In the Shadow of Secrets | Sebastian Sallow

WARNING: Some talk of death, trauma, and paranoia

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The conversation with Elizabeth replayed in my mind as I made my way upstairs to my old room. There had been a tremor in her voice. She didn't seem to want to meet my eyes–though that was nothing new since I was certain she knew of my abilities. She'd promised they were doing everything they could–but what exactly did that mean?

A fire already burned when I opened the door, and Sebastian was already seated on the end of the chaise near the hearth, loosening his tie. I paused, letting the warmth soothe some of my inexplicable unease. My fingers still tingled a bit from her touch, and I rubbed my palms together a few times to dispel the sensation.

I could feel Sebastian's eyes on me and I looked up to find him scanning my face. His expression softened when our eyes met. "How was your post-dinner conversation?"

Closing the door, I leaned against it only a moment before pushing forward and joining him by the fire. "Uneventful," I replied, though it felt a bit like a lie.

He raised his brow, clearly skeptical of my answer. He reached for my hand, fingers ghosting over my knuckles. "Well, that makes one of us."

I frowned, leaning into the back of the chaise. "What happened?"

Exhaling sharply, Sebastian raked a hand through his hair, which had long since come unstyled. "Rosier."

My stomach sank. So much for behaving cordially. "Sebastian..."

His jaw tightened, and I saw a flicker of anger in his eyes. "He somehow managed to turn a conversation about Quidditch into a lecture about recklessness."

"His or yours?" I asked.

Sebastian hesitated. "Yours."

I froze, my heart suddenly racing. I had no idea what Rosier could have said that the Fidelius Charm would not keep him from divulging, but surely none of it painted a pretty picture.

My husband's hand tightened slightly around mine, his voice dropping low. "He wouldn't elaborate. Kept dancing around whatever he meant as if I was supposed to read between the lines."

A sudden chill had spread through me despite the fire. I swallowed. "And what did you say?"

"That if he had something to say about my wife, he should say it outright instead of speaking in riddles." His eyes were dark, the words coming out as more of a growl. "Of course, he didn't. Merely dropped it, but not before muttering something about how I should be grateful you are still alive."

My stomach twisted violently, my fingers grasping Sebastian's hand tighter. Of course, I knew what Antoine was referring to–my insistence that he eliminate me if I became a threat–but I had not told another soul aside from those who had been in the Map Chamber that day.

"I'm sure it's nothing more than you already know," I finally managed, forcing a smile I knew didn't reach my eyes. "You and I both know he's always had this tendency toward the dramatic.

His eyes narrowed as he pinned me with his gaze. "Don't do that," he warned.

"Do what?"

"Lie to me."

"I'm not lying."

"You aren't telling me the truth, either."

I sighed, but before I could even think to respond, Sebastian shifted to face me. He cupped my cheek, touch warm and steady. Somehow, it grounded me.

"Listen, I don't care what it is. Reckless may be a stretch, but I know you, Eleanor. You think with your heart more than you should, You charge ahead into danger without a plan more often than not, but..." He trailed off, thumb caressing my cheek as his voice softened, cutting through my defences like butter. "But it's one of the reasons I fell in love with you."