Cecil turned to his brother and raised a brow. “Haveyoubeen in a relationship?”
“No, obviously.” Elian shrugged. “Dad never let us date.”
That realization dawned on me like it was the most obvious thing in the world. If Sebastian had never been allowed to date, did that mean the kiss we shared was his very first? I remembered the phantom touch of Sebastian’s lips against mine and my heart fluttered against my ribs. That strange tingly sensation returned, flowing to every tip of my body.
Still, that couldn’t be the entire missing puzzle piece. I still didn’t know what the fruit taste was all about, but there had to be a reason. Since I was trapped in a cage, I had nothing to lose by asking, even if I felt stupid.
“Weird question,” I began, “but do either of you know anything about fated mates?”
Elian snorted. “Yeah. They’re not real.”
But Cecil was quiet. A contemplative look spread across his face. “I have some books,” he murmured, as if talking to himself.
“What, those old kids’ stories? That’s not what Rock’s asking about.”
“It’s Rourke,” I said.
Elian ignored me, still trying to convince Cecil that he was right, but his younger brother wasn’t having it. Cecil shook his head vehemently and said, “Kids stories are still books.”
“Anything helps,” I said. “We didn’t have a lot of books when I was a kid, so it helps to have stuff written down.”
Cecil gasped. “You didn’t have books?”
Right. I forgot Sebastian’s younger brothers were just as naïve and sheltered as he was.
“No,” I said.
“Why not?” Elian demanded, brow furrowed in confusion. “Are you from the middle of nowhere or something?”
“Kind of,” I said. “The outskirts.”
“That’s a real place?” Elian blurted. He looked genuinely shocked. “I thought it was a made-up place that Dad used to scare us!”
The corner of my lip curled up. “Sorry to burst your bubble, but it’s definitely real.”
Elian gaped at me for a second, like I was a unicorn that had come walking out of some enchanted forest.
Despite everything, I felt a flash of sympathy for both of them. Elian and Cecil were younger than Amos, and barely had any real-life experience except for bossing servants around and expecting things handed to them on a silver platter. I could resent them for it all I wanted to, but I couldn’t blame them. It wasn’t their fault—and by that logic it wasn’t Sebastian’s either.
Should I have refused to kiss him? Would things have turned out differently?
No,I thought, sudden and intense, almost as if an outside force spoke in my mind,I don’t regret kissing him at all.
“Um,” Cecil said, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Is Sebastian really not going to feed you while you’re in here?”
“Cecil’s got dog treats in his pockets,” Elian said. He seemed eager to be helpful, which I appreciated, even if he was rude about it.
“I’ll be fine, but thanks,” I said. “Whatever issue Sebastian has with me, I want to figure it out ourselves.”
“Okay,” Cecil said, nodding. “We’ll be back. Oh, and if the dogs bark at you, just tell them Cecil said to be quiet.”
I smiled. “I will.”
The two young Lacehaven princes disappeared and once more I was left alone in the dog kennel with my thoughts. Their visit had undoubtedly lifted my mood, and I knew more about Sebastian now than I did before.
Our kiss had been his first. But that wasn’t the only reason he’d reacted so violently. There had to be more going on than either of us knew. I tried to remember what Bjorn said. At the time, I’d been so quick to dismiss him, but now I wished I’d listened.
I was safe with him. He was mine.
