Page 37 of The Botanist and the Beast

Finally, they headed to their suite together and Theo was unsure what to say to the prince who was silent as they walked through the grief filled halls. Lyle was waiting at Sebastian's door with his arms crossed.

"Yes?" Sebastian tilted his head and looked as surprised as Theo to see him. "Did we lose someone else not accounted for?"

"No, but I need to talk to you." He cut his eyes to Theo. "Alone."

"Theo, go ahead." Sebastian said with a sigh.

Reluctantly, Theo went inside. He started to walk away from the door, but the idea of them alone together didn't sit well with him. He bit his lip then turned back. As quietly as possible, he leaned in and pressed his ear to the door.

"Are you really making efforts to diminish the curse or have you grown distracted?" Lyle pressed.

Theo perked up at this.Is that possible? No one has mentioned a way to end thing so far.

"So, that's what this is about." Sebastian scoffed. "I am making an effort but right now there's nothing fruitful. Most avenues have been exhausted so the progress is slow. If that's all, I want to go to bed."

"We should work at it together again."

"Please." Sebastian laughed. "You know we shouldn't. We've done this before. My answer hasn’t changed from the last time you asked."

"Doesn't the future of our kingdom override our past?"

Theo's stomach twisted. The door rattled and he could tell Sebastian had been pressed against it. He clutched the doorknob, ready to tear it open if the prince made a sound of distress.

"Besides," Lyle went on, "it’s been so long since we had fun together. Why don't you come to my room tonight? Leave the ward to his own devices for a bit."

"Don't touch me. You don't get to be so familiar anymore."

"Apologies, my prince," Lyle said, laughing a little. "Old habits die hard. Just keep it in mind. My door is always open."

Theo backed away but the prince opened the door and startled seeing Theo so close.

"Do you need something?" he asked coldly.

"Why is he touching you?" The words tumbled out and Theo wished he could snatch them back.

"It's nothing," he said, brushing by. "Have a good night."

"Wait. I know it's not my business, but about the curse?" Theo began to ask about a cure but the prince practically ran off to his room and let the door slam closed.

He frowned and after a second of hesitation, he went to the prince's room and tapped on the door. "Did Lyle do something that upset you?" He was met with only silence, then decided to let himself inside. "Sebastian? Tell me you're okay and I'll leave."

As he crossed inside, he didn't see the prince. "Prince Sebastian?"Maybe he crawled out the window and went hunting again.

A low warning growl answered, and Theo stopped in his tracks.

In the corner of the room the prince was crouched down. He wasn't fully a snow leopard yet, but he certainly didn't look like a nymph either. His clothes were already slightly torn. His normally gentle face was twisted, and his spots were slowly becoming darker on his skin. He snarled, exposing four canine fangs. His glittery opal claws scraped the floor as he backed further into the corner. His five tails thrashed behind him like angry whips.

Theo squatted on the floor so they were on the same level. "Sebastian?" He only got a hiss in response and his heart hammered in his chest. "You know me. You're upset right now and that's okay, but try and calm yourself."

The prowling prince lowered his chest to the ground like a cat ready to pounce. Then he spoke in an angry guttural growl that was far from human. "Get out."

"I'm not going," he said, his voice shaking in fear.It's just the prince. He doesn't want to—

He was pounced on and he crashed to the floor, his back pinned to the side of his bed. Sebastian's hands were on his chest and the claws poked at his skin. Sebastian leaned in and opened his mouth and spoke again in that terrifying animalistic voice.

"I said go away."

"No." The tips of sharp teeth tapped Theo's neck and the puffs of heat on his skin made him shiver. He swallowed as Sebastian held his jaws open over his neck.

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