Hiraeth | Sebastian Sallow Love Story

Chapter Fifty Six: Say Something

"The rebellion. Hidden floos." Gracie blinked, feeling incredibly foolish now as she stood up and walked backwards. Her back hit the glass window as the train began to take off, "This entire time, we could have used the hidden floo connections to travel. We didn't have to travel like Muggles. This entire trip could have only lasted a couple weeks."

Instead they were almost a couple months in and not even over halfway done.

Gracie frowned both at the revelation and the fact that Sebastian had been lying this entire time to her. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Sebastian said nothing.

Ominis sighed quietly, "10 days, Sebastian. That's when the next crucial battle is happening. On the morning of the 10th day, regardless of how many creatures you've killed, you're going back on the frontlines. To Lower Hogsfield. Don't make me drag you there. Clean up whatever mess you've created." Ominis pressed his lips together, almost sounding apologetic. "And sever any unnecessary ties. Ranrock is only getting stronger."

He left them alone, but the silence that followed was deafening.

Chapter Fifty Six: Say Something

It had been minutes since Ominis left and they were both sitting across from each other with detached looks on their faces. Sebastian looked ready to get a tongue lashing, but Gracie didn't have the energy. She only had a question.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She ran a hand through her hair, unable to sit still, "I feel so stupid. This entire time..."

"You're not stupid." He said simply, but offered no other information.

Gracie's lips turned down in a fierce scowl, "You have a lot of explaining to do."

"What do you want me say?" Sebastian snapped, igniting her anger.

"Anything." Gracie stood up, walking towards him until her boots almost touched his. "Say something. Don't go back into that bloody dissociated state of yours. Why did you keep this a secret for so long when we didn't have to travel like Muggles?"

Sebastian glanced up, his stare burning into hers. "Why do you think?"

She met his stare, rising to the challenge without hesitation. Gracie leaned down, body numb with anger. "Why don't you answer the question instead of deflecting and turning everything back to me? You are the one being questioned."

Disbelief and something much more fragile flashed behind his eyes that he tried to cover with annoyance. But she saw it.

Fear. But fear of what?

Gracie pressed further, "What are you so afraid of?"

He shifted his boot, knocking the inner side of her right foot, effectively causing her to fall forward onto his lap. She tried to scramble off, but his left arm wrapped around her waist, keeping her on him. Gracie pushed against his chest, but gave up with his iron grip. She opted not to look at him, but his hand gripped her face, pushing slightly on her cheekbones to force her to look at him. It didn't hurt-he'd never hurt her, but it wasn't comfortable either.

"What could I possibly have to gain by not telling you?" Sebastian asked lowly, an unbridled rage quaking beneath his words.

Gracie's eyes narrowed, "It took longer. We spent more time together." His grip relaxed, but didn't leave her while her eyes widened in apprehension. "That's the reason?" Her voice turned incredulous, "You had us travel the Muggle way because you wanted to spend more time together?"