Page 52 of The Maestro's Mates
There was a hint of sour morning breath, but not enough to make the kiss anything less than astonishing.
Justin hadn’t known having a mate would be like this.His cock filled as his senses were flooded with Sebastian’s scent, and he reflexively ground his pelvis up into the witch. He was happy to find his mate was hardening as well.
“Can I borrow something to wear?” Pavel’s question broke Justin out of the whirlwind of lust. Sebastian pulled away, an annoyed expression flashing across his face.
“Most everything is going to be too long and maybe too tight, but you’re welcome to look in the dresser.”
Both Justin and Sebastian stared at Pavel as he rummaged through the witch’s old clothes. What the hell was wrong with him? He wasn’t going to stick around? You finally have your mates, and you’re going to leave?
Justin couldn’t help but ask. “Where are you going?”
Pavel was pulling on an old pair of sweatpants as he spoke. “I can’t be here. This was a mistake.”
“For fuck’s sake, not you, too!” Sebastian sprang to his feet. The witch’s face was a mask of anger and frustration. Justin was confused.
“It was weak.”
“You were here because you wanted to keep us safe. Because we’re your mates!” Sebastian was close to him now, poking his finger at the gargoyle’s bare chest. “What are you so scared of?!”
Pavel pulled out a baggy black band t-shirt from a drawer and slipped it over his head, his jaw clenched. “I’m not scared. I’m protecting you.”
The confusion that had clouded Justin’s thoughts burst with that proclamation. He jumped to his feet, not caring about his nakedness. The breeze from the window was strong now, but the cold shock of it spurred his righteousness.
“Bullshit. We are perfectly capable of taking care ofourselves!” Justin crossed his arms. He felt like a petulant teenager, and it didn’t help he was so much smaller than his two mates, but he didn’t care.
“It’s not about whether you can defend yourselves.” Pavel caught sight of a dusty old pair of flip flops and dragged them from underneath the chest of drawers, slipping them on his feet. His shoulders had tensed up. Despite his gruffness and supposed determination, his voice was rough and broken.
“Then what?!” Sebastian was yelling now. Justin said nothing, instead boring holes into Pavel’s skull with his eyes. He’d been willing to sacrifice himself so Sebastian and Pavel could have a better relationship. If he couldn’t leave, then Pavel certainly couldn’t!
Besides, theyweremates. Even if he’d had a moment of self-doubt and weakness, that was clear.
Pavel reached for the doorknob, and the whole door fell to the floor with a loud thud. Justin jumped, as did Sebastian. They’d all forgotten it had been blown off its hinges.
“Don’t you dare go without giving us an actual reason.” Sebastian’s tone was cold now, and Justin was catching a glimpse of the seriousness and danger underneath the chaos witch’s arch attitude.
Pavel stopped in the doorway, staring at the two of them.
“We deserve to know,” Justin said, unable to keep the hurt out of his soft voice.
Pavel shook his head, his eyes shining with unshed tears.
“I’m old. And I…I am coming to the end of my time in this body.” Pavel looked down at the floor, his voice getting softer. “Soon, and it may be very soon, I’ll revert to my dormant form. My statue form. And I won’t come back.”
Sebastian turned to Justin, and for the first time, the witch looked speechless. Justin shook his head slowly. He didn’t understand either. Was this normal? There had to be a way to stop it.
“I won’t saddle you with that,” Pavel continued. “What, are you going to keep me in your garden? A brainless, unliving statue? A reminder of your mate who was taken from you. Who you barely knew. Whocouldn’t protect you.”
At that, the man broke. His face cracked, and tears streamed down his face.
“Pavel…” Justin didn’t know what to say. He looked to Sebastian, who was similarly stricken.
“I’m going before we get any deeper in. Before your mate becomes an empty husk, and you end up its caretakers.”
Chapter 20
Justin
Justin. What’s happened?
