“Do you enjoy it?” Joyce asks.
“What the fuck does this have to do with the Slayer?” I interrupt.
“Yes, Joyce, what does this have to do with the Slayer?” Sebastian says, getting to his feet. “We came here to hunt. There’s been no sign of him. Warin has been a gracious host, despite your blunt rudeness. This is enough. I will stay, make sure that the Slayer does not return. The rest of the council will go home.”
Joyce glares at Ember, still holding her hand, and I can sense that Ember is holding her breath. She eventually drops her hand and turns to Sebastian.
“We never split up,” Joyce says, straightening out her cardigan.
“Did I ask you how you felt about it?” Sebastian retorts, and Joyce tightens her lips. “Come nightfall, you will go back to HQ while I ensure that everything is safe here.”
The three other council members look relieved, while Joyce turns and glares down her nose at us.
“Very well,” she says, turning away and heading to her room.
“Does that compromise suit you, Warin?” Sebastian asks.
“Yes, thank you,” I reply.
Even though I want all these motherfuckers out of my house, especially the most powerful one who keeps touching and giving my progeny saucy looks.
“Very well. Everyone have a good day and I’ll see you off tonight with instructions,” Sebastian says. The council leaves.
Samantha, Ember, and I stay seated, all sharing looks, knowing no words can be shared between us. I haven’t told Samantha about the Slayer, but she looks at me suspiciously, before giving us a tilt of her head and retiring for the day.
“Come, let us go to bed, you need more rest,” I tell Ember, holding her hand and bringing her to our room.
As soon as we’re in the room, Ember starts breathing heavily. I cup the back of her head and bring her to my chest.
“You did great. You were so brave. We’ll just have to deal with Sebastian, but it has solved a big portion of our problem.”
She nods against my chest, holding me tight.
“Come on, let’s get some sleep, okay?”
“Okay. You really don’t think she noticed I was hiding something?”
I bring the blankets over both of us, we’re lying on our sides facing each other and I have a hand on her hip.
“Even if she does, Sebastian doesn’t, and that’s all that matters. She’ll be leaving and you won’t have to deal with her ever again. Things will be less tense with only Sebastian here. Although, we’ll still need to be vigilant.”
“Does Samantha know about Iris?” she asks.
“No, I haven’t told her anything.”
“I’m sorry you have to lie to her.”
“Whatever it takes to keep you safe,” I tell her, and she shifts her body so her head is on my chest, and I’m holding her tight. Her soft hair is pressed under my nose as I inhale her delicate scent.
Her thumb moves back and forth on my chest and she sighs like she has something else to say, but drifts off to sleep.
I don’t slumber immediately, my head filled with problems and solutions. It would be kind of nice if Sebastian killed the Slayer. Then it wouldn’t be me who did it, but he would be out of the picture.
Groaning, I shake that thought from my head. She asked me to spare him, and that’s what I’ll do. It will make her happy, and that’s my life’s mission.
My life. My endless fucking life, while Ember’s is much shorter.
I’d never condemn her to this. She’s far too radiant. I’d love her no matter how she looks. I’ll have to accept the years I have with her as a blessing.
