Unholy things
1482 Words
Chapter 012
DARIUS
I smirked at the sketches, my eyes tracing over the familiar lines of my own face rendered in graphite. The kid had talent, I would give him that.
But I kept silent, not trusting myself to say anything that would not reveal too much.
Truth be told, I was secretly pleased. More than pleased, if I was being honest with myself. The fact that Sebastian was so obsessed with me that he could not go a day without drawing me—it satisfied something dark and possessive inside me.
Sebastian bowed his head low, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Good morning, Alpha," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
I hummed in response, keeping my expression neutral. "Clean my room while I am gone. I am heading to the training ground and will not be long."
Sebastian lifted his head slightly. "Actually, I needed to speak with you about something."
"Can it wait until I return?" I asked, already moving past him. "I am in a hurry."
"Yes," Sebastian said quickly. "Yes, it can wait."
I nodded and walked down the hallway without looking back, though I could feel his eyes on me the entire way.
Kain stirred inside me, pleased at the attention, but I pushed him down firmly.
The training session with Torren blurred by in a haze of physical exertion. We pushed ourselves to the edge, sparring with a brutality that left us both bleeding and breathless.
It was exactly what I needed, a distraction from thoughts of hazel eyes and sketched portraits.
By the time I returned to my chambers several hours later, my muscles ached and sweat clung to my skin. I expected to find Sebastian at his post outside my door, but the hallway was empty.
I frowned, pushing open the door to my room. "Sebastian?"
No answer.
I checked the sitting area, then moved towards my bedroom. His scent was everywhere, stronger than it should have been and I wondered if he was still cleaning after five hours.
My curiosity piqued, I opened the bedroom door slowly, expecting to find him organizing my things or changing the linens.
The room was empty.
Well, not entirely empty. Everything was spotless, far cleaner than it had been this morning. But there was no sign of Sebastian.
I shrugged, trying to ignore the twinge of disappointment. He had probably gone to the kitchen to get his meal. The kid needed to eat more anyway. He was too thin for my liking.
I was about to remove my training clothes and head for the shower when I noticed something unusual on my bed.
A figure was sprawled across it in a weird manner, one arm dangling off the edge, the other tucked under a pillow.
I moved closer, my footsteps silent on the floor.
It was Sebastian.
Fast asleep on my bed.
I stood there for several minutes, just staring at him. My first instinct was anger—what on earth could have made him think he had the audacity to lay on my bed? My bed. The Alpha's bed.
I opened my mouth to yell his name, to wake him up and demand an explanation.
But the words would not come.
Kain pushed forward, flooding me with feelings I did not want to examine. Protectiveness. Tenderness. A fierce desire to let him sleep, to watch over him while he rested.
The mate bond would not let me be harsh with him.
I clenched my jaw, fighting against the pull. This was ridiculous. He had overstepped, and he needed to know it.
But looking at him now—his face soft and peaceful in sleep, dark circles under his eyes suggesting he had not slept the previous night—I could not bring myself to wake him.
"Damn it," I muttered under my breath.
I took my shower silently, careful not to make too much noise. I changed into fresh clothes and left the room without disturbing him, heading to my office to deal with pack matters.
Several hours later, I returned to my chambers. This time, Sebastian was not at his post outside the door, and when I checked my bedroom, he was not on the bed either.
The sheets were neatly made, as if he had never been there at all.
I was about to call for him when a knock sounded on the door.
"Come in," I said, settling into the chair by the window.
Sebastian entered, his head bowed. He cleared his throat nervously. "Do you want your evening meal now, Alpha?"
I ignored the question, my eyes fixed on him. "Why did I find you absent from your post twice when I returned to my chambers today?"
Sebastian went mute, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed nothing.
"Answer me," I said, keeping my voice level.
"I... I was cleaning your room the first time," Sebastian said quietly. "And I fell asleep. I am sorry."
"You fell asleep on my bed," I said flatly.
His cheeks flushed red. "Yes. I did not mean to. I just... I sat down for a moment, and I must have dozed off. It will not happen again."
"If you continue in this careless manner," I said, leaning forward slightly, "I will swap you for another guard. Do you understand?"
Sebastian's face went pale. "Yes, Alpha."
"There are important and vital pieces of information in my chambers," I continued. "Documents, correspondence, pack business. It is your duty to have those safeguarded. If you are not at your post, anyone could enter."
"I understand," Sebastian said, his voice thick. "I am truly sorry. I promise it will not happen again."
I studied him for a long moment, watching the way his hands trembled slightly at his sides. Part of me wanted to continue scolding him, to make sure the lesson stuck. But another part, the part connected to the mate bond, just wanted to pull him close and tell him it was alright.
I did neither.
"I have already eaten," I said instead. "But get me something to drink. And collect my laundry from the maids while you are at it."
"Yes, Alpha," Sebastian said, turning quickly towards the door.
As soon as he left, I sighed and leaned back in my chair. Kain rumbled disapprovingly in my mind, unhappy with how harsh I had been.
"He needs to learn," I muttered to myself. "He is too clumsy for this position. Maybe having him here was a mistake."
But even as I said the words, I knew I did not mean them. I did not want Sebastian anywhere else. I wanted him right here, where I could see him, where I could keep him safe.
Even if it drove me mad in the process.
Sebastian returned about twenty minutes later with a glass of cold water and my clean laundry folded neatly in a basket. He set both down carefully, keeping his eyes averted.
That was when I noticed them.
His eyes were swollen and red-rimmed.
"How did you get those?" I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.
Sebastian touched his face self-consciously but said nothing.
"I asked you a question," I said.
Instead of answering, Sebastian lifted his chin slightly and met my gaze. "Can I ask you something?"
I raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Will you train me?" Sebastian asked. "To be strong, I mean. To be a better guard. To be... useful to you."
The question caught me off guard. I had expected him to ask about the arrangement we had made, or about why I had been so cold to him. But this—this was something else entirely.
"You want me to train you?" I repeated.
"Yes," Sebastian said firmly. "I know I am not strong enough yet. I know I am clumsy and make mistakes. But if you teach me, I can be better. I can be what you need me to be."
I stared at him, my mind racing. Training him would mean spending more time together. It would mean touching him, correcting his form, being close to him in ways that would test every bit of my control.
It was a terrible idea.
"I will think about it," I said finally.
Sebastian nodded, accepting the non-answer. He turned to leave, his shoulders slightly slumped.
"Sebastian," I called out, the words leaving my mouth before I could stop them.
He turned back, his grey eyes questioning.
"Come back later," I said, my voice low. "When it is dark. So we can spend the night doing unholy things."
For a moment, Sebastian just stared at me. Then, slowly, a smirk spread across his face. It was the kind that gave the vibe...small and knowing and far too pleased.
"Yes, Alpha," he said softly. "I'd want nothing more than to spend the night with you bringing my fantasies to reality.”
- Writer
