Page 30 of To Cuddle A Gremlin

“Okay, going down is worse than going up.” Sebastian placed each foot, his mind focused solely on the flat trail just ahead. He smiled in relief as he stepped on the path. He turned around to watch Isadore take miniscule steps down. “You’re almost set.”

“I deserve a victory kiss for this, you know–fuck.” Isadore’s left foot shot out as it slipped on a protruding rock. Sebastian ran toward Isadore, hoping to catch him before he fell, but he wasn’t quick enough. Isadore hit the ground hard, cracking his head against a small stump. He slid down the trail, his leg bent at an impossible angle. Fear gripped Sebastian. He regretted even thinking about heart attacks earlier. Had he manifested Isadore’s trip? No. Right now, he had to focus on stopping Isadore. Watching him fall while unable to do anything horrified Sebastian.

“Isadore, grab something! Anything!” Sebastian yelled as he dropped to the ground near Isadore to stop the fast slide. He slipped on the ice, smashing his chin on a rock. A sickening sound of bones breaking filled air as Isadore crashed into Sebastian. “Isadore?”

His body went into automatic motion as the rules of first aid filled his head. Every moment was dire as Sebastian confirmed Isadore was breathing, and he was warm. He pulled out his first aid kit and stared at the bandages and whistles. Everything was white, and Sebastian couldn’t remember what the first rule of helping someone was. “Isa? How're you doing?”

“Hurts. It hurts so fucking much.” The whisper was just a breath of air. Sebastian froze before jumping into action. He had to be the hero. Isadore needed him to be steady. Sebastian pulled Isadore out of the way and covered him up with his coat. His leg was definitely broken. Sebastian’s mind went blank. All his First Aid courses disappeared from his memory banks. “Bas, I can’t move my leg.”

“I know, I know. I’m trying to remember what I’m supposed to check.”

Sebastian peered into Isadore’s eyes and bit his lip. Isadore was going into shock. His beautiful eyes were glazing over. Oh, God, what was that acronym again? Airway Breath C–? No. Not necessary. Isadore was breathing. Sebastian swallowed before trying again. Keep him awake? “Hey, you can’t pass out. I need you here with me. I gotta call 911.”

“Human doctors aren’t going to be able to help me, Bas. You have to phone the lord. Lord… Typhon. He’s our protector in this land. You have to get him.” Isadore opened his eyes and glared hard at Sebastian. “He knows what to do.”

“But I haven’t met him!” Sebastian wailed. He scrambled for his phone and searched his contacts for anyone who could help. When Isadore said no humans, everything within him crashed to the ground. He didn’t know anything but the human way. How was he going to fix this? Scrolling through his phone, he landed on a name and number he hadn’t called in years. Guilt ate at him as he stared at the familiar icon. Shaking his head, Sebastianpressed the contact and braced himself for a firm denial. “Hello, Dare?”

“Yes?”

“This is Sebastian, and I have a problem.” Sebastian laid out everything that happened with short, choppy sentences. His eyes remained glued on Isadore. When Isadore gasped, Sebastian panicked and almost threw the phone away, despite Darius still talking to him.

“Sebastian, I’m sending Bale, my mate, to you, okay? Say yes if you’re listening.” Bale was a winged demon with fierce features. He was tall and scowly. He'd absolutely terrified Sebastian when he first saw him. “Sebastian!”

“Yes. Bale will meet me. He’ll look after Isadore. But what happens after?” Sebastian reached out a hand to hold Isadore and yipped as Isadore gripped it hard.

“You will stay by my side, and you will not think this is your fault,” Isadore spat out with gritted teeth.

“Exactly what he said. I know you, Sebastian. We might have stopped talking, but you’re you, and you are going to blame yourself, so listen to the man and accept that it was an accident,” Darius ordered. Sebastian swallowed and nodded, despite Darius being not able to see him. Darius didn’t understand Sebastian. They hadn’t said more than a few sentences to each other for years. He had no right. “Sebastian?”

“Fine! I’m not to blame,” Sebastian snapped. He could say the words, but he didn’t have to believe them. Isadore was hurt. He had to have caused this. Bad lucks and jinxes weren’t supposed to exist, but this had to be the exception. And their date had gone so amazingly well. Right. Once Isadore was saved and didn’t have a stark white bone sticking out of him, Sebastian would politely say goodbye. Isadore shouldn’t have to watch his safety or life around Sebastian.

Loud wingbeats could be heard, and a great being of immense size landed with a whoosh, startling Sebastian out of his spiralling thoughts. A demon with shorn horns and ragged wings brushed tree debris and snow off his shoulders and legs. He had a compassionate look on his face as he took in the scene.

“I think your friend is here.” Sebastian gave Bale a once-over before hanging up the phone. Bale dropped to his knees and tore Isadore’s pants down the centre, revealing the goriest limb Sebastian witnessed.

“Okay, this is a little out of my skills range. I’m going to have to take him to Lord Typhon. He can heal the gremlin here. But we must move immediately. We can’t wait for your car. Are you okay with me flying you to his cavern?” Bale touched Isadore’s leg with gentle hands. Sweat broke out on Isadore’s brow as he fell back to the icy ground.

Sebastian hovered anxiously by Isadore’s side, unsure of his role since Bale arrived. “I can drive there to meet you?”

“Perfect. I’m sorry I have to leave you alone, but time is of the essence.” Bale wrapped the broken bone with a fleece blanket Sebastian had tossed in his backpack.

Isadore snagged the lapels of Sebastian’s jacket and brought him face-to-face. His eyes were dark and pain-filled, but the determination terrified Sebastian. “You will not blame yourself for this. You had nothing to do with what happened. Tell me you know this, Bas.”

“I do. I swear.” Sebastian held on to Isadore with sweaty hands. His heart pounded rapidly as he tried to hide how terrified he was from Isadore. Somehow Isadore’s scrutiny saw past Sebastian’s lying promise.

“Say the words then. Let me see you,” Isadore growled.

“Not my fault. Please, just let Bale take you. I’ll be right behind you.” Sebastian kissed the back of Isadore’s hands and fell to his ass to allow Bale access without hurting Isadore.

Minutes later, after Bale had carefully situated Isadore in his arms without hindering his wings or causing more pain, Bas lifted off into the canopy with Isadore cradled. Sebastian wiped his hand under his eyes as tears blurred his vision. Dammit, dammit. This was the worst day. God, what was he supposed to do now? He'd broken the only person who seemed to understand what made him better. With weary legs and cold, damp pants, Sebastian picked his way to the car. The weather had shifted like people said it would and coated him in great flakes of wet snow, soaking him within moments. Isadore’s angry face popped into his head, forcing him to remember the fall in great detail.

Isadore was wrong, of course. Sebastian’s jinx caused this. His inability to have a good time, a perfect date, was instrumental in Isadore falling and breaking his leg. Three dates, three disasters. Why the hell would Isadore even think this wasn’t some sort of curse?

No.

Sebastian was going to do them both a favour and step back. Isadore shouldn’t be around Sebastian anymore. He was too dangerous.

CHAPTER 14

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