I nodded in agreement. “Something about this isn't right.”Something about Lucan being in the king's study did not feel right either, though I had no idea why.
“So what do we do?” Kohen asked.
Sebastian shrugged, at a loss for words.
I turned towards Sawyer, hoping that his presence meant he was coming around. “Thanks for sticking up for me, I?—”
He turned his back to us before I could finish, following the footsteps of the others who had left before him.
I winced at the resentment he still gave me. The weeks had been long without Sawyer's gentle bullying, and I missed my friend. Sometimes I felt like he understood me better than my own sister.
Kohen placed a hand on my shoulder. “He just needs more time.”
I sighed. “How is he doing?”
“He's okay all things considered. He’s pretty undone about Jocelyn still.”
“Were they even ever together?” Sebastian asked, the question having a bite to it. “Like I said before, no one even knew he liked her.”
“I knew,” I said under my breath.
Kohen shrugged. “I dunno, haven't asked. Honestly I think there's something else bothering him, but he won't tell me.”
“I don't know what I can do to make things better between us.” I didn’t know how much more of this I could stand. I had considered bombarding his room and forcing him to talk to me more than once, but the idea had been shot down by Pia.
“Just give him space. He’ll come around. He cares about you both, even if he won't say it,” Kohen replied.
“Yeah, I guess.” I frowned.
Sebastian took my hand in his. “Come on. I have something that will cheer you up.”
“Is that an innuendo for your dick?” Kohen scrunched his face.
Sebastian winked. “No. But I suppose it could be.”
The silver bladewas about as long as my forearm—the perfect size to conceal under my sleeve if needed. The metal was polished so finely that the edge gleamed without needing any source of light.
My fingers traced over the carvings on the handle. Hundreds of intricate stars and a crescent moon were chiseled within the pale birch wood. The hilt, coated in a pearlescent varnish, created colorful prisms of reflection on the wall as I rotated the weapon in my palms.
“Look at this.” Sebastian interrupted my admiration, which was fine because I was at a loss for words from his gift. He took the dagger from me, twisting off a cap that I hadn't even noticed on the end of the grip. He held the end of the handle so that I could see the hollow center that flowed through the blade.
“What's that for?” I asked, pulling my head back.
He twisted the cap back on. “Toxin. Should you ever need it.” The already deadly weapon became even more lethal with the addition.
He passed the blade back to me, but I hesitated to take it. “Sebastian, this is beautiful, but I can't accept this. It's too much.” I shook my head gently.
Running his fingers over my palm, the tingle of his touch forced my hand open so he could place the blade in it. “It was supposed to be for your birthday, but with what my father just told us, I figured it'd be good for you to have it early. Just in case.”
“My birthday?” I had completely forgotten that the Jewel-Light Festival was soon approaching.
He chuckled. “Yes. Did you forget?”
Passing the blade between my hands, I admired it somemore before tucking it safely away in its velvet sheath. “I guess so. I’ve had a lot on my mind.”
I laid the dagger down gently on Sebastian's bed, then stood on the tips of my toes to plant a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you.” I smiled softly as I forced my lips away.
Sebastian smirked and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me into him. He set his chin on top of my head, then blew out a bubbled breath. “My father is a fucking idiot.”
