Unhallowed (Rath and Rune #1) - Jordan L. Hawk Page 0,32

arm. In the cramped confines of the wardrobe, their bodies pressed together from thigh to shoulder. Sebastian’s heat soaked through their layers of clothing, and Ves suddenly found himself acutely aware of every tiny movement.

Ves didn’t touch anyone but his brother, not if he could help it. At some point in his infancy, he must have been held and cuddled, but by the time he was old enough to begin training, that had transmuted to blows and beatings. Only the voice in the woods had offered comfort, and it never appeared to either of them in physical form.

And after they escaped…well, until the curse was lifted, there was no hope for either of them. Noct didn’t dare even to be seen, and Ves couldn’t risk anything that might lead to discovery.

If Sebastian knew what he was pressed against now, he’d run. Scream. Possibly try to kill Ves, though he didn’t seem the violent type. But people changed in the presence of monsters.

Despite knowing better, despite their precarious situation, Ves’s skin ached for more. So close, he could smell Sebastian’s scent, of old books, vanilla, and human warmth. He wanted to press his face into Sebastian’s hair, to feel his bare skin, to…

“Nothing,” one of the men said in disgust.

“Let’s check the other rooms real quick, just to be sure we’re not missing something. We lost the librarian, but maybe we don’t have to go back to the boss empty-handed.”

Blast.

Ves leaned in until his lips were all but pressed against Sebastian’s ear. “Follow my lead.”

Sebastian shivered but nodded. Ves gathered himself, ready to move the instant it was required.

A man came into the room. Through the cracked door, Ves recognized him as one of the two who had chased Sebastian Thursday evening. The floorboards squeaked as he drew closer. Ves took a deep breath, then let it out. His back ached as the skin tried to stretch, and his eyes burned. It took every ounce of control he’d learned over the long, harsh years to hold himself still as the man stretched a hand toward the wardrobe.

Ves exploded out, all of his weight smashing into the door. It crashed into the man, tumbling him to the floor. Ves didn’t waste time kicking him, only grabbed Sebastian and hauled him after as he ran for the front room.

The other man had heard the crash. He was just emerging from the kitchen as they burst out of the bedroom. Without breaking stride, Ves swung his fist as hard as he could into his face.

The man's nose gave way beneath Ves’s blow with a satisfying crunch, accompanied by a spray of blood. He reeled back, half-collapsed to the floor, and cleared their way out.

They rushed from the apartment, leaving the door open behind them, and across the small lobby. A woman gathering her mail let out a startled exclamation. Sebastian’s foot slipped on the marble tiles; Ves’s grip on his wrist kept him from falling. Then they were outside, down the stairs, and onto the sidewalk.

Luck was with them; the trolley had just pulled up at the stop. They hurried aboard, and as the trolley began to roll away, Ves spotted the man from the bedroom running toward it. He was too slow, though, and was soon left behind.

Ves collapsed onto an empty bench, Sebastian beside him. “Are you all right?” Ves asked.

“Yes.” Sebastian glanced down. Ves realized he was still holding Sebastian’s wrist and snatched his hand back, face burning.

“It sounds as though they haven’t been watching the apartment,” he said, to cover his embarrassment. “They’ve been watching you.”

“Not a comforting thought.” Sebastian peered out the window, as though he feared they might have somehow kept pace with the trolley. “But why? I’m just the library’s archivist. Who on earth would want to have me followed?”

None of this had sat easy with Ves, but the knowledge that Sebastian had been targeted filled him with a cold fury. If Fagerlie was behind any of this…

Ves ground his teeth. His duty to Noct had always been clear, even before they’d fled their childhood home. His entire purpose, the reason he’d been born, was so that Noct might ascend. And even though they’d both rejected that destiny, circumstances meant he had to support Noct. It was no burden; he was happy to do it. Noct wasn’t just his brother, but his best friend.

His only friend, until now.

Sebastian was his friend, too, though. Surely Ves had a duty to him.

At least until Wednesday night. Then Sebastian would