Page 43 of The Botanist and the Beast

"Why are you suddenly trying to help me?"

"Because you leaving also helps me," he said with a shrug.

Theo rolled his eyes and went back to his bedroom. He was relieved the prince wasn't with Lyle, but also a bit dejected. Now he was back to not even having the slightest clue where he might be.

Lying in bed, he turned the key over in his hands repeatedly trying to decide if he should check the east wing, not for his bow but for Sebastian.I mean if he's grieving, I shouldn't bother him but—

"Ahh!"

Sebastian's scream cut through the quiet suite and Theo bolted after it. "Sebastian, are you in here?" he called into the hall in disbelief.

He followed the groans to a study and banged on the door. "Sebastian, is that you? Are you okay?"

"It's me. I'm fine," he said in a small voice. "Don't come in."

Theo hesitated but heard a hiss of pain. "I'm sorry, but I'm coming in," he announced, pushing the door open. He was greeted by a tearful Sebastian using his desk as leverage to get off the floor. A loud, cat-like hiss of pain broke from his mouth as he forced himself to his feet.

Theo rushed to his side without hesitation. "Tell me what you need. What happened?"

"It’s nothing," he said through gritted teeth. "You need to leave."

"It's clearly something," Theo snapped then he saw the back of Sebastian's white blouse. Red blood was spreading across the fabric. "Were you out hunting by yourself again?"

"No. The stone is spreading. It happens randomly to all of us. You don't need to worry." He turned, leaned back on the desk, and gripped its edge with his shaking hands. "Please go."

Theo frowned and stayed rooted across from him. "Why are you avoiding me?"

"I'm not. I'm just busy."

"Don't lie," he said with a huff. "If I misunderstood what you meant when you said you had feelings for me, then fine. If you kissed me and realized you felt nothing, I'll recover. But running off and ignoring me really hurts. Tell me directly if I'm not what you want. I deserve that much, don’t I?"

"I don't dislike you," he said, looking at the floor and avoiding Theo's eyes.

"Then tell me what has gotten into you. One minute you were kissing me like you longed for me, and the next you avoided me for days. Do you know how much that hurt?"

"I'm partially an animal." His shoulders slumped as he finally looked up at him. "That will always get in the way of any potential romance so I figured we should stop."

"What are you going on about? I know you're partially a shifter. Why would that matter to me all of a sudden? There's another reason you're avoiding me, and I'm not leaving until you tell me."

"Theo, please."

“Tell me.”

“Drop it.”

"Tell me," he demanded again, stepping closer. He put his hands on the desk so Sebastian was between his arms and looked into his eyes. "I don't care what it is. We'll figure it out."

"No, we won't.”

“Yes, we will.”

“Why are you so stubborn?” he scowled.

“Because I want to be with you.”

“Ugh! You’re so infuriating! You don’t understand!”

“You’re right. I don’t.” Theo let out an exasperated sigh. “I’m trying to. I want to. What could be so bad that we can’t even talk about it?”

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