Chapter 7
Evan met Sebastian before I did.
That surprised me.
My husband asked.
I allowed it.
Not alone.
Two Vale men stayed outside.
Sebastian entered the private sitting room like he still belonged everywhere.
Sixty-one.
Silver at the temples.
Tailored suit.
My father’s brother.
The man who taught me how to read a room without moving my eyes.
Evan did not shake his hand.
Good.
“Did you tell my mother to take my son?”
Sebastian smiled faintly.
“I told her families sometimes make difficult arrangements.”
Coward.
“Did you tell her Seraphina would agree?”
“I said she would understand.”
“You knew she wouldn’t.”
Sebastian looked at him.
“You know your wife less well than you think.”
That hit.
Evan flinched.
Sebastian enjoyed it.
Good to know.
Evan leaned forward.
“What did you want?”
“Miles raised with awareness of what he is.”
“He is a baby.”
“He is Vale.”
My husband laughed once.
“He’s also mine.”
Sebastian’s expression cooled.
There.
That was the problem.
A male Vale child whose father was a Hale outsider.
Sebastian imagined divided loyalty before the boy could focus his eyes.
“You were afraid he’d love me.”
Silence.
Evan understood.
So did I, listening from the adjoining room.
Sebastian wanted the boy raised somewhere Vale influence could reach without me controlling every door.
Callie was perfect.
Grateful.
Vulnerable.
Outside my direct household.
Doreen ambitious enough to defend the arrangement.
Evan excluded.
Seraphina recovering.
Then Sebastian could become the older Vale man Miles “needed.”
Not father.
Something more politically useful.
Mentor.
Architect.
I entered.
Sebastian stood automatically.
Habit.
Good.
“Sit.”
He did.
Evan looked at me.
Then my uncle.
I asked one question.
“Did you choose Callie because she wanted a child or because she would owe you one?”
Sebastian’s face changed.
Tiny.
Enough.
Evan saw.
Callie had not been the destination.
She had been the opening.
May you like
Raise Miles away from me.
Then Sebastian becomes indispensable to the boy carrying the name old captains might someday prefer over mine.
