Hiraeth | Sebastian Sallow Love Story

Chapter Twenty Seven: The Seducer Strikes a Deal

The sound of the door opening turned his attention away from the self-deprecation. Her hair was wet, but she'd braided it to the side with her emerald streaks falling out. She was dressed in women's trousers that made him stare at her arse every time she turned around and a dark cotton long sleeve. Her cheeks were flushed and Sebastian realized with some satisfaction that she was staring at him.

Her eyes trailed from his shoulders down to his thighs. Though it didn't achieve the look he wanted. Her hair stayed its normal color and there wasn't even the flash of lust in her eyes he'd seen before.

Sebastian's eyebrows furrowed together and he sat forward. He knew what needed to be done before he had the right to flirt with her like he used to. "I'm sorry."

Gracie stilled, "Excuse me?"

"I shouldn't have said those things to you." He admitted a bit reluctantly. The last time he apologized was to Ominis. "You're not an empty tin can."

"I know." Gracie lied with a fake smirk that didn't reach her eyes. "I'm fueled by rage and disgust for you constantly. Those are at least two emotions inside me."

Why was she making this difficult?

That's right. She was difficult. It's what made her so interesting.

Sebastian ran a hand through his hair...or at least tried to. His hair had dried a bit from the rain and was now tangled.

"You opened up to me about your mother." He pointed out wryly, "I owe you an explanation about why I lost it back there on the pavilion."

Gracie sat on the bed, glancing at him coolly. "You don't owe me a damn thing."

Breathe, Sebastian. Don't kill her.

"The Fifth year that everyone throws in my face." Sebastian clenched his fists on his lap, "Her name was Charlotte. She didn't just study ancient magic, she had ancient magic. She was able to wield it; it's why she was allowed into Hogwarts despite her age."

Gracie's eyebrow raised, "Your 'little girlfriend' was an ancient magic user?"

"Let's make one thing clear. She wasn't my girlfriend."

Skepticism flashed across her face. "No?"

"No." Sebastian felt the familiar guilt rise up in his chest.

"You know exactly why you weren't there." Hecat said pointedly, tapping her wand against the magical restraints. They disappeared before his eyes, but he still felt the crushing weight of everyone's deaths hitting him at once, "As for Ominis... You know he wouldn't let her go down there alone."

Right. Of course.

Ominis was in love with her.

"Charlotte was Ominis' lover."

Chapter Twenty Seven: The Seducer Strikes a Deal

Ominis?

"But he told me not to bring her up with you. He didn't seem hurt, he talked about her like she was a stranger to him."

Sebastian grimaced, "Ominis wears a mask like no other. He had to learn with parents who forced him to cast Unforgivables on Muggles for sport." He scratched his jaw, looking temporarily uncomfortable, "And the last time someone brought her up to me, I set the highlands on fire."