Chapter 25

A faint voice called out to James. He couldn't focus on it, no matter how hard he tried. He was cold, his body wracked with shivers. He didn't know what was happening.

"James, James, please," the voice said.

James groaned. He was lying somewhere soft. At last, he was able to open his eyes. Sebastian hovered over him, worry lining his dirt-smudged face.

"James!" Sebastian reached out and cupped his cheeks.

James was unable to move, wrapped tight in a cocoon of blankets. Another shiver raced up and down his body.

"Here, you need to drink some water." Sebastian left his side.

James was able to track his movement without turning his head. Sebastian grabbed a water bottle from his dresser, then returned to the bed. He lifted James's head and helped him drink.

James made a small sound in response and had another sip.

Once he'd finished the water, Sebastian laid his head back down and curled around him, holding on through the bedspread. "You scared the shit out of me," Sebastian whispered, managing to sound pissed off and devastated at the same time.

"Sorry," James croaked.

"Ssh." Sebastian put a finger to his lips. "Rest. And promise not to do that again. You should have left us linked. Then you wouldn't be in this state."

Maybe not, but then he'd have drained them both. Even if sharing the burden meant they wouldn't have ended up in as severe of a condition as James was in now, there was a good chance they'd have both been too weak to move, making it impossible to get back to the house before the shades regrouped.

James didn't say any of this. Sebastian probably knew it to be true and was just scared by the risk James had taken.

Once his shivers stopped, and he was starting to sweat from the combined warmth of Sebastian, the blankets, and the fire, Sebastian let him sit up.

James looked down at himself. "I got dirt all over your bed."

"Don't care. I wasn't putting you in the bath unconscious." Sebastian's voice wavered. He crossed his arms like he was hugging himself, frowning severely.

James brushed his fingers along Sebastian's arm. "I'm sorry I made you worry."

"You didn't make me worry. You made me terrified." Sebastian closed his eyes for a moment. "I'm so glad you're okay."

James nodded, too choked up for words.

With a swift kiss on the cheek, Sebastian left the bedroom. He returned with an unseemly amount of food, and James ate almost all of it. He then promptly passed out, falling into a deep, dreamless sleep.

He woke to find Sebastian curled up in the dirty bed with him, stroking his hair.

"Good morning, sunshine," Sebastian whispered, his tone playful.

"Is it morning?" James glanced out the window. The light didn't seem right.

"More like late afternoon."

James stretched. He felt worlds better, even if he could sleep another eight to ten hours, no problem. While the thought was tempting, sleep would have to wait.

He gripped Sebastian's hand. "We need to see if it worked."

Sebastian squeezed back. "Yeah, I've been dying to test it, but I couldn't leave you here."

"I'm good." James sat up, pulling Sebastian with him. "Let's go."

They detoured for a quick shower and got dressed in clean clothes. Sebastian shrugged James's leather jacket on over his T-shirt.

"Been wondering where that was."

"I'm borrowing it." Sebastian gave him a look, brows arched and as smug as can be.

James laughed. "Keep it." He'd never complain about the sight of Sebastian in his clothes.

"I think I will." Sebastian smiled like nothing could make him happier. James's heart pounded, and his chest felt like bursting.

James and Sebastian hurried outside and walked briskly across the yard toward the trees. Sunset wasn't far off, and James planned to be somewhere shades couldn't get to him by the time night fell. Whether that was back in the house or somewhere else, he didn't dare hope.

James wanted to check the fuel cell before testing if they were free. If it had lost too much power, they could have a serious problem, whether they were free or not. They needed to know that the fuel cell would hold the veins stable for an extended period. If it was draining too quickly, they couldn't leave and risk the massive explosion the Storms had been fighting off for decades.

The sight of the unchanged indicator lights on the fuel cell gave James a rush of relief. Everything seemed fine. The fuel cell didn't look like it had been damaged by the blast or the magic they'd unleashed on it.

He gripped Sebastian's hand. "This is good."

Sebastian grinned so wide his dimples took on new levels of adorableness. "And while that blast wasn't so fun in the moment, it makes me think this fucking worked."

They dashed back across the property to the gate. For the first time, the sight of the iron bars didn't make James frown.

Sebastian unlocked the gate. "Are you ready?"

"Are you ready?" James was giddy, now completely blinded by hope. He didn't bother to try and keep it in check.

Even if the worst happened and they were still trapped, he didn't think he'd break down. Not this time. Not when he had Sebastian with him every step of the way. Not when he'd been able to pick himself up last time and find a new plan. Surely, he could do that again if he had to. He wouldn't give up on Sebastian or himself, and he certainly wasn't giving up on the chance of them together, away from this place.

He held out his hand, and Sebastian took it. They walked forward, each with their other hand outstretched. Nothing slammed into them, and before James knew it, they were past the boundary. Another few steps, and they were risking walking right out into the road.

"Oh my god," Sebastian choked out. "James!"

He crushed Sebastian into a hug. "We did it."

"I can't—can't believe— Is this really happening?" Sebastian pulled back and looked around. He didn't let go of James as tears welled in his eyes.

"You're free." James squeezed him tight.

Sebastian smiled, and it lit his whole face. He pulled James into him, crashing their mouths together. They kissed frantically until Sebastian began to laugh between panting breaths. "James Gray, you're fucking brilliant."

"I don't know." He was hot from embarrassment but couldn't hold back his smile. "I'm just an electrician."

Sebastian swatted his shoulder. "You're a hell of a lot more than that." He looked back at the house, seeming lost for a second. "What do we do now?"

"Whatever we want." James gripped Sebastian's shoulders. "You can do whatever you want, Sebastian. Fly to Paris. Or New York. Go anywhere. Do anything." He could undoubtedly afford it.

A slight frown pulled at Sebastian's lips. "But what about you?"

"Me?" James glanced at his truck. "I've got a bunch of people to apologize to."

"But what do you want to do?" Sebastian's gaze landed on the truck, his uncertainty solidifying. He took a step back from James. "Go back to your life, I guess?"

"Sure, I like my life. But if I could pick anything?" James paused, feeling foolish, even though he knew he needed to take this plunge. "The thing I'd do first is take you on a date. Ask you out to dinner and show you the best night Moonlight Falls has to offer. And maybe that's not much next to Paris, um." He faltered.

Sebastian's face was unreadable. "You're the one who brought up Paris. Not me."

"Right." James pushed his nerves away. "I don't care about traveling. I'm sure it's nice, but it's not what I want right now. I want to take you on a date."

"A date?" Sebastian echoed like he couldn't believe it. "After being stuck with me for weeks, you aren't sick of me? You're not relieved to make your escape? You're going to ask me on a date?"

James nodded and held his breath, trying not to worry he'd just messed everything up.

They stared at each other.

"Well, I'm waiting," Sebastian taunted, that evil grin making an appearance.

"Waiting?" James squeaked.

Sebastian folded his arms across his chest and raised a brow expectantly. "For you to ask me out."

"You absolute nightmare," James muttered as relief flooded him. He cleared his throat, his face flaming. "Sebastian, would you like to go out with me?"

Sebastian's face lit with happy surprise, pretending to be shocked by the question even when the joy in his eyes seemed real. The silliness made James smile just as widely. "Yes," Sebastian said. "I'd love to go out with you."

"Perfect. How about I take you out to dinner? If you're free?" James added, to which Sebastian nodded enthusiastically. "Excellent." He grabbed Sebastian's hand and said more seriously, "I don't want to go back to my life exactly as it was before. I won't pretend getting trapped was a good thing, but parts of the last two weeks have been better than anything I can remember, and I want to see where this goes between us."

Sebastian's silliness gave way to a tender smile, one that brightened his eyes and softened his features. "Then a date is the perfect place to start."

The End