26. Chapter 26
26
Chapter 26
Sebastian
I didn’t want the night to end, but Calum was currently pawning off the drunken Nathara to a few of her servants in her room, and I knew where he would be headed next.
Any other time I would have been doing everything I could to hold Violet’s attention for as long as possible to prevent her from spending more time with him, but he was angry, rightfully so, and I knew she was headed for confrontation. An argument that could potentially push her further from him and closer to me, which was exactly where she needed to be.
After the ballroom doors closed behind Violet, my worst nightmare headed straight for me: Bronwen. A very pissed off Bronwen. Fuck me .
“A word, my lord” Bronwen said as she walked past me, heading for the garden.
I knew whatever she had to say, it was bad considering she didn’t want to say it in front of the few remaining stragglers.
I nodded to the guards at the door, a silent instruction to get these unwanted guests out of my castle.
“What was that?” Bronwen said as I approached her in the garden.
“What was what?” I asked even though I had an idea what she was talking about.
“The little shadow show you put on for everyone? Did you enjoy yourself? Just using your powers since you have an endless supply? Oh, wait!” she said, slamming her hands on her thighs. “That’s right. You don’t!”
“I can’t lose her,” I mumbled. I’m not sure if it was more of a response to her or more for me, finally admitting it to myself.
“What?”
“I thought I would be okay, if she chose to be with him. If he truly made her happy and that’s who she wanted, I thought I could let her go. But the more time I spend with her, the more I realize that letting her go would be the hardest thing I’d ever have to do. I won’t force her, but I’m going to make it hard as hell for her to choose him.”
Bronwen let out a sigh. “Well, did it work?” she asked as she crossed her arms.
“I . . . don’t know.”
“Sebastian, all you want to do is protect her—protect all of us. How will you do that as you continue to grow weaker?”
“It was a moment of weakness,” I mumbled, turning away from her.
“You can’t afford to be weak,” she shot back.
She was right, and her words were like a knife to the stomach. I wasn’t thinking, but I couldn’t stop myself. “She’s had her time with him. It’s my time now.”
She let out a sigh before placing a hand on my back. “You can’t take away her love for him.”
“I can accept that she loves him. I know a part of her always will. He was her first love. But it’s my fucking time. I’ve waited long enough.”