Sebastian (Bowen Boys, #5)(25)

Reluctantly, she let him go. When he stood up, he gave her his hand and helped her to stand. Then when he asked her if she was all right several times, he went to the laundry room right off the kitchen and brought her back one of his shirts and a pair of his boxers. He’d slipped on a shirt and pants as well.

“You’re going to have to bring your things here soon. I don’t mind you wearing my clothes, but I’m pretty sure that you’re going to get cold before winter hits.” She felt a little odd nodding at his statement. “You are moving in here with me, right?”

“I don’t know.” He watched her as she washed her hands and began to put bacon in a skillet. “I don’t know what to do. I know that we’ve mated and all that, but what happens when that man finds out where I am? I don’t have the first clue how to keep you safe.”

“You’re not going to.” She looked at him and he grinned at her. “We’ll keep each other safe. It’s the way we’re going to survive this. And according to Jacob, this guy can’t take you so long as I’m your mate. So he’ll have to look elsewhere for a person to have his children.”

She was turning the bacon over when she looked up at him. “Do you really think that’s the way it works? I mean, now all I need to do is tell him that I’ve taken another for my mate and he quits?”

“Probably not. But for now we’re going to believe that while we have ourselves a big, unhealthy breakfast.” He handed her a glass of tea. “And I’m going to have to go to the store to get more tea bags. You’re drinking more than my family does on pizza night.”

She knew he was kidding her, but she still flushed. When they sat down to eat, he handed her each platter before he took anything off it. She really was hungry and took a large part of each thing that they’d cooked.

“I’m stuffed.” She leaned back in her chair thirty minutes later. “I don’t think I’ll eat ever again.”

“You will. In about four hours. What’s the plan for today?” She looked down at her borrowed clothes and then back up at him. “Right, clothes. And for your information, I think you’re extremely sexy in my clothes.”

They were headed to the “Y” when his cell phone rang, and she watched as he pulled over to answer it. He was getting tenser as whoever was on the other end continued to speak. She waited, knowing for some reason it was about her. When he closed his phone, he sat there for several seconds before he pulled back into traffic.

“That was Khan. He said that someone broke into one of the buildings we have downtown. He wants me to go and have a look at it.” She nodded, wondering about the rest. When he didn’t say anything, she finally turned to him.

“What else happened that you’re not telling me?” He glanced at her. “I’m not stupid, so tell me.”

“First of all, I never thought you were stupid. And the reason I didn’t want to say anything is because what he wants me to look at might involve you. I can’t tell you what it says, but he said that you’re mentioned not by name but by reference. Khan is worried about you.” She nodded and looked away. “Ama, they’re not going to get you. None of us are going to let him take you.” She nodded again, worried that it had begun so quickly after they had bonded.

~~~

Sebastian walked around the room where the most damage had been done. He thought he had seen his share of graffiti, but this was beyond anything he’d ever seen. Not only were the walls drawn on, but the floor as well. He glanced over at Ama, wondering if she could read what was written on the floor that had been squared off.

“You can.” He jumped back when Jacob appeared before him. “You should use your new skills to know when I’m about. I wouldn’t frighten you so badly if you did.”

“New skills? I haven’t the slightest idea what you’re talking about.” He glanced at Ama when she came toward them. “She’s scared, so whatever this says and if it involves her, don’t tell her.”

“She will ask and I will tell.” When she walked up to him and wrapped her arms around him, Sebastian felt he could take on the world. Jacob bowed before her. “My lady. Congratulations on your recent change.”

“You should know that I’m slightly mad at you. You told me that you’d come back and help me. You didn’t.” He nodded at her and bowed again. “What does this all mean?”

Jacob looked at him and shrugged. Damn it, Sebastian had hoped she wouldn’t notice the place he’d been wondering about. He nodded to Jacob, knowing that he was going to tell her anyway.

“Read it, you both can.” Sebastian looked at him and wondered if the man had lost his mind. “You should know that you’re projecting yourself very loudly, my lord. Anyone within a mile could hear you.”

“I don’t know what you mean.” He had a feeling that the walls were closing in on him. “I’m feeling sort of strange.”

He felt hands grab at him and he wanted to push them away, but a voice kept telling him to breathe. He wanted to shout that he was breathing, but did try to slow his heart down as he’d been ordered to. The room seemed to grow incredibly smaller as he looked around. And when it began to shift and roll, he put his head down. Something was very wrong.

“You’ve had a bit of a delay it seems. Just sit there and drink this.” He felt something shoved into his hands. “And drink it quickly so I can refill it.”