Page 66 of The Heart of Moonlight Falls

“Can we go after I sleep?” Sebastian whined. “I think I’m going to be sick if I keep moving.”

“Be sick if you have to, but I’m not putting you down in the dirt. You need a doctor.”

“You take such good care of me,” Sebastian mumbled.

James snorted, ignoring his protesting muscles as he walked. “Not leaving you bloody and drained in a dark forest is hardly a high standard of care.”

“Whatever. Take the compliment, James. I’m tired.”

“Okay, sweetheart. I promise you can rest soon.”

James settled Sebastian into his truck’s passenger seat and climbed in on the driver’s side. He wouldn’t be able to make it all the way to Apple Valley. He’d pass out at the wheel and kill them both, but if he could get to Parker’s, someone else could take them the rest of the way.

Sebastian went quiet not long after pulling away from Storm House. He slumped in his seat, and whenever James pried his tired eyes from the road to check, Sebastian was unmoving, his eyes closed.

Even though James knew Sebastian needed rest, it worried him. He hadn’t let himself worry all night, and it seemed to be catching up with him. The longer he drove, the worse his anxiety became. His hands trembled and his chest tightened until his breaths turned shallow.

James wasn’t sure how he made it through the drive to town, only that he did.

He pulled up at Parker’s in a sudden panic that no one would be there. What if the hordes of shades he and Sebastian had seen coming through the gateway had come to attack? What if his friends and Eli had been hurt or worse?

Before James could get a handle on his spiraling thoughts, the door to Parker’s house flew open and Eli ran toward the truck. He yanked James’s door open and pulled James into a hug.

“Oh my god, you’re all right!” Eli cried.

Parker was a step behind him. They both looked fine.

“We need to go to the hospital,” James managed to say.

Eli released him from his crushing hold, eyes wide. “Can we get to the hospital?”

“We should be able to.” James turned toward Sebastian in the passenger seat. He still hadn’t moved. “We need to hurry.” He gripped Sebastian’s hand. “Sweetheart, wake up.”

Sebastian didn’t respond.

Tears blurred James’s vision. Sebastian had to be okay. He was probably just resting, but James couldn’t control his fear that Sebastian wouldn’t wake up this time.

Parker appeared at Sebastian’s door, opening it and lifting Sebastian out.

“Wait,” James called.

“I’ll drive.” Parker gave him a steady nod and took Sebastian away.

Tears fell from James’s eyes. They had to get to the hospital, but he couldn’t be separated from Sebastian. He didn’t know what to do other than stay by his side. What if, after everything, Sebastian died?

“Come on.” Eli pulled on James’s arm. “Into my car.”

James looked at him in confusion. “Is Sebastian okay?”

Eli exchanged words with Parker. “He’s breathing. Let’s go.” Eli guided James to the back seat of his car as if James were a lost child. “You’re probably in shock. You need the hospital too.”

James collapsed into the back seat. Sebastian was there, his head lolled back against the seat. James was vaguely aware of Eli buckling him in as he reached for Sebastian. It was awkward holding him with both their seatbelts on, but James couldn’t let him go.

It hadn’t been too much, had it? Sebastian was going to be fine. He’d been talking and joking not long ago. True, he hadn’t been able to walk to the truck, but that didn’t mean anything.

Sebastian would wake up just like all the other times he’d passed out after using the veins. James tried to convince himself this was guaranteed, but he couldn’t ignore the fact that Sebastian had gone through so much more than anyone should have to bear tonight.

It was the longest car ride of James’s life. He didn’t even register the moment Parker drove past the boundary that had trapped them. He hardly noticed the sun rising, warm and golden, except for the fact that it lit Sebastian beautifully, making him look like a fallen and battered angel.

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