The League of Illusion: Destiny (13 page)

Chapter Twenty-Six

Sebastian always loved the field with the tall grass just past the Black Woods. He’d come here to think or just to sit on the ground with the whispering grass and soak up the warm sunlight with nothing on his mind but the lazy day.

He was there now among the golden reeds, chewing on the end of one. The sun felt glorious on his skin and he lifted his face to it. He’d been feeling so cold and lost lately that sitting here on this beautiful day made him happy. Maybe he wouldn’t have to leave. Who would care if he spent the rest of his days here?

There was movement nearby. He shielded his eyes to see the two figures walking toward him. He recognized the woman first. Mrs. Stratton was paying him a visit. She had a man with her, a tall one. At first he couldn’t identify him but when the sun hit his face he remembered those eyes. It was his brother Rhys.

Mrs. Stratton stopped a few feet away but Rhys kept coming. He settled down on the ground next to him.

“Hello, Sebastian.”

He smiled at his brother. “Hello, Rhys. What are you doing here?”

“Came to see if you wanted to come home now.”

Sebastian turned his head and stared across the expansive golden field. “I like it here. For the first time in my life I don’t feel burdened.”

“That may be, but we need you to come home.”

He looked back at his brother. “I don’t want to rule, Rhys. I’m the last man who should have that kind of responsibility. There will be a lot of people relying on me and I fear I’ll fail them.”

Rhys set his hand on his shoulder. “You’re a wise, loyal and compassionate man, Sebastian. You’ll be a great leader. Better than Father, I suspect.”

“Is he still alive?”

“Yes, and waiting for you. He wants nothing more in this world right now than to see you. Everyone who loves you is waiting for you to come home.”

“Drea? Did she come through the portal?”

Rhys nodded. “Yes, especially Drea.”

Sebastian ran his fingers through the grass, setting the blades to sway. He was going to miss this place. But it was time for him to finally go home where he truly belonged.

He stood, Rhys as well. He waved to Mrs. Stratton, who waved back. “Let’s go home.”

Sebastian opened his eyes, blinking against the light streaming in through the window. The scent of lilies filled his nose, and he knew he was back in Davenport Manor. Lilies had been his mother’s favorite flower and the gardener grew them in the hothouse. Every day Harrison, the loyal Davenport butler, cut them and placed them in every room of the house.

There was a vase of them on the table beside his bed, in his old room.

The curtain was pulled back on the canopy so he could see the room and the window, which was open. A warm breeze blew in, setting the curtains to flutter. The overwhelming sensation of being home nearly crushed his already aching chest.

Lifting the covers, he saw that he was bandaged up tight around the chest. The fingers on his right hand were taped up as well. Testing the rest of his limbs, he realized his left leg was in a splint. He was obviously in rough shape. But alive.

Careful not to pull something, Sebastian pushed himself up. He shuffled to the edge of the bed and sat up, setting his feet on the cold floor. There was a throb in his side and in his leg, but no major pain. Someone must’ve given him some intense pain medicine. He smacked his lips, tasting a familiar flavor in his mouth.

After he caught his breath, he pushed to his feet. He had to grasp the bedpost to steady himself. Once up though, he noticed a walking stick propped up next to the bed. It was his old one from before. He’d left it in his apartment in London.

He took it now and hobbled out of his room. He walked down the hall, pausing every now and then to catch his breath. The door of his father’s rooms was ajar. The scent of cigar smoke wafted to his nose. That made him smile.

He went inside.

Blake sat up in his bed, pillows propping him up, blowing smoke rings up into the air. When he saw Sebastian in the doorway, he set his cigar in the ashtray and smiled. “There’s my son. Come home at last.”

He limped across the room and sat on the bed beside his father and embraced him. “I’m sorry.”

“Whatever for?”

“For not being here.”

“Son, the cancer would’ve gotten me if you’d been here or not,” Blake said, squeezing his shoulder so he could look Sebastian in the eyes. “You had your own demons to slay.”

Sebastian nodded.

“And did you slay them?”

“Yes.”

Blake smiled. “Then that’s all that matters. You’re here now, just in time.”

Sebastian pulled back and looked his father over. He was much thinner than before, his face gaunt and ashen. But he didn’t appear to be in danger of dying soon.

“You look better than I feared,” he said.

“I have a remarkable nurse taking care of me. Her concoctions are amazing. Taste horrid, mind, but they do the trick.”

Sebastian turned just as Drea came into the room, carrying a tray with two glasses on top.

“She’s been looking after you as well, since you were brought here to rest,” Blake said.

Sebastian stood. “Drea.”

She crossed he room and threw her arms around him. “I didn’t think you were coming back.”

He hugged her tight, burying his face in her hair, not caring that the pressure crushed his bruised ribs. Holding her in his arms again was worth every jolt of pain.

“I told you I’d always come for you.”

He held her head in his hands, then leaned down and took her mouth. He didn’t care if they had an audience. She tasted familiar and comforting, like home.

“Careful there, boy, or you’ll need to lie down again.” Blake guffawed.

Sebastian rested his forehead to hers. “Are you all right here?” He looked down at her hands. They were mostly healed, only pink scars marred her palms.

She smiled. “Yes. I’ve been made most welcome. Your family is wonderful.”

He snickered at that.
Wonderful
was not a word he would normally have used to describe his complicated family.
Troublesome
maybe.
Difficult
most definitely.

“Skylar told me I can work at the Druid hospital if I like. That my expertise would be most valued.” Then she lowered her voice. “I don’t have any clue what a Druid is, but I’m sure I’ll fit in fine.”

“That’s wonderful.” He kissed her nose. “Then you know I’ll be in charge of things soon, of the League of Illusion.”

“Yes, your father explained to me what that meant.”

“I didn’t want it so soon in my life. I thought I’d have a wife and family by then.”

Drea looked up at him from under the hood of her eyelashes and was about to say something when the rest of his family burst into the room. Jovan and his Skylar, Rhys and his Corina. There were hugs and kisses and much congratulations going around. And through it all Sebastian thought of one thing—the destiny that brought them all together like this.

“The solstice is tomorrow,” Blake said. “Are you ready for me to pass on the Davenport legacy?”

Sebastian met his gaze, steadied himself and nodded. “I’m ready.” And for the first time in his life, he truly was.

“Good, then you must prepare.”

The preparations consisted of twelve hours of solitude and meditation. He couldn’t see or talk to anyone for that time until the ceremony.

He looked at Drea, knowing they were going to have to put their reunion on hold. All he wanted to do was touch her and kiss her for the next few hours, but he wouldn’t be allowed to, not until after the ceremony. She gave him a small smile, but he sensed she knew what was about to happen.

“Lord Soren has come to help you prepare.”

The Druid lord stepped into the room. “It’s time, Sebastian.”

He pressed a kiss to Drea’s cheek. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s all right. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Miss Stratton wrapped her hand around Drea’s arm. “We’ll take care of her. Don’t worry.”

After one final squeeze of her hand, he let go and left the room with Lord Soren.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Drea spend the day with Skylar and Corina. They went for a leisurely stroll around Davenport Manor, which took them the better part of the day. Skylar had brought a picnic basket and they snacked on fruit, cheese and biscuits along the shore of the pond. It was a beautiful day and it did an admirable job of distracting her but still she thought about Sebastian. They’d been apart for so long, she’d felt that even more time had been stolen from them.

She drank tea, wore a fancy dress and marveled at the opulence and advancements of this world, when what she really wanted was to be in Sebastian’s arms. That would be the thing that would make her truly happy.

Back at the manor, they supped with Jovan and Rhys and Mr. Davenport, and afterward Drea excused herself to return to her room, feigning fatigue for her early departure, when in fact it was because she wanted to be alone. She was not used to big, noisy, complicated families, and being around Sebastian’s just made her ache for him even more. It was for the best to be alone and suffer in blissful silence. She knew she shouldn’t complain, that this was part of the package of being with him, but she hated being without him.

She’d just shed her outer garments and was in her petticoat when there was a knock at the door. Sighing, she grabbed the dressing robe and put it on. She hoped it wasn’t either Skylar or Corina, she just wasn’t in the mood to be civil anymore.

She opened the door, preparing to give one excuse or another, when the words died in her throat.

“Sebastian.”

“May I come in?”

She stepped aside to allow him entrance. “I thought you were in isolation.”

“I was.”

“Isn’t it forbidden, or whatever, to be talking to me?”

“It is, but I couldn’t go another second without seeing you.”

Her heart thumped hard at his words. A heat blossomed inside her belly.

“I thought maybe with all the commotion, your family, the ceremony, that you’d forgotten about me.”

“Never.” He gathered her in his arms. “You’re the reason I’m here. The reason I was able to return home. I was a broken man, Drea, but you healed me. I’m only whole with you.”

He cupped her face in his hands and, leaning down, he brushed his lips against hers. She fisted her hands in his shirt and deepened the kiss. They kissed until her knees were weak and her head was swimming.

Pulling back, he locked his gaze on hers. “Before I join the League, there is one thing I need to ask you.”

“What?” she asked breathlessly.

“Drea Blairwood, will you be my wife?”

Joy filled her to the brim. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She couldn’t stop them and she didn’t want to.

“Yes,” she said, smiling. “Yes, I will marry you.”

Despite his injuries, he picked her up and swung her around. “You’ve made me the happiest man in this world and all others.”

When he set her down again, he covered her mouth with his. He kissed her until she was dizzy with pleasure.

There came another knock at the door. It was Lord Soren.

“Sebastian,” he said, “you need to return to the meditation room, immediately.”

Grinning, Sebastian kissed her again, then nuzzled his face into the side of her neck. “Maybe if we’re quiet, he’ll go away,” he murmured against her skin.

It tickled and she giggled.

“I’m not going away until you come out,” Lord Soren said.

“You should go,” Drea said, although that was the last thing she wanted. “We have forever together, what’s a few more hours?”

He kissed the tip of her nose. “Wise counsel, my darling.”

After one final kiss on her lips, Sebastian turned and opened the door. “Lord Soren.” He nodded to the Druid lord, who was the most solemn man she’d ever seen.

But instead of the frown of disappointment she was expecting, he smiled and said, “Your father didn’t make it past three hours before he was at your mother’s room.”

Sebastian laughed and, bidding Drea a good night, followed Lord Soren back to his duties. Drea stood in the doorway and watched him go, knowing she’d have the rest of her life to make up for the time they’d lost.

* * *

The ceremony took place in the evening of the summer solstice. Because of Blake’s condition, it took place in the ballroom of Davenport Manor instead of the League headquarters in London. The council assembled inside the room on the dais. Others in attendance were sorcerers and humans who knew their secrets. Blake sat in a chair on the dais holding the stave of office, waiting for his eldest son to walk through the room and receive his birthright. Lord Soren stood on one side, and Amathon, the elven councilman, on the other. They represented the magical people he meant to lead.

Dressed in his finest suit, Sebastian entered the room and surveyed the audience. He spotted Jovan and Rhys near the front, Skylar and Miss Stratton accompanying them. Then he spied Drea, also at the front, dressed in a beautiful blue dress, and he smiled.

Nerves coursed through him, but once he locked his gaze onto hers, everything seemed at peace. Everything seemed right. He knew he could walk through the room, kneel and accept his responsibilities with a clear mind and a full heart.

Straightening his shoulders, he walked down the middle of the room leaning heavily on his cane, his eyes ahead, focused on the council and his father. When he reached the dais, he struggled to go down on one knee and bowed his head.

Blake stood and lifted the stave over Sebastian’s head. “You are the light, you are the peace, you are the truth, you are the strength, you are the wisdom.” He touched the tip of it to the top of his head.

Sebastian stood, and Blake handed him the stave. “You are the leader of us all.” Then he leaned in and hugged his son. “I’m proud of you. You are the best of us all,” he whispered into his ear.

“Thank you, Father.”

Holding the stave in his right hand, Sebastian turned and faced the audience. “
Slainte mhor agus a h-uile beannachd duibh.
”

The members of the audience returned the blessing, then erupted into applause.

Rhys and Jovan rushed him, hugging him hard, and gave their congratulations. He was happy to be with his brothers again. Happy to be back in his home with his family. Skylar and Miss Stratton both hugged him as well. He liked his new almost sisters-in-law and knew they were perfect matches for his brothers.

Once the crowd cleared, Sebastian sought out Drea. She’d been standing off to the side, watching everything with a mixture of awe and fear in her eyes. Setting down his stave of office, he gathered her in his arms, glorying in her smell and the feel of her body against his.

“Are you ready for this?” he asked her. “It’s only going to get worse. More meetings, more events.”

Smiling, she snuggled into him. “As long as we’re together, I’m ready for anything.”

* * * * *