Chapter 38 #2
Kai told himself he wasn’t a coward because he was doing what he’d promised.
Thankfully, Sebastian hadn’t ventured far.
He was under the pergola in the backyard, so Kai not only didn’t have to scale the city to find him or have to leave the pup alone for too long, but he also had an excuse to put off riffling through his father’s study.
Sebastian’s back had been to the door, only one of the several hanging lanterns lit to illuminate him, and nothing much beyond in the darkness of night.
Hunched forward, his elbows rested on his knees while the handle of a bottle of Kai’s good whiskey dangled from one of his hands.
Kai had already gone through a decent amount, but the Io-born wolf had clearly done much more damage.
Kai eased the back door open and stepped outside. Sebastian hadn’t turned or even flinched. The pup, tucked comfortably under his arm, sniffed at the air before huffing. Kai wrinkled his nose in turn. Even he could smell the booze from this distance.
Rough night.
Kai eased the pup to the ground, knowing he wouldn’t venture far, and crossed the patio to swipe the bottle from Sebastian’s hands just as he leaned forward to fill another glass to the brim.
“What the hell?” Sebastian whipped around, and Kai immediately noticed the purple smudges under his widening eyes. His voice sounded gravelly, but the words weren’t slurred. He either had a remarkably high tolerance, or he’d stretched this all day.
“You should’ve sensed me coming,” Kai told him. “I wasn’t trying to be quiet.” Sebastian was inebriated enough that he failed to hide his emotions—shock, fear, and wariness. Kai gestured to the seat beside him. “Care if I sit?”
He didn’t wait for an answer as he pulled out the chair and fell into it, catching the pup sniffing around some of the furniture, his tail wagging. He’d likely caught Isla’s scent again.
Not bothering to reach for a glass, Kai brought the bottle to his lips and took a long drink.
When he brought it down to his side, Sebastian lunged for it, but Kai tore it back. “You smell like a tavern. You’ve had enough.”
Sebastian growled under his breath but didn’t protest. He just turned away, rubbing at his face and covering his eyes. “Did Isla tell you to come talk to me?”
“No.” Sebastian peeked out to shoot a doubtful glance his way. “She told me to keep an eye on you. Somehow, I missed you inhaling my liquor cabinet.”
Sebastian snickered, and that was it before silence fell. Kai didn’t mind it.
He shifted his gaze up to the moon, the Goddess, tracing its edges. He wondered if Isla would be doing the same.
“I’m sorry.”
Kai turned. Sebastian hadn’t lifted his head. “For drinking my good liquor? I can buy more.”
“No,” Sebastian said. He sighed a heavy breath. “I’m sorry.”
Kai understood with a spear to his chest. Lips thinning, he took another large gulp. “You didn’t do it,” he rasped through the burn. And there was that slight slam against his ribcage.
Murderer.
Sebastian lowered his hands and leaned back in the wicker chair. His golden hair gilded by the lantern as he tipped his head back to also trace the moon. He sniffed. “Still, I never said it, and I’m sorry. I can’t imagine it. If it had been Isla and my dad.”
Murderer, murderer, murderer.
Kai cleared his throat and took one last gulp of whiskey before setting the bottle as far away from himself as possible.
Sebastian’s scream made him jump back to his seat. “What the fuck is that?”
Kai averted his eyes to the base of Sebastian’s chair in time to see the bak pup scurrying away to hide behind Kai’s legs. A deadly monster, easily frightened.
Chuckling, Kai leaned down to scoop the baby up. “Your sister adopted a new pet.”
Sebastian remained agape. “Is that a bak?”
“Yes, it is.”
“I… I have so many questions.”
“I’m in for a long night, so ask away.”
And so, Kai went through everything he already had earlier at the shop.
Sebastian asked his questions and finished with, “Goddess, she must have you wrapped around her finger.”
“Oh, entirely.” Kai gave the bak a slight bounce. “But I’ll admit, he’s growing on me.”
Sebastian nodded his brows and dared to reach forward. The bak recoiled initially, but with Kai’s mutter of encouragement, he inched towards Sebastian’s touch. “I’ve done a lot of wild shit in my life, but this might take it.”
“This is definitely up there for me,” Kai responded.
Sebastian’s fingers slid beneath the pup’s chin. “None of this feels real,” he confessed. “Like it’s a nightmare and a dream at the same time.”
“That’s how I feel pretty much every day.”
Sebastian’s eyes met his at the gentle frankness, the apology and sorrow still lingering. “Be honest with me.”
“Okay.”
Both leaned back in their seats, a beat of silence settling between them.
Sebastian swallowed. “What would you do if you saw her?”
Murderer, murderer, murderer.
Kai sniffed and could see how every second he hadn’t answered tightened the muscles in Sebastian’s body.
“Honestly?” Kai affirmed, and Sebastian nodded.
“I’ve thought about killing the person responsible more times than I’ll ever admit to Isla.
It’s what kept me breathing sometimes. And even though I know it wasn’t her will, she is the one who took their lives.
Who watched their last breaths.” Sebastian’s nostrils flared, but Kai continued, “But I love your sister more than anything in the world, and I would never, ever do anything that would hurt her. So, I have to put it behind me, and I will. For her. The witch is the true killer.”
Even saying the words, he felt his power grating along his bones.
Murderer.
“Isla is just as upset as you are and is trying her best to get through it. I… I can only be so much for her, especially with this. With your family,” Kai said. “She needs you now more than ever.”
Sebastian glanced at him once, then up at the stars. “I need her, too.”