Page 38 of The Maestro's Mates
Sebastian and Justin didn’t need a bodyguard. They were safe. But the ache in Pavel’s chest hadn’t let up since he’d left them at the Grosvenor covenhouse. It burned deep in his sternum, and it would not be calmed until he had the two in his sights. Which he now did.
On the second floor, his two mates stood awkwardly in what had to be Sebastian’s childhood bedroom. The moody drawings and horror movie posters plastering the walls were a goth teenager’s dream, and in place of typical curtains were roughly cut drapes of black lace. A sweet warmth spread in his gut as he imagined the pouty, angsty teen Sebastian sequestering himself away in there.
Vampires weren’t the only ones with supernatural senses. Gargoyles were gifted with those talents as well, although their strongest was hearing rather than scent. Which meant Pavel knew everything they were saying. No matter how much he knew he shouldn’t, no matter how guilty he felt about it, he couldn’t stop himself from eavesdropping.
Justin stood in the door, his short, slim body framed by stained cedar. He was frozen, stuck in indecision. Sebastian was the opposite, bouncing on his heels as he spit out words a mile a minute.
“There isn’t a guest room here, and all the empty bedrooms other than mine have protections keyed to the witches typically staying there. In the morning, I’ll introduce you to the ones that are here right now. Delia, Susannah, Neve, and I think maybe Janelle and Tristan have come in since the attack. So this is the only place in the house for you to stay, but I can sleep on the couch if you want, I don’t mind?—”
Pavel gasped, the cold air invading his lungs as Justin lunged forward to kiss Sebastian, vaulting up on his tiptoes to reach the witch’s lips. Sebastian’s eyes widened at the sudden assault, but after a moment of shock, he wrapped his arms around Justin and deepened the kiss.
Justin moaned, and a fire lit on Pavel’s skin, tingling and burning as it ran up and down his body. He wanted to be there. He wanted to be next. He wanted to taste his men.
What was wrong with him? These weren’thismen! His whole goal was to extricate himself from this, to let them find happiness without him. Once he was gone, they could have a rich and fulfilling life. He would only bring them pain.
Justin’s hands were up inside Sebastian’s t-shirt now, finding the witch’s back, rubbing as they kissed. Putting his hands on Justin’s shoulders, Sebastian broke the kiss and separated the two of them.
The hole in Pavel’s chest deepened at the sight. No. Keep kissing.
“I…I don’t want to go any further, Justin.” Sebastian’s right index finger found one of Justin’s blonde curls, wrapping the lock of hair around itself. “Pavel should be here.”
For a moment, Justin seemed like he might argue, but he nodded instead.
“The first time should be all three of us. I wish he were here. I canfeelthe pull toward him, you know?”
“Me too.” Sebastian’s lips curled into a slight smirk, and his eyes flitted to the window.
Wait. Did the witch know he was here? The night was dark, and he was well-hidden by the leaves of the old maple.
Part of Pavel wanted to stop all this, shift back into his human form, and knock on the front gate of the old house. But he couldn’t. He’d made his decision. He wouldn’t burden his mates with the last, sad years of his life.
Why didn’t they keep kissing? He’d been clear with them. He couldn’t be their mate. They should complete the bond without him.
“He’s going to take some convincing,” Sebastian said, grabbing Justin’s hand and sitting them both down on the bed. “He’s got something in his head, like he’s too old or something.”
Justin leaned against the tall witch, closing his eyes and resting his head on Sebastian’s chest.
“I know. He’s the most stubborn of the three of us. But he makes so much sense as our mate. He’s protective and wise, and he’s lived through so much. You bring the unpredictability. You’ll keep us on our toes.”
Sebastian nodded but didn’t say anything. After a silent moment, Justin continued, his voice a soft whisper now.
“I don’t know how I fit in. I know we’re fated, but…I don’t fight. I don’t know stuff. I literallyjustgot a job. You both deserve more.”
Pavel felt like he’d been kicked in the gut. Justin’s words knocked the wind out of him. How could this perfect man think that?
“Shh.” Sebastian wrapped a tight arm around Justin’s shoulder. “That’s not true.”
“What? What do I have to give?”
“Your strength, my sweet.”
The strangled sound that issued from Justin’s throat made Pavel want to burn down the world.
“That’s not true,” Justin said after a second. “I’m not strong. Everything that’s gone wrong in my life has been because I’m so weak.”
Sebastian tightened his hug, and Justin squeezed his arms around Sebastian’s waist in return.
“You made some questionable decisions, maybe, but you did what you thought was best. You survived. More than that. You get up in the morning and smile at every singer as they walk past your desk. You laugh at Yasmin and your giggles echo down the halls. You found a new start. A weaker person wouldn’t have.”
