Page 1 of Sebastian's Secret

Prologue

Sebastian

Stretching his wings, the mighty dragon glided through the expanse of blue sky, soaring over the snow-covered mountain tops. Fireside—the peak they called home—was in view as he lifted his head to the sun.

What am I going to do?

The question echoed around his mind as he drifted to a plateau in the snow, burying his claws into the white terrain. The foothills were breathtaking, but the weight of Sebastian’s burden made it difficult to exult in the natural wonder. He had to make a decision, and he was rapidly running out of time.

‘Sebastian!’

His name resonated through the air, although that wasn’t really true. In reality, Sebastian heard the word in his mind, the communication telepathic as was possible between all dragons. Glancing up at the beast landing beside him, Sebastian recognized the owner of the gravelly tone.

‘Draco.’

The auburn creature settled a few feet away from him, turning as he touched down.

‘Did you tail me?’

Sebastian couldn’t believe the nerve of his younger brother. He’d headed out to the peaks for solitude, not to be plagued by his sibling.

‘Of course.’ Draco’s grin revealed rows of razor-sharp teeth. ‘What else are brothers for?’

“Fabulous,” Sebastian muttered aloud as the noise of a new set of muscular wings drew his attention into the atmosphere again. Looking up, he saw the azure dragon circling above them. ‘Cole?’

Naturally, both of his younger siblings had seen fit to follow. Well, of course they have. Cole landed with lithe grace, his attention shifting between both of his brothers.

‘What are you both doing here?’ Sebastian couldn’t hide his irritation.

“You need to talk,” Cole replied, stating his case out loud as he strode over to Sebastian. “That much is obvious.”

‘I need time to think,’ Sebastian snapped, although he regretted his sharp tone. Draco had a reputation for mischief, but Cole was a good friend as well as his brother. Maybe both had only come to offer counsel?

‘What is there to think about?’ Draco shook his huge head, his crimson eyes glaring. ‘Are you still brooding about Dad’s offer?’

Offer? That wasn’t how Sebastian would have described the rigid deal. “Yes.”

‘For goodness sake.’ Cole’s reply was a sigh, lost on the whipping breeze.

“I wouldn’t call it brooding,’ Sebastian argued. More like sulking or actively denying its existence.

It depressed him that as the second eldest of four sons, he hadn’t handled their father’s proposal more elegantly, but he couldn’t wrap his head around what their dad demanded.

“Why?” Draco blurted the word, glancing away and sending a stream of flames cascading from his throat. ‘What is the issue?’

‘I don’t like being blackmailed.’ Sebastian’s claws dug deeper into the snow, confirming his hurt. That was how it seemed, as though his own father was coercing him.

‘Blackmailed?’ Draco’s gaze was wild as he turned back to his brothers. ‘What an overstatement!”

‘Look.’ Cole’s tone was calm and surprisingly mature considering he was the youngest. ‘You don’t have to sign the contract, Sebastian. Dad just wants to make sure that his money is secure. That’s all.’

Money.

Sebastian bared his teeth at the concept, staring over the edge of the ledge as though taking on the deathly drop would help him.

Damn his money.

It was a curse that their father, Michael, had hindered them with and his blasted legacy meant it would be one that outlived him.

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