The mattress dipped, and Sebastian lined himself up behind me. His body was a warm comfort, a grounding presence in this horrible night.
“I won’t,” he murmured, running his hand over my hip slowly. “I won’t ever leave you.”
Sebastian’s hand continued to sweep over me, his touch promising nothing but comfort and companionship.
It was exactly what I needed.
* * *
Minutes became hours.Time had no meaning. Not anymore. Eventually, I felt the soft press of Sebastian’s lips against my hair.
“My people are going to look into this,” he murmured. “We’ll find out what happened to your friend.”
In a castle filled with vampires, how did one find a murderer? Weren’t they all killers? I didn’t have the energy to debate the semantics right now. I didn’t have the energy for anything.
Already, I understood what happened. I had seen the blood and the puncture wounds on Juliet’s neck. Her killer had tortured her before tearing off her wings and feeding from her.
Whoever that sick and twisted vampire was must have found delight in her death. And they had been there moments before us. The broken window spoke of their hurried escape.
A shudder ran through me. What if Sebastian hadn’t taken me outside? What if I had made it to Julieta’s room faster? Could we have saved her from her death? Or would I be dead right alongside her?
It didn’t matter anymore.
She was gone.
The ice around my heart broke into a thousand pieces. A low, keening sound escaped me. Then another. And another.
Soon, breathing was nearly impossible as shuddering sobs escaped me.
Sebastian turned me in his arms, pulling me tightly against his chest, and I sobbed. My shoulders shook and my tears soaked his tunic, but he never moved.
“She’s dead,” I wailed.
Sebastian rubbed my back. “I know.”
Then, I had no more words. I couldn’t speak. I could barely breathe.
Julieta was dead, and it was all my fault. If it wasn’t for me, she would have never left Ipotha. She’d be happily living her life on the plains, unaware of the darkness in Eleyta. She would still be alive.
I wept until sleep finally came to claim me.
* * *
Hours slipped by.Days. I lost track. Sleeping and waking melded together. When I pulled myself out of my nightmares, I was disoriented and confused.
Each time, the memory of Julieta’s blood-soaked bedroom crashed into me. Each time, I grew more and more numb. Sebastian forced me to eat and drink, refusing my request to have the witches keep me alive like before, but that was it. He tried to get me to write a letter to Marius, but I couldn’t even form coherent sentences, let alone hold a quill.
Besides, I wasn’t getting any replies. What was the point?
Vampires came in and out of the room, speaking with the prince in low tones, but I barely paid them any attention.
Eventually, I was so numb that I knew there were only two options left. I could slip away into the emptiness eagerly waiting for me, or I could get up and fight. I wasn’t even sure what that looked like.
As I was debating what to do, a soft snore came from beside me. I looked over my shoulder, drawing the blanket around my chest. Sebastian was beside me, his hand resting on my hip as he slept. Purple shadows darkened the skin beneath his eyes, and his face was far paler than normal.
If I gave into the numbness, if I just… slipped away, there was a chance I would pull him with me. I didn’t want to be responsible for his demise. Not when he hadn’t done anything to deserve it. If anything, Sebastian had been a friend to me when I didn’t deserve him. I had done nothing since Julieta died except wallow in my pain.
I had to try. For him.