19. Justin
Justin
A cool breeze tickled Justin’s uncovered toes as he drifted in and out of consciousness.
Nestled into Sebastian’s armpit, he reveled in the musky scent of his witch mate.
Sebastian was the only one of the three of them who was human, and Justin found the smell and taste of the man intoxicating, as was the vibrant pulse of his blood rushing through his veins.
His eyes fluttered open, and Justin took in the perfect scene in front of him.
The three of them were wrapped around each other in the too-small queen bed, with the tall Sebastian as a fulcrum point.
Justin’s leg was resting on Sebastian’s long torso, rising and falling with his slow breaths.
Pavel’s arm was draped across Sebastian’s chest, his fingers occasionally grazing Justin’s neck.
The gargoyle was dead to the world, but the touch thrilled Justin nonetheless.
This was safe. This was home.
Past Pavel, the sunlight streamed through the broken window, as did the breeze that had awoken Justin. The sun gleamed off the splintered glass, painting the room with yellow sparks, the edges of the broken panes casting sharp patterns against the walls.
Sebastian shifted, and Justin was unable to keep himself from groaning. Pavel let out a low grumble at the same time.
“Come on, you two. Time to get up.” Sebastian’s fingers ran down Justin’s back, sending a tremor throughout his body.
Neither Pavel nor Justin said anything, but both locked their limbs to Sebastian’s body, preventing him from moving any further.
“Oh no, this place is a mess. One that you caused, by the way.” Sebastian gave Pavel a gentle pinch in his side.
The muscular, compact man shook his head without opening his eyes, like a toddler refusing to wake. Affection bloomed in Justin’s chest. He’d never seen the grumpy, thousands-year-old gargoyle so playful. It was made even cuter by his salt-and-pepper beard, incongruous with his petulant expression.
Sebastian craned his neck down and laid a gentle kiss on Justin’s forehead, smiling. Justin sighed in response. This was perfect. He’d never had anything like this before. He did his best to enjoy the moment before anxiety that it might all be taken from him broke through the peace.
Turning to Pavel, Sebastian didn’t kiss the gargoyle but instead started to gently sing.
Leise flehen meine Lieder
Durch die Nacht zu Dir;
In den stillen Hain hernieder,
Liebchen, komm’ zu mir!
My songs call ou t
Through the night to you;
Down into the silent grove,
My love, come to me!
The tone was beautiful, smooth and creamy, the polar opposite of the aria Justin had overheard Sebastian singing in the rehearsal room a few days ago. That song had been a blast of power. This was sweet, enticing, and gentle.
Pavel’s eyes fluttered open as Sebastian ended his tune.
“You were born to sing Schubert,” Pavel said, his hand slipping down to Sebastian’s hip, his arm resting on Sebastian’s stomach.
“Oh, I know,” Sebastian replied, his lips pursed in amusement. “I’m wonderful.”
Pavel shook his head in mock frustration, a smile on his lips. “I knew Franz, you know.”
Sebastian went suddenly still, the arm wrapped around Justin freezing in place.
“Franz?” Sebastian asked, his voice tinged with a faint hysteria. “You mean, Franz Schubert? You knew Schubert?”
“We lived in Vienna at the same time.”
Without warning, Sebastian smacked Pavel on the ass cheek, the crack of it resounding through the bedroom.
“Careful…” Pavel said, the smile in his eyes betraying his warning. “You might have walked away from last night with a blowjob, but brats get their obnoxiousness taken out on their ass.”
Sebastian laughed, the sound of it cutting through the sleepy lull they’d been hanging out in. “I can’t wait.”
“You should sing more German lieder ,” Pavel said, suddenly serious. “It fits your voice well.”
“I don’t know,” Sebastian said, suddenly serious. “If I’m singing rep as heavy as Scarpia, I’m not sure?—”
“But that’s exactly why!” Pavel sat up, and Justin chuckled at the sight of his mates, who were so passionate about music, they were arguing about it naked in the morning sun. “It will keep your voice agile and supple. It’s good for you.”
“I understand the theory,” Sebastian replied, “but if I’m going to build an opera career, I won’t have time to devote to art song.”
Justin was suddenly struck by a wave of self-doubt. These two men weren’t just classical music nerds; they didn’t just happen to know this stuff. This vocation dominated their lives.
A vision of the future flashed in his mind, and it wasn’t pretty.
His mates with their international careers, veritable superstars of the music world.
And him a…receptionist? An admin with no skills and no real passion?
The only thing special about Justin was being a vampire, and he wasn’t even good at that.
He was weak. He didn’t have any of the mental powers. He was a burden on the coven.
And on his mates.
Justin was pulled out of his thoughts by Pavel, who cleared his throat. The gargoyle didn’t say anything, instead staring into Justin’s soul.
“Justin? What’s wrong?” Sebastian asked, his grip on Justin tightening.
“I, uh…” Justin fought to take a deep breath, a tightness spreading in his chest.
How could he have been so stupid? This was some mistake, some colossal joke being played on him by the universe or fate or whatever it was.
Or maybe it was a punishment, some vindictive power dangling mates in front of him when it was painfully clear he didn’t deserve them. That he couldn’t keep them.
“Tell us,” Pavel said, his low, masculine voice prompting the words to rush out of Justin’s mouth before he could stop them.
“This is stupid. I’m stupid. The two of you are perfect for each other. I’m such a bad mate for the two of you. You have an incredible future ahead of you, full of music and passion. I’ll hold you back.”
Justin shifted, trying to scoot away from Sebastian so he could get up and find his clothes, but the witch didn’t let him escape, holding tight to the vampire’s waist.
“Oh no, you don’t. I had an inkling this was coming.”
Justin wriggled, but Sebastian had him caught tight. Which was insane. Justin was a vampire! Sebastian shouldn’t be able to hold him. Not that he was trying that hard to get away, but the witch was surprisingly strong.
“Let me go!”
But of course, Sebastian didn’t let him go. Instead, with a ridiculous cry like a dog pouncing on a stuffed toy, he flipped over and straddled Justin. From above, Sebastian’s long black hair gave the witch the look of a beautiful, fallen angel. It took Justin’s breath away.
Leaning down, Sebastian brought his lips to Justin’s, the vampire’s hands instinctively going to the man’s torso, feeling the long, ropy muscles stretch against his palms. Sebastian was so fucking sexy, and it fully short-circuited Justin’s brain.
There was a hint of sour morning breath, but not enough to make the kiss anything less than astonishing.
Justin hadn’t known having a mate would be like this. His cock filled as his senses were flooded with Sebastian’s scent, and he reflexively ground his pelvis up into the witch. He was happy to find his mate was hardening as well.
“Can I borrow something to wear?” Pavel’s question broke Justin out of the whirlwind of lust. Sebastian pulled away, an annoyed expression flashing across his face.
“Most everything is going to be too long and maybe too tight, but you’re welcome to look in the dresser.”
Both Justin and Sebastian stared at Pavel as he rummaged through the witch’s old clothes. What the hell was wrong with him? He wasn’t going to stick around? You finally have your mates, and you’re going to leave?
Justin couldn’t help but ask. “Where are you going?”
Pavel was pulling on an old pair of sweatpants as he spoke. “I can’t be here. This was a mistake.”
“For fuck’s sake, not you, too!” Sebastian sprang to his feet. The witch’s face was a mask of anger and frustration. Justin was confused.
“It was weak.”
“You were here because you wanted to keep us safe. Because we’re your mates!” Sebastian was close to him now, poking his finger at the gargoyle’s bare chest. “What are you so scared of?!”
Pavel pulled out a baggy black band t-shirt from a drawer and slipped it over his head, his jaw clenched. “I’m not scared. I’m protecting you.”
The confusion that had clouded Justin’s thoughts burst with that proclamation. He jumped to his feet, not caring about his nakedness. The breeze from the window was strong now, but the cold shock of it spurred his righteousness.
“Bullshit. We are perfectly capable of taking care of ourselves!” Justin crossed his arms. He felt like a petulant teenager, and it didn’t help he was so much smaller than his two mates, but he didn’t care.
“It’s not about whether you can defend yourselves.” Pavel caught sight of a dusty old pair of flip flops and dragged them from underneath the chest of drawers, slipping them on his feet. His shoulders had tensed up. Despite his gruffness and supposed determination, his voice was rough and broken.
“Then what?!” Sebastian was yelling now. Justin said nothing, instead boring holes into Pavel’s skull with his eyes. He’d been willing to sacrifice himself so Sebastian and Pavel could have a better relationship. If he couldn’t leave, then Pavel certainly couldn’t!
Besides, they were mates. Even if he’d had a moment of self-doubt and weakness, that was clear.
Pavel reached for the doorknob, and the whole door fell to the floor with a loud thud. Justin jumped, as did Sebastian. They’d all forgotten it had been blown off its hinges.
“Don’t you dare go without giving us an actual reason.” Sebastian’s tone was cold now, and Justin was catching a glimpse of the seriousness and danger underneath the chaos witch’s arch attitude.
Pavel stopped in the doorway, staring at the two of them.
“We deserve to know,” Justin said, unable to keep the hurt out of his soft voice.
Pavel shook his head, his eyes shining with unshed tears.
“I’m old. And I…I am coming to the end of my time in this body.” Pavel looked down at the floor, hi s voice getting softer. “Soon, and it may be very soon, I’ll revert to my dormant form. My statue form. And I won’t come back.”
Sebastian turned to Justin, and for the first time, the witch looked speechless. Justin shook his head slowly. He didn’t understand either. Was this normal? There had to be a way to stop it.
“I won’t saddle you with that,” Pavel continued. “What, are you going to keep me in your garden? A brainless, unliving statue? A reminder of your mate who was taken from you. Who you barely knew. Who couldn’t protect you .”
At that, the man broke. His face cracked, and tears streamed down his face.
“Pavel…” Justin didn’t know what to say. He looked to Sebastian, who was similarly stricken.
“I’m going before we get any deeper in. Before your mate becomes an empty husk, and you end up its caretakers.”