Shadows Between Us (Stella and Sebastian) novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Sebastian’s fever spiked not long after.

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A flush warmed his usually pale cheeks, and his breath came out hot and short. There was a tense, almost violent stillness about him.

His black shirt was loose and creased, hanging open in a way that made him look both attractive and fragile.

Stella didn’t usually think of men as beautiful, but Sebastian made her reconsider. He lay against the dark bedding, his striking features a perfect picture of dangerous allure.

The moment she stirred, his eyes snapped open, cutting through the fog of pain.

His gaze was dark and distant, blurred with sickness.

“Mr. Gray- His name was barely out of her mouth when his hand closed around her wrist, pulling her firmly into the scorching heat of his embrace.

Stella bit back a sharp reply. She had learned the hard way that struggling was useless, so she went still, letting his arm lock

around her waist.

Exhaustion finally caught up with her. She let out a soft yawn, closed her eyes, and began to drift off, surrounded by the clean, subtle scent of him.

In that hazy space between sleep and waking, she felt Sebastian tense up with pain. Without even opening her eyes, Stella reached over and stroked his back.

“It’s all right,” she whispered. “I’m here.”

Early the next morning, Sebastian’s bedroom door opened a little.

Lucas, looking like a little doll, crept in barefoot. His eyes were red, as if he’d been crying.

A jolt of panic had shot through him the moment he woke and found Stella wasn’t in bed.

His lip began to tremble just as he saw Sebastian and Stella lying together. The tears stopped before they could fall.

Sebastian opened his eyes. He’d woken the moment the door moved.

He turned his head, saying nothing. Lucas stared back, his own face just as blank.

After a pause, Lucas held out his arms, asking silently to be picked up.

Sebastian pretended not to notice and made no move to invite him up. He simply leaned back against the headboard, and with his height, Stella looked small and secure nestled against him.

His gaze stayed on her sleeping face.

Since that accident years ago, real sleep had been nearly impossible for him. Sometimes he needed strong medication, but it still only granted him a few restless hours.

Yet the last two times he’d slept, truly slept, had been with her beside him.

Lucas made a low sound in his throat, his little arms still held out in hope. He wanted to climb in with Stella.

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Chapter 18

Stella shifted slightly, still asleep.

Sebastian frowned and put a finger to his lips, signaling Lucas to be quiet.

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Lucas nodded, his sweet expression enough to melt anyone’s heart, but he didn’t drop his arms. He was determined to get his cuddle.

Just as Sebastian reached down to pick him up, Stella’s eyes opened. For a brief moment, her gaze held a flash of sharp irritation before softening into sleepy indifference.

“You…” she mumbled, her voice still thick with sleep, as she looked at Sebastian leaning over her.

She reached up, her hand resting against his forehead. “The fever’s gone,” she said softly, feeling his normal temperature beneath her palm.

Now that the fever had passed, his skin had returned to its usual cool temperature, like Snowball’s.

A gentle pull on her sleeve finally drew her attention. She looked over to see Lucas peeking from beside the bed, his soft little face a picture of sad longing.

Sebastian was still lingering in the memory of her warm touch when he saw her gather Lucas into her arms and press a drowsy, loving kiss to Lucas’s cheek.

Lucas’s frown turned into a sunny smile, but Sebastian’s expression soured just as quickly.

Later, Sebastian and Lucas sat facing each other at the dining table, arms crossed and faces set in matching scowls.

In the corner, Jake whispered excitedly to John about Stella leaving Sebastian’s room that morning.

John ignored him, his attention caught by Sebastian, who actually looked rather pleased for once.

“What’s going on here?” Stella asked as she walked into the dining room, fresh from her shower. Then she saw Sebastian and Lucas locked in a silent standoff.

Lucas’s eyes lit up when he saw her. He clinked his spoon against his plate, as if lodging a formal complaint.

Right on cue, Snowball nudged a writing board into view, its surface scrawled with Lucas’s clear handwriting: [I’m sleeping with Stella tonight.]

Having stated his case, Lucas crossed his arms again and fixed Sebastian with his most indignant glare.

“Lucas, you’re five now,” Sebastian said, his voice cool. “That’s too old for a bedtime buddy.”

Lucas held up the writing board, puffing out his cheeks defiantly. [You’re thirty,] he wrote, refusing to back down.

“Mr. Gray is thirty?” Stella said, her voice slow and teasing. She paused, then finished, “That makes him twelve years older

than me.”

Sebastian’s expression darkened, though Stella remained completely unaware.

“Is that considered old?” he asked, his voice low and his eyes sharp.

“You feel like an uncle,” she replied casually, brushing off the question without a second thought.

Sebastian’s face grew stormy.

“Mr. Gray, the team reports the courtyard is clear,” John said, pressing a finger to his earpiece as he relayed the message. “They found two Frost Bells. Likely from stray seeds.”

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Chapter 18

Stella kept her relaxed posture, but her eyes narrowed with sudden intensity.

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Frost Bells were hard to grow. Finding two was unusual. If the poisoner had waited this long, they wouldn’t slip up now.

“Bianca has no family left,” John added, his tone making it clear that the lead had gone cold.

Stella gave a cool, knowing laugh and looked over at Sebastian.

She vowed to repay every ounce of suffering Sebastian had endured.

She was the kind of person who always evened the score.

“Mr. Gray, should we hire a completely new staff?” John asked.

“Getting rid of Bianca won’t stop them. There will always be another,” Sebastian said, his voice cold and final. He knew the people who wanted him dead wouldn’t give up. Replacing the staff changed nothing.

“Let it be known that Bianca died of sudden illness,” he added, his eyes sharp. He was waiting for their next move.

Now that the courtyard’s free,” Stella began, her casual tone turning thoughtful, “could I use part of it for a garden? And maybe a small room for a lab?”

Sebastian studied her for a long moment before replying, “As you wish.”

“If you could make a list of what you need, Ms. Carter,” John said, his usual sternness now tempered with a new respect.

“Ms. Carter, you left this in the car yesterday,” Jake said as he walked in, a box of computer parts in his hands and curiosity all over his face.

Before he could voice his question, an unfamiliar ringtone broke the silence.

Stella pulled out her phone. A slow, sarcastic smile appeared when she saw Hazel’s name on the screen.