6. Sebastian #2
He reached deep inside of himself, connecting to the core that was the source of his powers.
It was a strange thing: both an essential part of him and somehow separate.
Anxiety or any kind of complex thought could cause him to lose touch with it.
He had to guard against that. It was the center of who he was as a witch.
A creature of chaos.
It wasn’t the coven master who spoke first, but Anthony. Sebastian had met the voice teacher a few times before, mostly at functions for Manhattan Lyric. He was dressed in a casual pair of black joggers and a gray hoodie.
“Sebastian!” Anthony stood and smiled widely, gesturing to a nearby chair. “This is quite a surprise. I didn’t realize you had knowledge of us at all. ”
“You aren’t supernatural.” The coven master’s voice was low, and he didn’t get up. There was no malice in his voice, and his eyes were more evaluative than suspicious.
Sebastian plopped down in an armchair, slinging a leg over one arm. Lillian’s eyes narrowed from where she was watching off to the side, but neither Frederick nor Anthony was phased at all.
“I’m a witch,” Sebastian said, wiggling his fingers out in front of him like a storybook wizard. “Supernatural-adjacent. Fully human, just with a bit of knowledge.”
Behind him, he heard the vampires in the room jump to their feet, but Anthony held up his hand to stop them.
“Nope. Sebastian is a friend of Oscar and Trent.”
Sebastian didn’t turn to look behind him, but he assumed no one was going to attack him. Even if they did, he’d come wearing enough protection to fend off most vamps.
“Why are you here?” Frederick asked, his face unreadable. The coven master’s bulky body was still as stone.
“First off, to introduce myself.”
Anthony’s brow furrowed. “We’ve known you for more than a year.”
Sebastian smirked. “Yes, but until this morning, none of your vampires knew I was a witch. It’s my fault. I outed myself in front of Justin and Oscar. So I came here to officially introduce myself. It had to happen anyway. My mother’s been bugging me about it for more than a year now.”
The coven master cocked his head. “Your mother is Eldest of your Circle?”
Sebastian nodded, but he didn’t add anything.
Caution was needed, at least until the relationship between the Grosvenor Coven and the Bayonne Circle was more established.
The coven was young. They could benefit from the kind of spellwork he and his Circle could provide. Hopefully that would be enough.
“She desires something from us. No?’
Sebastian nodded again, then looked around the room at the rest of the vampires, all of whom were standing with their claws extended, glaring protectively.
“I’ll need privacy to talk about that.”
The coven master nodded, then turned to the watchers. “Everyone out. Lillian will stay.” People shuffled toward the exits as the muscular man made eye contact with Sebastian. “Do you have someone you’d like to be here on your behalf?”
Ah. For all the modernism of the glass-and-concrete high-rise, Frederick honored the old ways. Sebastian was lucky his mother had been a stickler with his education. Not many young witches knew the ancient rules of diplomacy between supernatural beings.
Sebastian’s lips curled up in a mischievous smile as he spoke. “Justin can stand for me.”
Sebastian suppressed a giggle as a squeak escaped from the adorable vampire’s lips. Justin stepped forward, his blonde curls bouncing slightly.
“Me? Why? We just met!”
Sebastian shrugged, fighting not to smile at Justin’s reaction. “I like you.”
“But—”
“Sebastian has chosen, Justin,” Anthony said, closing the question.
Justin gave Anthony a pleading look, but no relief came from the coven master’s mate. Sebastian jumped up out of the chair and plopped down on a nearby couch, patting the embroidered seat cushion next to him and flashing a smile at Justin.
“Come sit!” Looking more confused than ever, Justin walked over and sank down, his slight frame partially covering the intricate flowered upholstery.
The vampire was practically vibrating. Sebastian didn’t know why he got such a kick out of tormenting his future mate like this, but it was very enjoyable.
He spread his legs a tiny bit, enough for the outside of their thighs to touch, and Justin froze.
What a delightfully awkward man.
Frederick gestured for Sebastian to continue.
Sebastian took a deep breath and considered his words.
This wasn’t quite how he imagined the meeting going, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
The amber lighting and antique furniture gave the whole thing a cozy drawing room feel, rather than that of a tense diplomatic negotiation.
Sebastian did get the sense the coven master was not unreasonable, even if he was intimidating. Might as well dive in.
“Coven Master Grosvenor?—”
“Freddie,” the man grunted.
Sebastian nodded. “Freddie. My mother is Eldest of the Bayonne Circle. She wants to offer an alliance.”
Freddie leaned forward with a sharp look in his eyes, the first sign of interest he had shown. “Didn’t you ally yourselves with Elliott and the remnants of the old Azarian coven? The ones who kidnapped Justin’s aunt? The ones we had to put down?”
Justin tensed next to him. Shit. Sebastian hadn’t known Justin was connected to that debacle in any way. He needed to explain.
“We did not have an alliance with them, no.” Sebastian had an urge to turn and see Justin’s reaction but didn’t want to betray his uneasiness.
Best to continue confidently. “Our arrangement was purely transactional. They were idiots. It would have taken lifetimes for them to pay off the debt they racked up from the few spells we provided.”
“Unfortunately for them, we made sure they didn’t have lifetimes.” Anthony wore a bloodthirsty expression. “Assholes.”
“I’ve been alive for quite some time,” Freddie said, crossing his arms. “The reputation of the witches precedes you. Every smart coven master knows better than to bargain with a Witch’s Circle.”
“You…” Sebastian sighed. “You aren’t wrong. Our magic doesn’t come cheap. All I can say is the situation is precarious enough that we aren’t looking for a deal. We need a true alliance.”
Freddie didn’t say anything for a long moment. He was still as his eyes bored into Sebastian’s soul. Finally, Freddie spoke in his low, rumbling intonation.
“We’ll need more information.”
It was a reasonable request, but it stymied Sebastian for a moment. The whole thing was embarrassing, a family spat spilling out into the larger supernatural world. In a burst of nervous energy, he sprang up from his seat. Justin startled, staring up at him, clearly skittish and overwhelmed.
Better to get it over with. Sebastian paced as he spoke, his feet sinking into the thick carpeting underneath.
“My mother has been Eldest for almost fifty years now. She is an excellent leader. In the past decades, she’s managed to cement the Bayonne Circle as the Circle of the area.
Despite being in Jersey, there haven’t been any attempts by other witches to establish power in any of the boroughs of the city.
The members of the Circle are well cared for.
There hasn’t been a real attack for many years, since before I was born. ”
Sebastian stopped, raw vulnerability springing up in his chest. The vampires waited for him to continue, but his mouth was dry, and he was having trouble finding the words.
“But…” Justin was the last person Sebastian expected to speak. His voice was soft and kind. A deep part of Sebastian relaxed at the thought of his mate encouraging him.
“My mother is a good leader, maybe a great one even, but she is a mediocre mom. It’s not unusual.
Being Eldest of a Circle is an all-consuming job, one in which the interests of any individual witch can and should be sacrificed to the care of the group.
My mother extended that expedient approach even to raising her own children. ”
Sebastian sighed. That was enough, wasn’t it? They didn’t need more. He glanced over at Justin. Sebastian caught a glimpse of compassion in his expression. His chest warmed a little at the sight.
“I don’t need to get into the specifics,” Sebastian said, “but suffice it to say my sister Veronica did not appreciate being used as a pawn and a bargaining chip. She left the Circle six years ago, going far enough away that Mother could no longer trace her. But two years ago, she returned.”
Freddie, Anthony, and Justin were all leaning forward now, their eyes alight with interest.
“At first, we hoped she had matured. My mother, in spite of her flaws, loves Veronica and had hoped she could be welcomed into the Circle once again. But Veronica has made it clear she is only back to unseat my mother and take over as Eldest. ”
Justin shook his head in confusion. “How can your sister be Eldest? She can’t be that much older than you. And you’re so young and attractive!”
Justin’s hands went to his mouth in shock at what he’d said. Sebastian chuckled and winked, which made Justin’s face take on a pink hue.
“Eldest doesn’t denote age. It’s the title of the leader of the Circle. Often the Eldest is the oldest person in the Circle, but it’s not required.” Sebastian couldn’t resist adding, “And I think you’re attractive as well.”
The pink deepened to a beet red as Justin’s eyes darted toward the nearby door. Not wanting to let Justin run away, Sebastian sat back down on the sofa next to him, leaning into him. The vamp was strung as tight as a guitar string.
Sebastian leaned over and whispered into Justin’s ear. “Breathe, darling. You’re going to pass out.”
Justin took in a loud, deep breath, which turned into a fit of coughing. Sebastian patted his back. “You’re okay.”
“I, uh, sorry, um, may I be excused?”
Freddie opened his mouth to respond, but Anthony cut him off, a sly twinkle in his eyes. “I’d love for you to stay, Justin.”
Justin nodded and looked down at his hands, folded in his lap.
“What do you expect of us?” Freddie asked, the corners of his lips curling up slightly at Justin’s embarrassment. “And what do we get in return?”
Sebastian wrenched his attention away from his wayward mate. Time for the sales pitch.
“The Circle can be a powerful ally. We can provide information. Our spirits bring us word of many things. We can erect wards that will prevent vampires who are not of your coven from using their powers in the covenhouse, or keep everyone but the coven members out.”
“Mmm.” Freddie’s eyes were two bright searchlights peering into Sebastian’s soul. Few things intimidated him, but this coven master managed to be both welcoming and terrifying at the same time.
“And what do you need from us?” Freddie asked.
“We’d love for you to share information as well.
” Sebastian was tempted to downplay the biggest point, but if the Grosvenor Coven was to be their ally, honesty was the best policy.
“But most of all, we need your strength if we are attacked. Witches have many ways to protect themselves, but many of us are limited in direct combat.”
“And will you guarantee the same?” Anthony asked. It was the first time that evening the coven master’s mate had asked a question about the agreement. It made sense. Those in Anthony’s position were known to be fiercely protective of their vampires.
“As much as we may.” Sebastian pressed his lips together. “Few witches have affinities that are useful in a fight. But if your coven is attacked, we will use whatever is available to us to help.”
Freddie stood, and for the first time, Sebastian saw how tall he was. The vampire was a giant, well over six feet tall. Was he looming on purpose?
“Very well.”
No one spoke for a moment. Finally, Justin found his voice. “What does that mean? Do you have to go to Bayonne?”
“No,” Freddie answered. “I don’t go. Not yet.”
“I don’t understand.” Justin turned back to Sebastian, brows furrowed in confusion .
“I have served as envoy to your coven tonight. The old ways dictate the coven must send an envoy back. Then a final meeting can be arranged.”
“Oh.”
Freddie strode over to a nearby cedar hutch, uncorking a bottle of blood-red wine and filling up a stemmed glass. Or was it actually blood? Sebastian wasn’t sure.
“Justin, I’d like you to go.”
“What?!” Justin jumped up to his feet. He gave Anthony a pleading look, but the coven master’s mate only smiled back. “Why me?”
“You have as much knowledge as anyone about our coven,” Freddie said between sips, “and you have a demeanor an elderly woman would find charming.”
“I wouldn’t recommend calling my mother elderly to her face,” Sebastian said, hoping his words might distract Justin, but the blonde vamp stared at his coven master.
“But…witches?” There was a slight tremor to Justin’s voice.
“Your friend Sebastian is a witch.” Freddie smiled. “He will ensure you have nothing to fear from his Circle.”
Sebastian walked over to Justin, putting a gentle arm around his slight shoulders.
“I won’t let anything happen to you.”