AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Isla asked me if I’d seen them.”
And just like that, Kai had seen how that wonderful mind of his mate’s worked. Maybe they could find out why his father had wanted to protect him.
He had an inkling of where he could begin searching, and his stomach turned. “I’ll see if I can track anything down.”
* * *
Kai told himself he wasn’t a coward because he was doing what he’d promised. Thankfully, Sebastian hadn’t ventured far. He was, in fact, 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 too long, but he also had an excuse to put off riffling through his father’s study.
Isla’s brother’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 a 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 to the side 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. The Imperial Beta’s son had likely been ready to drink himself into a coma. That was the last thing Isla would’ve wanted.
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 at hiding 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, and Kai tore it back. “Yousmell like a tavern. You’ve had enough.”
Sebastian growled under his breath but didn’t protest. He turned away, rubbing at his face, 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 before setting the handle 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. Deadly monster, yet easily frightened.
Chuckling, Kai leaned down to scoop the baby up. “Your sister adopted a new pet.”
Sebastian remained agape. “Is that…abak?”
