Sebastian (Bowen Boys) (8 page)

“You’ve just become like me.
It was quicker than when I changed to faerie, but it’s done now. Are you okay?” He nodded, still not sure what she was talking about. “I can hear your thoughts. Take a deep breath and then blow it out slowly.”

He did as she said.
Looking around the room, he realized that there was a pattern that he’d not seen before and said so. Jacob laughed a little, then stood up. He helped Sebastian up as well.

“You’re going to be just fine.
And yes, there is a pattern. You can read it now, correct?” Sebastian looked around the room again and then at where he supposed the starting point was. “There you have it. Now tell me what it says.”

“
Amarizi and Sebastian Bowen, you are hereby requested to come to the Ball of Faeries on October twelfth at midnight.” He watched the room shift again and more letters appeared. “You may bring your families, but you must also bring the book. Sincerely, the High Council.”

He looked at Ama and then at Jacob
, who was grinning like he’d just won the lottery. Sebastian was beginning to dislike this wizard a great deal. When he stepped toward the door, Sebastian called him back.

“I don’t know what’s going on here.
You said that I’ve changed. Okay, I get that, but who is the High Council, and why do we have to go to this ball? And just what book are they talking about? There isn’t even an address for us to go to.”

“You’re taking this remarkably well for a man who only days ago didn’t
know a thing about faeries.” Jacob nodded to the boxes just behind them. “Have a seat and I’ll tell you what I can. The rest? Well, I’m not sure who will tell you that.”

“The rest?”
Ama looked at him when Jacob nodded at her question. “I thought you’d told me everything when you met up with me all those years ago. And now you tell me there’s more? And the first words out of your mouth had better be to tell me why you keep bowing before us and call us lord and lady all of the sudden.”

“It’s the title given to mated couples
such as you.” Jacob raised his hand when Sebastian started to speak. “I’m not able to tell you all because it is forbidden for me to tell you. There will be another that will meet you at the ball. And when you meet him, he will be able to tell you everything.”

Sebastian nodded and pulled Ama closer to him.
“You said you can tell us some. How much? And will not knowing the rest get her hurt if that prick comes to get her?”

“No.
Nothing will harm her between now and then.” Sebastian found the wording of that statement odd, but before he could question it, Jacob spoke again. “You’re to protect each other, now and forever. Your ability to adapt so well, my lord, is going to serve you well. But in the coming days, you’ll begin to feel the effects of her power on you. You’ll need to make sure that you drink as much as you can. And drink lots of juice if you can. I know that it is difficult at times, but fresh-squeezed is much better. Also, when you start to get more control over your mind, you may want to establish a link to your family, both of you. It will help you later, I think.”

“I have a link with my family.”
Jacob shook his head at him. “What do you mean no? I’ve been able to contact them all my life.”

“But
you’re no longer just a panther.” Jacob touched his wrist and he felt the connection. “You’ll need to be a panther when you first contact them. Khan will need you to contact him sooner rather than later. I can feel his frustration at not being able to contact you. If you’d like, my lord, I can tell him that you’re having difficulties. But you’re all right?”

Sebastian nodded
, feeling a great deal like
Alice in Wonderland
. He was the rabbit running down the holes, and he was constantly running one step behind. He looked at Ama, who was staring at him strangely. He asked her what was going on.

“
Your marks are showing up like mine. Not as fancy, but I can see them.” She reached for her purse and dug something out and handed it to him. “Look into this mirror and you can see it.”

He
was
marked like her, just not as fancy or as much like she’d said, but he had a feeling that it might change at any minute. He handed her back the mirror, not wanting to think about that right now. Jacob nodded to Ama, and she tightened her grip on Sebastian’s hand.

“You need to shift
, my lady, before too much longer. You’ll need to be fully faerie when you go to the ball, and you will need to have some control.” He looked at him. “You, as well, my lord. The council will expect you both to be able to spread your wings when they ask you to.”

“Wings?”
He felt the walls begin to shift again and lowered his head and closed his eyes. “You said shift. I’m assuming you don’t mean me to shift to a panther.”

“No
, my lord, you’ll need to be able to be faerie when they ask. It will make things go so much smoother.” Like he gave a shit right now, but didn’t tell Jacob. “Sire, you’re doing it again.”

“Jacob, I like you.
I really do, but I need for you to shut the fuck up right now.” Ama giggled and he thought he heard Jacob chuckle. “This room? Was this done this way to bring us down here so they could invite us to this ball thing?”

“Yes.
It will be put back to order before we leave here.” Jacob sat down on one of the lower boxes. “The book is called the Book of Secrets. Your brother has a list of all beings, and you are to have a book that tells the secrets that his list doesn’t cover. Like things that they have done that could get them brought before the courts, things that have been done to others as well. You have the book already. It is among the things that were brought to your home when Amarizi came to you. This book will never be read by anyone but you two.”

“So we have a hit list of sorts.”
Jacob nodded. “Why do I have to take it to the ball if you said no one else can look at it?”

“You misunderstoo
d. I said you will be the only two who can read it. And as the last earth faeries couple, you are the only ones who can read it. There are no more like you two.”

Sebastian spoke up before Jacob could.
“But we’re going to a faerie ball. How is that possible if we’re the only couple left? Unless there won’t be anyone else there but us and this council. And if that’s the case, why have a ball at all? Why don’t they just come here, for instance? We can have a few drinks and get to know each other that way.”

“It’s a ball for you to meet your subjects.”
Ama looked at him, then they both turned to Jacob. “Yes, as I have said, you’re the last of your kind. The king and queen of faeries.”

“And our subjects would be what?
Tinker Bell and some of the other little characters that I can’t think of right now?” He looked at Jacob. “I know. I know, I’m projecting again. So what? You’ve just told us that we’re a king and queen, and if that doesn’t make a person project, I’m not sure what would.”

“Sire
, would it help you to know why you were chosen to be her king? It’s a very good story and one you’ll enjoy.” Sebastian nodded. “Good. Many years ago you were playing in the field behind your home. You were seven and as curious as they come. And while sitting in this field you laid back and watched the other creatures, the tiny ones, move from flower to flower as they gathered food for their families. Then you saw her. Do you remember her?”

“No. No
, that was a dream. I’d fallen asleep and dreamed about her.” Jacob shook his head, and Sebastian closed his eyes as he told them what he’d seen. “She was sitting on a rock…no, a stone. She was little, about the size of my palm. And we sort of stared at each other for a long while. She stood up after a few minutes and when she did, I saw that she had wings. When she flew to my knee and sat down again, I asked her what her name was. But before she could answer me, the neighbor’s cat came along.”

“You protected her
, it’s told.” Sebastian looked at Jacob as he continued the tale. “When the cat came near her, you started throwing rocks at it. When that didn’t work, you scooped up the little brownie and put her into your pocket, telling her she’d be safe there. She was, too, and when you got rid of the cat, you set her on a tree stump gently, and she bowed before you then left.”

“I thought she was a dream. I never told anyone that before.”
Jacob nodded. “How did you know?”

“She told me
, and when I went to look for you, I knew that you’d be perfect for the new queen when she was old enough.” Jacob said that he needed to leave and stood up. “You’ll need to be ready for the ball. I would suggest that you practice your wings when you can.”

As he moved through the room
, all the destruction that had been in the room was put back to order. The writing on the walls and floor disappeared and everything else was set to rights. Sebastian looked at Ama.

“We need to see if we have that power.”

Chapter 8

Wanera stood very still and watched Jacob the wizard leave the building. He’d been told that the wizard was in the human realm and had come to see it for himself. Wanera hated the man. As he moved out of the empty building, he had started to follow him when a couple came out behind him a few seconds later. He watched them as they got into the car and drove by his hiding place. He went into the building to see what they had been doing.

Their scent hit him as soon as he crossed the threshold. Earth faeries
, both of them. Wanera staggered slightly and held onto the wall as he tried to absorb what he knew. The female had a mate. And the mate was a panther.

“Could this get any worse
?” he cried out. “Can I have one fucking thing go right? Please, someone answer me.”

Of course
, since no one could see him, no one was going to answer him. He moved around the room, smelling everything they’d touched. Their scent to him was like a drug, pure and fresh. He wanted to hunt them down and lick them both. But he couldn’t, not now. A mated pair of faeries was as sacred as anything he’d ever known, and she was no longer an option for him to breed with.

“
Unless he dies or gives her to me.” The second part was completely out of the question. He knew that panthers mated for life and that faeries went even beyond that. But if the male died suddenly, then Wanera could take her. A plan was forming even as he asked to be brought back to his realm.

“Get me all you can on the place I was just at.
I want the name of the person who owns it and where they live.” The being nodded. “Also, let me know of any panther family’s around that area, how big they are, and who the leader is.”

“Yes
, sire.” He watched as the being started pounding on the keys. “I have a name, my lord, but only a last. The name on the deed is Bowen and nothing more.”

He nodded as
the being continued to work. After about ten more minutes, the being turned to him. His face was bright with happiness, not something you saw much of around there.

“Bowen is the name of the family
of panthers there as well. The leader’s name is Khan and there is a large family of them. Six brothers, as well as a few members that are nearby who report to him and sometimes serve him. The parents of the family are still alive as well, and they live on a compound of sorts about seventeen miles from the building.” Wanera smiled. “There is a rumor that a female has joined their ranks recently. There is not much said about her, but it is reputed that she is very beautiful. She is supposed to be mated to the brother called Sebastian. He owns and operates a shop of sorts. I don’t have the details on that, but I do have an address.”

“Yes.
Good, it’s all coming together. Send me to his place of business and make sure that I can be visible to the inhabitants of the place. I would also like to look like a business man. Can you do that?” The being nodded, and he was suddenly dressed in a suit. Not something he’d normally wear, but he did want to appear normal. Or as normal as humans could be.

He felt the air shift and he was suddenly standing outside another building.
At least this time he was a little more prepared. He opened the door and stepped into a realm not like anything he’d ever seen.

Wanera knew what a computer was but not much more than that. He had purchased
everything that the being had asked for, but beyond that, he knew nothing. There were so many things on the shelves and walls that he put his hands into his pockets, afraid that if he touched something, the entire thing would come down on him. The woman coming toward him looked chipper, something that he hated most in humans.

“Hi.
What can I help you find today?” He looked around, wondering if he should have had an idea in mind, and saw the sign advertising hard drives.

“I need a new hard drive.
I want to have one for my be…friend.” She started nodding and he found himself being led to a shelf filled with boxes and computers. “He said that he needed two of them.”

“Two?”
He panicked, thinking he should just leave. “Oh, does he have a desktop and a laptop he needs to put them in?”

He nodded.
“Yes, that’s right. He does have one that sits on his desk. Laptop? Yes, I believe he has something that he puts there as well.”

She nodded again and he felt safe.
But he realized after several minutes that she was talking about something other than computers and was going on about her boyfriend. He looked around the store for someone to save him when a large man came out of the back office. It was the man from the building.

“Excuse me.”
Walking away from the woman had no apparent effect on her mouth moving. She continued as if he were still standing there.

He was nearly to the man when he realized two things at once.
The man was a panther with a faerie mate, and the man knew what he was. Wanera backed up when he started toward him. Before he could call his being to be brought home, the large man had his hand around his throat.

“What are you doing here?”

Wanera struggled against his hold but couldn’t break lo
ose. That was the problem when he was in the human world trying to look like one of them. He was just like them when it came to his magic, too.

“I came to speak to you about your mate.
I would like it if you were to give her to me.” The man shook him hard, and Wanera felt his teeth snap together over his tongue. “She means more to me than she will to you. I’m going to be asked to step down if she doesn’t come to me freely.”

“Are you fucking insane?
You don’t honestly believe that I’d give up my mate to you simply because you asked, do you?” Wanera wanted to tell him that’s exactly what he thought, but the man didn’t give him a chance to answer. “You must be all kinds of stupid if you think that. Or you’re joking with me. Is this supposed to be funny? If it is, I’m not finding the joke.”

“I’m neither stupid nor
joking with you. I am very serious. I will pay you handsomely for her.” The man shook him again and then the room seemed to tighten. He looked up to see Jacob standing just behind the man who held him. Reaching to his being, he begged to be brought home immediately. In seconds he was gasping for breath on the floor with the being handing him some hot tea.

~~~

Sebastian paced in front of her. Ama could almost feel sorry for his brothers. Each of them had come in the door almost as soon as Sebastian had gotten home. Khan had been first and then the others had followed in pairs, the brothers and their mates if they had one. Reed came in last and sat down nearest the little boy George. Even his mom and dad sat on the couch watching their son.

“I think the man is insane.
He would have to be, don’t you think? To believe that I’d actually sell my mate to him means he’s off his noodle, right?” He wasn’t talking to any one person, and none of the people in the room answered. Ama thought they were afraid of him. “He came into my store and asked about hard drives, then came to me to talk about buying my mate.”

“You should know that
your eyes are glowing, Sebastian.” She looked over at Dylan as he spoke to his brother. “Not to mention I can see the sigil coming out pretty good now, too.”

Sebastian stopped moving for the first time in over twenty minutes.
He stared around the room for a minute before he looked at her. She smiled at him and wondered again why she ever thought not having him as a mate was a good thing.

“I’ve been going through some changes of my own
. I’m not sure how much you guys know about Ama, but she’s an earth faerie. And because we’re mated, I’m sort of one, too. Actually, I am one. She and I are the king and queen of faeries.”

Walker stood up and put his hand on his forehead before he turned to the room. “I’m sorry to tell you guys this
, but Sebastian has gone over the deep end. He has delusional grandeur. A serious disease that men with huge heads and egos get when they think they’re king.”

“Shut up
, you ass, and sit down.” Sebastian seemed to relax a little after that. “I am king to Ama’s queen. We talked with Jacob the wizard today, and he told us.”

Ama looked
around the room, and the only people who didn’t look shocked by his news were Dylan and his mate. Jonny winked at her and smiled. She knew that they’d spoken somehow.

“So
, let me get this straight. You’re a computer shop owner as well as a panther that just happens to be a king. Works for me.” Caitlynne sat back and smiled. “You might want to have business cards made. It will save time in trying to get people to remember all your titles. They are titles, right? I mean, should we just call you Ding-Dong Panther and be done with it?”

He growled low at her and Ama started to laugh. When he turned to her and glared
, she simply raised her brow at him and he flushed. She wondered what he would have done if she had laughed harder.

“Seriously though, we have to figure out what to do about this guy.
I don’t think he’s going to quit now that he’s figured out where you are. You said that he could take Ama from you if you’re dead, right?” Sebastian nodded at his dad. “Then you think that’s next on his agenda? You think he might try and kill you just to get her?”

“What does he want you for anyway?”
Reed flushed. “Sorry, that didn’t come out quite right. What I meant was, why you? I mean, yes, you’re all that, but what about you makes him willing to come to this place and take you?”

“I’m a faerie
, and I’m the only species other than his own that can get pregnant without him being my mate. Sort of like humans. If the time is right and he’s there, then—” She stopped talking when Sebastian growled at her. “I didn’t say it was right, you overbearing pig. I’m only saying it’s true.”

“But why is he so hyped up to get you now?
I mean, you’ve been a faerie all your life. Why is he just now trying to get you to come to him and so in a hurry to get you now?” His mom looked around the room. “Does he have some sort of deadline he’s trying to meet?”

“In a way.”
They all looked at Dylan as he continued. “His name is Wanera. He’s an underlord in a different realm. He came here specifically to get Ama because of the reasons she said. And he has to have a child or someone to take over his realm by summer solstice. If not, he is put to death. There isn’t a lot of use for his kind once they’ve served their time. If he has a child, he can stay on until such time that his child is old enough to rule the realm, then he can retire, not die.”

“A child is all he wants from her?”
They looked at George. “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. So he would just have a baby with her, then what? Toss her away? Who would love and nurture the child? Not him, that’s for sure. He sounds like a real asshole.”

“He’s not very bright either.
When he was in the store, he asked to buy a hard drive for two computers. Debby said that he acted like he was just buying something at random.” Sebastian came and sat next to Ama while he continued. “I could smell him. That’s the reason I came out of the office. I thought something was on fire. Then when I saw him…I could see him.”

“See him?” She looked at him when he nodded.
“You could see a demon lord in his true self? Wow, I’ve never done that before. Do you think he knew what you were?”

He shrugged.
“I don’t know. He knew I was your mate, but he didn’t say anything about the rest. Do you suppose he thinks that we’re just mates and nothing more?”

“That could work to your advantage if he c
ame to you again. I mean, didn’t you say that Jacob said you were like the all-powerful Oz or some crap?” Monica laughed as she continued. “Does that mean you have powers over him? Could you like, order him to be gone or something?”

“No.”
They looked at Jacob as he entered the room with a large tray. “I brought sandwiches. And some fresh juice. It is important that you drink more than you are, my lord.”

He sat the tray down and each of them took a sandwich.
Ama watched the others around the room as Jacob moved to each of them, giving them tea instead of the juice. When he sat down, he looked ready to tell them what they wanted…needed to know.

“
Wanera is something different than most of the other underlords. He is a low man on the ladder of beings in his realm, but he is still powerful. And yes, he is somewhat stupid, and knows little about this realm at all...and that’s a good thing. He has beings that work for him, hundreds of them, that pick up after him and even run most of the day-to-day work, but he does have magic.”

“So how do we keep him from taking Ama from me?” Ama wanted to know that as well.
“If he comes here again, how do I kill him? Because I get the feeling that’s going to be the only way to stop him.”

“He’s afraid of you.”
Ama started to speak when Jacob raised his hand. “I’m sorry, my lady, but I just left the council. They’ve given permission for you to have a visitor. He…he isn’t well, so please be careful of him. He is—”

“Right here
, you idiot.” The man that seemed to suddenly appear stood tall and seemingly very weak with something, possibly an illness. But as he walked toward her, she could see that he was hurt. He favored his left leg, and one arm seemed not to work as well as the other. He stood in front of her but spoke to Sebastian.