SEBASTIAN

I smelled her scent before I even walked into the bookstore. My steps increased until I was just about running. All my life I was surrounded by the walls of the royal grounds. Hidden from the people and the dangers that lurk just waiting to see a glimpse of me. The last descendant. Unable to hide it. Unable to hide the power that radiates off my skin. It was known I would be born the most powerful King and descendant in our supernatural world. What was not known was what it would take to protect me from the ones who wanted to destroy me from the moment I was born.

Mom is a descendant. She can see the future. Though she will never tell you about her visions. There’s a reason though she sent me with my best friend and cousin, Scarlett, to stay with her at King Alaric’s castle. Protection I understand. But mom isn’t the only one with powers. I may not be able to see the infinite future, but I sure can tell what’s happening within people. Call it my sixth sense, my third eye and Scarlett isn’t the only reason I’m here. Alaric is her mate. He will protect her with his life. He almost has, but those two are inseparable and now have a child on the way. The first born vampire.

I’ve been able to taste what freedom finally feels like because of him. I owe that vampire much more than I can pay back. He’s nothing like Xavier and everything Scarlett needs. He has given me the ability to move around inconspicuously, hiding my powers and who I am. Granted it’s with an ugly, brown cloak that’s been altered with magic but at this rate, who’s complaining?

My breath hitches in the back of my throat. I feel my eyes start to glow. I can’t go near her like this. I can’t even breathe right. It takes everything I have to push my instincts back but controlling my heart is a totally different story. The damn organ is pounding out of my chest, and I swear if I don’t get control of myself soon, it’s going to explode.

“Can I help you? You look like you may need somewhere to sit before you pass out.”

She giggles. Dear goddess, she giggles. The sound goes straight where I don’t need it to. Good thing I’m wearing a cloak.

“Umm… yeah sure. Sitting down would be a good idea right now.”

She turns to direct me to a table and all that long hair swishes in the wind. Dammit, hold your breath, Sebastian. Hold your damn breath. Aww, the hell with it. I inhale deep and feel my eyes turn that electric blue when my powers are summoned. She smells of lilies and jasmine. If I don’t sit soon, I’m going to make a damn fool of myself and probably scare the shit out of her in the process. I mean who the hell cums in his pants by smell alone? I’m miserable and excited all at the same time. I now understand all those cold showers Alaric complained about taking before him and Scarlett actually mated. I sure could use one right now and I wouldn’t be complaining. I need one, badly.

“Can I get you anything?”

“A cold shower.”

“Excuse me?”

“Water… cold water, lots of ice.”

She giggles again and I groan.

“Sure thing. I swear though I thought you said a cold shower. I must be hearing things.”

I watch as she walks away. Goddess, she’s beautiful. The most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. Her long hair is white in color and comes down to the middle of her back and curls at the ends. It bounces as she walks. Which makes me look at her ass. Dammit, not helping my situation one bit. I have to look away before she catches me staring. Her skin is flawless. Looks like creamy satin and the best thing is her eyes. They are such a bright aqua color, it surprised me. I’ve never seen eyes that color before. They are the color of the finest oceans when overlooking the beach. Or so I’ve seen in pictures. One day I’ll see them in person, all of them.

“Here you go, handsome. One water with lots of ice.”

“Sebastian.”

“What?”

“My name is Sebastian.”

“Oh. Nice to meet you, Sebastian. I’m Rhea.”

I’ve been back just about everyday checking to see if she’s here. Some days she isn’t, other days we would just sit and talk between customers. I’m trying to figure out if she feels anything. It actually surprises me I do. I don’t have my wolf yet. Being a descendant has my wolf deep in hiding until I find my mate. Mom said she could smell dad and feel the tingles between them, but the mate bond wasn’t there until her wolf came. I knew who she was the moment I smelled lilies and jasmine.

“Is it me you’re coming to see or do you just like reading?”

I look up and smile.

“I sure don’t care to read all that much.”

“Let’s hope not or you would freak me out a bit.”

My eyebrows crease as she grabs the book in my hands. I forgot I just grabbed one off the shelf and was fixing to put it back, when she walked over and sat down.

“Natural childbirth, step by step?”

“Oh shit. Yeah, I grabbed the wrong one.”

She giggles. Man, I love that sound.

“I figured as much when I saw you shut it real fast and go pale. So, tell me Sebastian where are you staying?”

“With my best friend and cousin for now. She’s expecting and we haven’t had that much time together in a while. Sooner or later though, I’ll be called back home.”

“Thats sweet that you’re close to family.”

“What about you?”

She looks down at her hands and I find her twisting her skirt in her fingers. It makes it slide up all the way to mid-thigh without her realizing it. What I do realize isn’t the smoothness of her skin, but the fresh bruise peeking out from underneath the fabric. A bruise so large the whole top of her thigh is black and blue.

“Rhea, who did that to you?”

Her head snaps up to mine and those aqua eyes are startled. She realizes what she’s done and pulls her skirt down. Reaching over, she grabs my hand, then jerks it away.

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to shock you.”

My smile is huge. She feels it. She feels the tingles between us.

“Shock me anytime.”

She stands and looks away with a small smile on her face. I can tell her cheeks have turned pink.

“Do you need anything else? I have some more customers that need my attention.”

“I’m good… for now.”

There's two things that I have to do. The most important thing is find out who the hell hurt my mate and make sure they pay. Make sure they hurt the way she did. Nobody touches my mate and absolutely nobody hurts her without dealing with me.

Second is to speak with my father, the King Alpha. I’ve put it off long enough. I need his opinion, his advice. He’s a good man. Strong man, who controls all wolves with an iron fist, but they love him. They follow him blindly. He raised me right, but I don’t know how he’s going to react when I tell him I found my mate.

And she’s human.