius looked u
“I don’t want revelry.” Teverius’s eyes narrowed. He glared up at Bast. “Mardichi!” Bast called again. “Come join your Little Brother!” Teverius groaned. Robust laughter bellowed from the other end of the room. The giant redhead stood and tossed off his cloak. Making several men object at the massive size of him. One man muttered, “It’s RedBayne. The Assassin.” “I shall be back Norris. I have duties now.” Mardichi announced. Tossing the garment down on the bench. “Tonight, we injure Little Brother with large quantities of me favorite sustenance.” “Of course, you do.” Norris grumbled off-handedly. Tev groaned. Teverius willed himself. Praying the night would end with him retaining some glimmer of dignity. Sebastian set about drowning all thoughts of Elsabet, while tormenting the youngest of his brethren. A fine night. A fine night, indeed. The Driter’s Den was a rowdy place tonight. Having three
Mardichi keenly watched Bast probing Teverius for the intimate details of trouble between Teverius and his pretty purple-haired mate. He watched Bast for so long that he could no longer take it. “What? Why are you staring?” “Ye’re avoiding returning ta see if yer valkyrie is enraged at ye.” Mardichi said perceptively. Bast shot him a black look. Knowing full well that the barbarian was right. I hate when he’s smarter than he looks. Bast groaned inwardly. However, he received a momentary reprieve when the innkeeper rushed to the table with a missive in hand. Bast grunted and lifted a staying palm. “I don’t want it.” “He insists me give it ta ye, me lord. I’ve told ’im yer answer willna change.” The innkeeper looked a little desperate. “Please take it or he migh’ kill me.” “He won’t kill you for me refusing to look at his latest offer.” “You dunnot know this man, me lord. He migh’.” Bast groaned. “Set it
Sebastian wondered briefly if Mardichi was steady enough on his feet to help him in, or if they’d both end up in a bruised heap. But a glance at the barbarian’s balanced stance assured him Mardichi was so accustomed to drink, that one meager cask was not enough to maintain his happy intoxication. That settled, Bast felt his stomach drop at the prospect of entering the castle to find the valkyrie’s disappointment. I can’t bear that crushed look of her. I should’ve hid in an inn room rather than partaken. “Oh.” Mardichi reared back as they pushed through the doors. “What ‘tis tha’ feeling?” “Her emotion.” “She has tha’?” Mardichi’s voice rose in surprise. Bast swallowed. There was an eerie silence in the castle that told him she was already asleep. He caught the faint sound of a girl crying. And the growl of an enraged man’s shouting. Though the words were indiscernible. An intermingled muttering of sound.
Elsabet, already curled in his lap, pressed her supple lips to his mouth. He made a surprised sound, pulling away from her. “What’s wrong?” She asked, confused. “I’ve no wish for our kiss to be one in which I taste like the one that was so cruel to you.” Her eyes widened in surprise. “After all your proclamations of desiring me, you refuse me now?” “I don’t feel I’ve a choice.” His face was written with pain. His grip on his self-control waning. “Have you some wine?” She asked thoughtfully. “I can get some from the kitchens.” “Then do so.” She whispered against his lips. He groaned low in his throat. “Woman, if this is a test, I’ll surely fail…” “It’s no test. But you must hurry, before I change my mind.” She purred. Warm breath brushing his face and the scent of wildflowers filling his senses. “We cannot do this, I’m not sober.” He objected. What the hell am I saying? Find the bloody wine!
Reaching down, Elsabet yanked the pendant loose from his hands.Sebastian's torn shoulders and arms offered little resistance.It was as the sun was cresting the ridge that she released her grip on him. Watching him fall.For just a moment, she wished she could take it back. He was courageous. Admirable in his fearlessness.A shame.Even in his shredded shirt with gold hair tousled, he'd been wildly handsome.She watched his strange expression as he looked up at her, dropping limply in a deadfall toward the trees far below.Totally calm...He was...peaceful.Bafflement marked her face. Making him fight the smile pulling at his lips.He gave her a chiding look. Angry at her choice.Or perhaps disappointed. Elsabet started to turn in flight, reluctant to see his human body crushed in the trees.Turning back from the body of water, she headed back toward LandingTown.As she turned something scintillating caught her eye. She glanced down and watched flashes of vibrant gold erupting from whe
*****Note from the Author:This is a very slow burn book. Spanning many decades as it interweaves with other books such as King of the Seditious and The Barbarian's Pleasure (you don't have to read those to understand this one ).This is the story of Sebastian and his valkyrie.*****1580 - A Cottage in Inner Forestway, Mane Country"Sebastian" The woman breathed as she opened her cottage door and bid him enter. That husky seductive note already tingeing her voice.As she has countless times before."Moira." He greeted stomping off his boots before entering the sparse cottage."I've missed you." She cooed. Stroking the Ample tops of her small, pert breasts."I know.""My lover has returned from his estate. He's really quite possessive." She threw shining brown hair over her shoulder, proudly."I care not a whit for possessive lovers." He shrugged."Do you care for me?" She pounced on the opportunity to ask the question.Despite that she already knows.He leaned back his head, gold eye