19. Sebastian

19

SEBASTIAN

Sebastian tried to ignore the headache building behind his eyes as he followed James and the others out to the back of the diner.

Parker locked up the rear door and slung an arm around Eli, keeping him close. "You'll meet us back at my place when you're done at Storm House?" Parker directed the question at James, sounding reluctant to separate.

"We'll go straight there," James promised. "And if you can, call Hazel and let them know—" A human-sounding shout interrupted him. Strangely, it wasn't one of fear.

Another shout, almost like a whoop, came from the direction of the woods. An answering cheer followed.

Parker paused on the way to his car. "What the devil?"

Sebastian turned his attention from the park to James. "Didn't the deer all run that way? I can't imagine someone being happy about that if they were in the trees."

James couldn't seem to find words. Stress lined his face and he wore a scowl so determined Sebastian feared for anything that stood in his way.

He was struck by how much he loved James. Not just when things were good and they were whispering sweet nothings in each other's ears, but always. He loved this loyal, protective, and unassumingly fierce man. He loved James for his strengths and his fears and trusted James to stand by him like no one else.

Sebastian wanted to grab James and kiss him. Wanted to push him up against the truck and fuck him, show anyone who cared to look that their love wouldn't be beaten down by anything, from this world or Beyond.

He wished they lived in a reality where they could have done that. Instead, William burst out of the woods, almost as unwelcome a sight as shades during the day.

William stopped short at the sight of Sebastian, James, Parker, and Eli standing in the parking lot. He blinked oddly, making Sebastian wonder if something was wrong with his eyes.

More people came crashing through the trees. Sebastian recognized two of the men from the break-in at the duplex standing at the front of the small crowd. A jolt of fear coursed through him.

William appeared to collect himself. He pointed at Sebastian. "Look who it is. This might be perfect."

"I don't think so." Parker took a step forward, putting himself between Sebastian and the crowd.

"You're a wanted man, William," James warned, venom in his tone, as his arm settled securely around Sebastian.

The touch would have been more comforting if Sebastian's chest wasn't so tight. The whole crowd glared at him like they hated him.

The men who'd broken into his place were supposed to be under house arrest, other than William, who'd evaded capture. They'd obviously escaped, but what had happened to the officers guarding them? And where had these other people come from? Even with the mess of the Storm House secret getting out, Sebastian had wanted to believe that most people would understand once Eleanor set them straight.

William ignored James's warning, turning to the man beside him. "Take a few people and grab the ginger." He addressed the rest of the crowd. "The rest of you stay with me. It's time to rid this town of useless leaders who think imprisonment is acceptable."

The group shouted in agreement, and William marched off, followed by six others. Those that remained continued to glare. One of the men who'd broken into his house leered at Sebastian.

His head throbbed. A literal mob was coming for him. Their scrutiny and judgmental expressions were like a crushing weight, feeding his anxiety as the undisguised hatred on display brought to life some of Sebastian's worst fears.

It had been bad enough worrying people judged him or found him annoying and unlikeable before. He'd had enough trouble being around groups that, rationally, he'd known weren't paying attention to him. In comparison, this situation was impossible. It wasn't fair and made Sebastian so angry he was getting lightheaded, though that could just be from his growing headache.

Parker took another step in front of Sebastian. "Anyone who comes closer is going to regret it."

"Piss off, Hayes," someone spat.

"Not likely, Mills. I'm the one with all the magic. Half of you don't even have the ability. Go home. You can't take us by physical force. James and I would beat you at that, even without extra power."

Sebastian had a wild thought that he was grateful the mob didn't have pitchforks or other weapons. He gripped James tight, wanting to sink away from this and disappear while also wanting to rage at these people and fight back.

Parker's words seemed to sink in. Some of the people glanced around in hesitation.

"This isn't going to work."

"But he's the real problem. Screw Eleanor. William just wants her out of the way so he can be mayor."

Beside Sebastian, James muttered a spell. Wind whipped safely around Parker and Eli and hit the crowd. The people in the front took the brunt of the blast and toppled into those behind them.

"We've got more important things to do than deal with this," James snarled. "Shades are attacking during the day. Why don't you try to do something about that? You should all be ashamed of yourselves."

The animosity in the air seemed to hit a peak. Sebastian worried the mob was about to attack, then someone said, "Fuck it, we were supposed to be going to town hall. If William wants Storm, he can get him himself."

Another voice shouted agreement, and they hurried out of the park.

Sebastian watched them go but found no relief. "That isn't any better than them going after me. We have to help Eleanor and Hazel."

"You're right." James ran a hand roughly through his hair. "We need to shut this down quickly."

Parker looked down at Eli. "You good to come along?"

The younger man nodded. Sebastian could tell James and Parker were displeased about dragging Eli into danger when he didn't have the advantage of magic, but at least this was only human danger. For now. Sebastian doubted the shades would be absent from the center of town for long now that the stone was free.

Why couldn't William leave them alone?

Sebastian didn't want to go after the mob. His stomach was already twisted in knots and his hands were shaking, but he couldn't sit by while they went after Eleanor. It wasn't lost on him that, in many ways, it had been easier to face a horde of shades than a mob of angry people. But he had friends in his corner, and with James beside him, he could face any horribleness the world threw at him .

Sebastian's heart thudded as he rounded the diner, glued to James's side. They marched across the road, ignoring the stone.

On the steps of town hall, the administrator who usually sat at the reception desk was blocking the entrance to the ruined foyer, a look of determined anger on his face. "You all need to leave town. An evacuation notice has been put out for Moonlight Falls. Didn't you see the shades?"

"Get out of the way, Jay," William growled from the front of the mob.

"You've been fired," the administrator, Jay, shot back, tone full of authority. "Don't tell me what to do."

William laughed, and the sound made the hair on the back of Sebastian's neck stand up. It must have unsettled Jay as well. He took a step back, his confidence cracking.

Eleanor and Hazel appeared in the doorway behind Jay. Eleanor wore an absolutely lethal expression. She stepped in front of Jay, releasing a gust of wind on the crowd. People stumbled back around William while he managed to remain unaffected.

James led the way, pushing through the people, Sebastian close on his heels with Parker and Eli at his back. They came to stand next to Eleanor and Hazel.

William's nostrils flared, his eyes finding Sebastian. He shuddered, almost like he was cold. It was weird, given the day was perfectly nice for the season. Even his glare seemed to flicker, but he collected himself, saying, "Seems I have to do everything myself."

"Authorities are on their way," Eleanor interrupted before William could say more.

"Oh? And how'd that work for you last time?" William cocked his head. "Besides, I've got an hour before anyone gets here from Apple Valley. The town has had enough of you, Eleanor. You're not fit to look after Moonlight Falls when you're more interested in protecting the cause of our problems than fixing them." His gaze settled on Sebastian.

Another chill coursed through Sebastian as his headache flared. He gripped James's arm to steady himself, trying to ignore the angry crowd. William was bad enough on his own. Even his eyes looked strangely evil.

Sebastian hated all of this. He didn't want to deal with it, especially not when he and James should have been back at Storm House by now.

"The only one causing problems here is you," Sebastian said, surprised at how steady his voice was given his insides were in knots.

William bared his teeth at Sebastian, making an almost hissing sound.

Eleanor's eyes widened at the strange display.

"There would have been nothing wrong if you'd stayed out of our business." William ascended the town hall steps. "Everything would have gone to plan."

"Plan?" Eleanor walked down the steps to meet him. "What the hell are you talking about?"

William's gaze jerked away from Sebastian. "This isn't your town anymore, Eleanor."

"It was never my town. I'm the mayor, not the fucking king of the castle."

William didn't appear to be listening. He made a grab for Eleanor's wrist. As if the move had been a signal to the crowd, they rushed forward.

Eleanor unleashed another gust of wind, stronger than the last. It halted the mob for a moment, but then William was on her.

A stab of pain shot through Sebastian's head, and he lost track of what was happening around him. He felt sick. Why did he have to get his worst headache since using the veins now? He was useless. Forget standing by Eleanor. He was a liability .

James held him tight, and when the pain passed and Sebastian opened his eyes, it was James's face that filled his vision.

"What's wrong?"

Sebastian didn't know. Something was coming, but he had no idea how he knew that.

Shouts echoed around them. Something tugged on Sebastian's sleeve. He tore his eyes from James to find one of the angry Moonlighters clinging to his arm, trying to pull him down the steps. Sebastian wobbled, off-balance. James was the only thing keeping him from falling.

Without thinking, Sebastian said the words for fire. The man's jacket caught around the cuff. He shouted, and Sebastian felt a flash of horror. It was fine using fire on shades to banish them, but this was someone living.

The man whipped off his jacket and stomped on it, putting out the flames. His wrist was red and his eyes were full of hatred as he looked up at Sebastian. "Motherfucker," he growled but didn't reach for Sebastian again.

Not that Sebastian was in the clear. More men pushed past the burned one, surrounding him and James. Eleanor, Hazel, Parker, and Eli were surrounded too, though it seemed Eleanor had escaped William. Their fight had turned physical. Someone grabbed Hazel from behind, and Eleanor shoved them off.

"We have to use magic," James said as he pushed someone off him. He seemed to catch Parker's eye, and the two nodded at each other. Simultaneously, they sent wind rushing outward. The gust burst forth, knocking everyone who wasn't holding on to James or Parker down.

Parker caught Hazel, and Eleanor managed to steady Eli. Everyone else tumbled down the steps or was thrown back into the town hall behind them.

It wasn't enough. People got up, looking madder than before. It didn't look like anything short of injury would deter them .

A shriek came from the other side of the circle but half the people seemed to ignore it.

Sebastian looked over his shoulder and swore, pulling James away from a person making another pass at him. "Shades!" They'd stayed in town too long, and the beasts were back.

Shadows stirred in the park. A mass of shades rushed out of the woods, flooding the street. Shouts rang up from the mob, but they were no longer full of anger. People panicked. Perhaps they'd missed the emergency alert about shades powerful enough to be out in broad daylight and hadn't believed James's warning.

The swarm of shades circled the stone. Sebastian almost thought they'd ignore all the people in favor of their obsession with the rock, but onyx eyes fixed on them. Sebastian could have sworn they'd fixed on him specifically.

Some of the shades raced across the street toward town hall. The mob ran, abandoning him and Eleanor. A few people reached the door to town hall and pulled on the handle, but it must have been locked. Jay was nowhere to be seen, so perhaps he'd hidden inside.

William knocked into Sebastian. He seemed to be struggling to follow the others. William looked over his shoulder at the approaching shades and fear flashed across his face before it disappeared. He stepped away from the rest of the mob, which was now running around to the back of the building.

Sebastian shook himself. "We have to run," he called to the others. The charging shades had followed the mob, but that didn't mean they weren't coming back.

James guided Sebastian down the steps toward the shades around the stone, but they had to go that way to get to their vehicles. None of the beasts had attacked, so maybe they were content to chase everyone out of the town center.

Something gripped the back of Sebastian's hoodie, causing the collar to choke him as he was pulled backward, hand slipping from James's grip .

"I don't think so," William rasped in his ear. There was something wrong with his voice.

Sebastian wrenched his hoodie out of the man's hands, spinning around to face him. Two shades floated on either side of William. Sebastian balked at how close the beasts were and the fact that William not only showed no signs of fear but hardly seemed to notice.

"I can't let you out of my sight," William rumbled.

"Sebastian, come on." James was at his side, trying to pull him away. "You aren't imprisoning Sebastian at Storm House, William. Just lay off."

William blinked and his eyes went black, whites completely gone. He smiled, showing razor-sharp onyx teeth.