Page 13 of The Heart of Moonlight Falls

“I know, sweetheart.” James rubbed Sebastian’s back. Hopefully, the next possessed animal wouldn’t be a dead one, and they’d be able to deal with it without Sebastian’s extra power, but the only way to guarantee something like this wouldn’t happen again was to stop shades coming through the gateway.

After everyone had finished eating, Eli and Parker said goodbye and left.

James rinsed their bowls and put the rest of the soup away. “Do you have a headache?”

“No, it’s okay at the moment. I’m just tired. I think I’ll go back to bed.”

James followed Sebastian back up to his bedroom.

Sebastian flopped on the bed, landing on his stomach. “I’m surprised Eli and Parker hung around all afternoon.”

James lay beside him and rubbed his shoulders. “They care about you.”

Sebastian turned his head to the side, propping it on a hand. “I’m not used to it. Every time Eli hugs me, it startles me.” Sebastian rolled his eyes at himself. “Not in a bad way. I like being able to tell they care. It’s just that the voice inside me that keeps asking why hasn’t gone away yet.”

James’s heart ached at Sebastian’s honesty. “It might take time for you to get used to the idea that they’ll keep showing up for you.”

“Yeah, probably. I can’t hand out trust easily, no matter how good I know people are.” Sebastian scooted closer and tucked his face into James’s neck. “Except with you.”

James kissed the top of Sebastian’s head and murmured, “I’m glad I can be that person for you.”

He didn’t discount how much Sebastian opening up meant. James would have understood if it had taken longer for them to get to a fully trusting place, but he was glad he didn’t have to wait. He was ready to build on that trust and keep Sebastian forever.

His visions of their future had grown exponentially since leaving Storm House. Sebastian made James want to be brave. He wanted to be there for Sebastian and not let his anxiety about losing people stand in the way. Yes, it had scared him when Sebastian lost consciousness today, but that fear wasn’t going to make him hold back from connections like it used to.

“Wish we were at your house,” Sebastian mumbled sleepily.

James looked down at him. “Why?”

Sebastian untucked himself from James. “I don’t like this place.”

James studied the bare room. “You might like it better once you make it yours.”

Sebastian wrinkled his nose. “I don’t want to make it mine.”

“But you still want to live on your own, right?”

Sebastian thought for a moment. “Yeah. I want to spend every second with you, but I also want to build a normal life and…I don’t know.”

James smiled. “I want to spend every second with you, too, but it’s not really practical.”

“No.” Sebastian matched his grin.

James wrapped one of Sebastian’s curls around his finger. “What don’t you like about the duplex?”

“It doesn’t feel right. I think it’s too small, maybe?” Sebastian chewed his lower lip. “Don’t get me wrong, Storm House was too big and a way worse place to be, but I don’t think I want to live here either.”

“This could just be a temporary home that you stay in while you figure out what you want more permanently.”

“True.” Sebastian tucked back into James. “I hadn’t thought of that. I guess there’s no rush to figure out what I want. I don’t need to stress so much about what comes next for me.”

“No, there’s no rush.” James kissed his curls. “I’ll be here with you as long as it takes for you to decide, whatever it ends up being.”

“That feels really fucking good.” Sebastian squeezed him. “Which is silly considering where I want to live and what I want to do with my time are far from my biggest problems.”

“No, but they matter and will only matter more once all this is over. One problem doesn’t discount all others. The veins aren’t your whole life. It’s good to look ahead.”

Sebastian hummed a happy sound. “Something to look forward to.”

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