Page 97 of How to Seduce a Slender

“Sir…” Smith sighed once more. “Sebastian, you did not collar me. We made a mutual agreement. Our deal is not iron clad, and we both know that. If I worried you would abuse your control over me, I would not have struck the deal. I think you are forgetting that for every stipulation you gave for my services, that a protection, a guarantee, a boon was granted to me. I provide my services to you because I want to, because I enjoy your company. We’re friends.”

“But you became a lawyer, became my spy, became my weapon.” Sebastian leaned over his lap.

“And I’d do it all over again. I chose to become those things. You did not force my hand!” Smith’s laugh boomed as he tossed his hands out. “Sir, I became a lawyer because you asked me to find a way into the council building, you didn’t care how I did it. You gave me the freedom to explore my options, to choose my fate.”

Sebastian’s face softened, the worry melting away as he studied Smith with wavering eyes. “Youaremy friend, Smith. My best friend. And I care for you deeply.”

Smith swallowed hard, a hard pressure on his chest.That’s odd.Almost like something in there was beating and breaking at the same time. “As do I.”

“Good. As you should. You’ve been by my side long enough. Either you’re mad or family,or both.”

Smith snickered, “You’ve finally taken on some of Lady Rosemont’s bravado.”

“An old Lich can still be taught new tricks,” Sebastian wiggled his scaled brows at the Slender before weakly laughing. He dabbed at his eyes and Smith felt the pressure again. Pain, not physical but deep in his chest, at the thought that Sebastian lost any tears over him. “You know, when the Hungry One attacked, and I awoke to only Kevin, I thought the worst.”

“Sir, I’m so sorry—”

“For what? Dahlia told me you fought tooth and nail.” Sebastian sat back in his chair.

“I was half-starved, running on fumes, afraid of even feeding myself back then. Had I only taken care of myself, then I might have put up more of a fight.” Smith rocked back in his chair, looking at the metal pipes covering his walls. He watched paper flutter in and out of it. Like the world hadn’t stopped because of Elyth. Paperwork still needed to be filed, taxes still needed to be collected and paid, and the realm kept moving even when it felt like it was falling apart. The past hadliterallycome to haunt him.

“But you’re not starving now, are you?” Sebastian grinned impishly.

“No,” Smith barked out a laugh as he sat up in his chair. “No, I am not. Much like yourself, it seems love has fueled my body.”

Sebastian nodded, climbing to his feet. The silencing spell faded on his door with every passing second. “As it should! Do you feel that?”

“Feel what?” Smith lurched to his own feet, searching for the disturbance.

“Something’s alive,” Sebastian growled, storming toward the door. “That wasn’t that way when I left the lab—Austin!”

Smith exploded into the hall, racing after the Lich. Austin came skittering around the bend of the kitchen, eyes wide. His thunderous steps stopped halfway down the running carpet. Everyone stood still. Something else was storming up the stairs.And it was heavy.

“What is that?” Smith breathed.

“Sir?” But before Austin could continue the conversation the door to Sebastian’s lab flew off its hinges, thus pinning the Lich to the opposite wall. A bugbear, mighty strong and furry, with massive floppy ears and tusks like steel, roared in the doorway. Half the back of its head was open, like the skull had been cut in half…and the back end of a throbbing brain sat in the body. It pulsed with purple magic as the bugbear, undead and possessed, punched Austin square in the chest. Smith’s friend, mostly surprised and confused, stumbled back till he was crumpled on the floor.

The undead bugbear, bowed legs like a werewolf, with its massive hand swung at Smith. He exploded into a cloud of electricity, skittering backward. Swing for swing, the beast came after him down the main hall.

“Sir!” Smith called out, deflecting blow after blow. “Is this one of your experiments?”

“It was going to be!” Sebastian snarled, planting the door back in its frame. “That’squiteenough!”

With a snap of his fingers, the pulsing brain flew out of the undead bugbear’s skull and landed in the Lich’s gloved hands. The corpse fell like a puppet on loose strings. The house went quiet once more. Smith saw the other members of the house huddled in the kitchen doorframe, watching with furrowed brows. Austin climbed to his feet.

Sebastian, still clutching a throbbing brain, turned to the pale ogre. “Austin. That brain you brought me back from the council. Did you make sure it was a benign brain?”

“Oh, uh, well…”

“Austin?” Tiny little tendrils of purple flesh reached out between the fatty tissue and writhed at Sebastian. The Lich merely punched it in the side and the tendrils retreated into the brain.

“They were quite upset we would make such a request.” Austin fiddled with his clothes.

“So, I’ll ask again. The brain you brought me, did you make sure it was benign?”

“Uh, no.” Austin pouted as he glanced to the floor. The Lich took a deep breath in through his nose. Smith was already at his side, studying the little brain eater in his hands. They weren’t common, but certainly not good to have in a necromancer’s lair.

“Ah,” Sebastian twisted to Smith before glancing to the bruised but angry thing in his arms. “Smith, could you tell Austin what kind of brain, we…did…get?”

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