“Because of the monster who dared to call himself her husband and I couldn’t bear to be without her. I wanted her safe and with me,” he says easily.
I relax a bit now that I know he won’t spill the baby beans.
“Sooo,” Sebastian draws out the word slowly, “back to your birthday. You taught me everything I know about sidestepping a question and while, nicely done, you aren’t getting away from this one.”
“I don’t see the point. It
isn’t even the same date as it would be now,” he complains.
“What does that mean?” Cole asks, lost as usual in the changes throughout the history of the world.
I turn to him and explain about the change in calendar from the ancient lunar calendar – which these two old farts were born during – through the Roman calendar, Julian calendar – Devon and I – to the current Gregorian calendar, being Cole.
“Oh, I see. Well, a date is a date, isn’t it?”
“I have an idea,” Sebastian says. “Why don’t we all just go together and that way we all find out each other’s. Date first, followed by the month that it would be today. Agreed?”
We all nod, and he says, “Right, go.”
And, not as much to my surprise as you would think, we all blurt out, “April 15th.”
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTEEN
“Well, go figure,” Cole says as we all stare at each other.
“Now, that is some coincidence,” Sebastian says as CK looks away. I stare at him and know that it is no coincidence, as I already know that Cole, Devon and Fraser were also born on April 15th. I just didn’t fathom the extent to which it went. Although, what it means is undecided. It makes sense to me, in a way, that they would share my birthday as we were all involved in the Prophecy that brought me to Power, but Sebastian? What is his role? Or maybe it isn’t anything to do with me at all, but CK instead?
“What’s the significance?” I ask him, searching his eyes as he turns back to me.
He shrugs. “I haven’t got that far yet.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Where is the book now?”
“It’s not here,” he says.
Nice try.
“Where is it?” I press.
“Ponte Sull’acqua,” he says, glaring at me for pushing him.
“Fine. I will go and get it,” I say. Inspiration hits me and I add, “I will also find out what is behind those wards while I’m there.” I grab Cole’s arm and Astral out, as CK shouts, “Aefre, No!”
Cole and I land in the Grand Entrance Hall of the castle, followed closely by both CK and Sebastian.
Cole looks around in awe. “Wow,” he says, “This is some fucking place.”
“This fucking place is my home,” CK says, thoroughly pissed off that we are here uninvited.
“What’s yours is mine, my dear,” I say patronizingly to him as I barge past him to the kitchens.
“Aefre, no,” he says again. “You don’t want to go down there.”
“Constantine. You told me that you would tell me what’s down there.”
“I know I did. But this isn’t the time. It’s not the right way.”
“Tell me or I go down there,” I give him the ultimatum with crossed arms, the book all but forgotten.