Page 23

H e carried a tray of food up for Sebastian and himself up the hall when he came across Lyle and two guards whispering to each other. They stopped as they saw Theo, and Lyle wore a smug smile.

"Ward, what are you up to?"

"It's Theo," he said coldly. "I'm getting Sebastian some dinner. Have a good night."

"I'm heading that way. Walk and talk with me," Lyle said, sticking his hands in his pockets and following. "Since when do you call him by his first name and not his title?"

"Just a mistake," he said, rolling his eyes though truly he wasn't sure when it began. "I don't have anything to say to you."

"Don't bother talking then. Just listen. Whatever you are doing with Sebastian, stop it." He glanced down at the tray. "I warned you to know your place. I won't warn you kindly a third time."

"Is that all you wanted to say?" Theo said, trying not to bicker with him.

"You have more bite than usual today. Are you jealous he stopped focusing on you for a few minutes?" He laughed. "I suppose pets don't like being neglected."

Theo stopped and glared at him. "Call me a pet one more time and we're going to have a problem."

"What you want from Sebastian, he can't give. You're destined for disappointment. Trust me."

"I don't want anything from him," he spat.

"Deny it if you want. I'm only looking out for you."

"Because you care so much about me," he said sarcastically. "Is that why you said I should be hanged?"

"Details," he scoffed and gripped Theo’s shoulder too tight. "Look, I'll prove myself. Come and find me when you're ready to trust me, and I'll give you your bow and arrow so you can escape. I'll walk you out. If you want, I'll even protect you from the wild beasts on the journey. Sebastian will never know."

"Are we done?" he snapped as he reached the door to the suite.

"For now. When you want out, I'll be waiting."

Why would Lyle think I'm that stupid ? Should I tell Sebastian? Theo slipped inside and took a deep breath to calm the simmering anger in his chest. No, he's been through enough today. I don't want to talk about Lyle anymore tonight. I'll mention it tomorrow. "Sebastian? You still in the bath?"

"In my study," he called back.

Theo entered backwards using his back to push open the door. "I grabbed what I could, but I can get more if..." His mind went blank as he took in Sebastain’s current state.

Sebastian was standing in a bathrobe drying his hair with a towel. The hemline was dangerously high thanks to his tail and showed off his thighs dotted with splashes of glimmering stone. His tail swished behind him, lifting the hemline even further and revealing he wasn't wearing underwear.

Theo closed his eyes and he struggled to remember what he was saying. "If...If um...Anyway, here's food."

"You've seen me naked. I don't know why you're acting so strange," he said with a small laugh.

"Context is all," Theo said, clearing his throat. "This feels a bit more inappropriate." He felt the weight of the tray leave his hands.

"Thank you. I see two bowls here. Why don't you sit and eat in here with me? I sat down so you can open your eyes."

Theo didn't need to be asked twice. Soon they were sitting across from each other at a desk. At this distance he could see the faintest outline of fading leopard spots on his skin.

"Tell me more about your sisters," Sebastian said, taking a bite of food. "What are they like?"

"They're lovely girls. Luna loves the stars. Her head's always in the clouds in an analytical way. Coralie is interested in the sea mostly. She has probably read every book about the sea. I feel like they're going to be great at whatever they do."

"They had a good older brother to raise them. You did a good job with them." Sebastian smiled. "You get this wistful look sometimes when you think of them. It’s sweet. It had to be hard raising two kids so young."

"It was," he said, nodding. "It still is some days. I'm glad and I'd do it all over, of course, but sometimes I don't know."

"Sometimes you wish you just got to be a child?" Sebastian gave understanding smile.

"Yeah. I know it doesn't matter now but I still think about it sometimes."

"Me too. I was only about seventeen when the curse hit ten years ago." He stirred his soup and sighed. "I love my people so I took charge and did everything I could to make surviving this curse as comfortable as possible. I'd also do it again, but some days I think about what would have happened if my dad actually lived to old age and I got to just live my life for a while.”

"Exactly," Theo said with a laughed. "I've been asked if I want kids and I just think about how I've spent so long raising my sisters. I used to want lots of kids but now I can't fathom it unless I got a decade to myself after the girls move out. But by then in human years I don't know if there would be a point.”

"Well after your decade of rest, I feel like you’d be a great father or uncle. Whatever you decide you want, I hope it works out for you.” Sebastian flashed a pretty smile. "It's nice to talk to someone who can understand somewhat of what it's like. I really appreciate you letting me be honest with my feelings earlier and now. It means a lot."

"Oh, of course." Theo was taken aback by his gratitude. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Can the curse be broken?"

"How long were you eavesdropping exactly?" he asked, sipping his soup again.

"Long enough. Is it possible?"

"I don't think so. I've tried a lot of things. Nothing has stuck in a decade. The curse breaking doesn't concern you so don't get too caught up in thinking about it. Tell me more about the girls. I like learning about your family."

Seems to be a touchy subject tonight. I'll have to ask another time. Or maybe Jacques and Oliver will tell me. "They're sweet kids. Coralie has feelings for a girl in town that's not my favorite person, and I'm dreading that conversation."

"I bet." Sebastian chuckled. "Young love is cute."

He crinkles his nose when he laughs. How adorable. "It's cute till you have to be the voice of reason and tell them they didn't meet the love of their life at fifteen. Especially not a girl who views school as a burden. Coralie is too smart for that nonsense."

"I find young love rather precious. There's something magical about it. You should let her be in love for now."

"You know, for a man who chains men up in his guest room, you're exceptionally soft," he teased.

"It's not a habit." He coughed on his food. "You're the first I locked in here and it was because of the specific circumstances. I had to in order to appease the bloodlust of my people."

"Why do you have metal hooks on the bed legs if locking prisoners up isn't a common occurrence?"

"Those aren't for keeping prisoners," he mumbled.

"Then what are they for?"

"Recreational activities,” he said the words in a barely audible voice.

"Recreation?" It clicked and Theo smirked. "Oh, you like tying up your lovers?

"Sure." The prince poked at his food, still avoiding Theo’s gaze. His cheeks and antlers turned a carnation pink.

"Wait. Do you like being tied up?" As soon as he said it the prince's face and antlers brightened, and Theo was delighted. "How cute. I found a random fetish." Sebastian gripped his antlers as it he could hide the light coming from them. "Aw, you don't have to be shy. We're adults, right? I assumed you had sex before. At the very least with how Lyle acts, I gathered you two fell into bed together a few times."

"Enough." He waved a hand dismissively. "Talk about your sexual interests, not mine."

"Ask away. I'm an open book when it comes to stuff like that."

He timidly tapped his bowl with a spoon as he thought it over. "Tell me something you like, since you exposed one of my interests."

"I like a little bit of pain, but more than that, though, I like being in control." He took a sip of water before he went on. "I like bossing my partners around and teasing them a little."

"Not surprising honestly. You sound a bit mean," Sebastian muttered. “Is that why you pester me so often?”

"I don't tease you that much these days." Theo laughed. "Don't get me wrong. I'm not a selfish lover. I prefer doing whatever it is they like while I'm being bossy. If they want to be the one getting fucked, I can do that. If they want to be the one fucking me, I also don't mind. If they like it gentle and tender, I'll shelf my desire of pain, and if they want things to be rough, I'll do my best to deliver. As long as they come completely undone for me, I'm happy. I don’t want them to be able to think. It gives me a sense of pride to be the one who can get them to that point."

Sebastian shifted in his seat as he listened, and the top of his robe slipped down just enough that Theo could see his bare shoulder with pretty little splotches of opal stone. How is he so effortlessly breathtaking? Theo cleared his throat and forced himself to focus. "What do you like about being tied up?"

"It's always been an escape. I think a lot. I work a lot. Everyone always needs something from me. If I'm tied down, I'm forced to be in the moment and forced not to take charge. It’s one of the few times I can...”

"Stop thinking?" Theo finished and smirked at the blush that crossed Sebastian's cheeks.

"Right." He drummed his fingers on the table. "Now that I think about it, I guess it's less about being tied up and more about not being in charge for a change."

"I could see that from a prince who has so much to do." On paper we're compatible. I wonder if that’d hold up in practice. Sebastian seemed to have the same thought because he got flustered and looked away. Would it be out of line for me to say we should test it out? "You know, you never told me if you were interested in someone else. Is there anyone you're letting tie you up these days?"

"No," he said with a shrug. "You see me nearly every day. You know I'm not sleeping with anyone."

"Not even Lyle? He still seems very interested in you."

"I figured you were eavesdropping for a while. We haven't been together in a long time. I don't know how he feels about me romantically, and I don't really care to know." He leaned on a hand. "Why are you curious about my love life anyway?"

"Because I like knowing about you." And I want to know if taking this leap is worth it.

"I'm not that interesting, but that's sweet. Enough about romance. Tell me more about your home. Hearing about the world outside of here is refreshing. I like living vicariously through you."

The night rolled on and after some laughs and casual conversation, the grief and pain of earlier faded into the background, allowing for some healing.

"Um, thank you for tonight," the prince said before they parted ways. "We should have dinner, just the two of us, again."

"Anytime you want, your majesty."

"What happened to calling me by just my name?"

"You noticed?"

"Of course I did. I like it better. Surely we're close enough now to drop the formalities."

"Well then, goodnight, Sebastian."

"Goodnight, Theo. I look forward to spending the day with you tomorrow."