Chapter 77: An alarming call.

Chapter 77: Chapter 77: An alarming call.

Duncan was reviewing the evening security report when his personal phone began vibrating against the desk.

He glanced at the screen.

Crown Prince Nero.

The villa’s head of safety immediately straightened and accepted the call, setting aside the tablet containing the latest patrol reports.

"Your Highness."

"Where is Sebastian?"

Duncan looked toward the monitoring display mounted on the wall of his office.

The medical wing occupied the largest section of the screen, with Sebastian’s observation suite highlighted beside the adjoining diagnostic station. The live feed showed the room illuminated by the television, its shifting colors washing over the bed where Sebastian lay beneath a dark blanket.

"He’s asleep, Your Highness."

"Since when?"

"Approximately forty minutes ago. He finished dinner, watched television for a while, and fell asleep during the second episode."

"His readings?"

"Normal. Roberta reviewed them before leaving the medical wing, and the overnight team has reported no irregularities."

Nero remained silent.

Duncan knew that silence.

He had been responsible for the villa’s security long enough to recognize when the crown prince was listening to an answer without actually accepting it.

"Has anything unusual happened today?" Nero asked.

"No security incidents. Sebastian completed his physiotherapy session, spent some time in the library, and returned to his room after dinner. He has been following the medical team’s instructions."

"Any visitors?"

"Only authorized personnel."

"And you checked his room?"

"Ten minutes ago."

Duncan rose from his chair.

"I can check again."

"Do that."

The order came immediately.

Duncan took his security tablet and left the office, passing two guards stationed at the entrance to the medical wing before continuing along the softly illuminated corridor.

The villa had grown quiet for the night.

Outside the narrow windows, the gardens lay beneath a clear sky, pathway lights illuminating the stone walkways while security personnel continued their patrols beyond the hedges.

Duncan reached the observation suite and opened the door quietly.

Sebastian was asleep on his side, one arm resting beneath the pillow while the other lay across the blanket. His dark hair had fallen over his forehead, and the television opposite the bed was playing a comedy series that apparently involved a man attempting to conceal an enormous dog inside an apartment where animals were forbidden.

Duncan glanced toward the monitors.

Everything remained stable.

"He’s sleeping normally," he told Nero, keeping his voice low. "The readings are unchanged."

"Breathing?"

"Normal."

"Any signs of discomfort?"

"None."

Duncan approached the bedside, checking that the monitoring band remained properly positioned around Sebastian’s wrist.

The movement made Sebastian shift.

His eyebrows drew together briefly before he opened his eyes.

For several seconds, he looked at Duncan without speaking.

Then his gaze moved toward the phone.

"Who are you talking to?"

Duncan paused.

"His Highness."

Sebastian stared at him.

Then he sighed.

"Of course."

Nero’s voice came through the phone immediately.

"Sebastian?"

Sebastian extended one hand from beneath the blanket.

"Give me that."

Duncan hesitated.

Sebastian raised an eyebrow.

"Duncan."

The head of safety handed him the phone.

Sebastian brought it to his ear, still looking deeply unimpressed by the interruption.

"Love."

Nero went quiet.

Sebastian rubbed one hand across his face, trying to clear the last of the sleep from his thoughts.

"Did you call Duncan because I wasn’t answering?"

"I wanted to make certain you were all right."

"I was sleeping."

"I gathered that."

Sebastian glanced toward the television.

The man on-screen had apparently lost control of the enormous dog, which was now running through an apartment while several people screamed.

He had absolutely no idea how the episode had reached that point.

"How was your meeting?" Sebastian asked.

"Productive."

"That sounds suspicious."

"It was an exceptionally unpleasant experience for several people."

Sebastian smiled faintly.

"There he is."

Nero’s voice softened.

"How are you feeling?"

"Fine. I ate dinner, took my medication, watched television, and fell asleep. My body has apparently decided that being a responsible patient is a full-time occupation."

"Roberta will be delighted."

"Roberta is never delighted. She simply finds fewer reasons to threaten me."

Nero laughed quietly.

Sebastian settled deeper against the pillow, pulling the blanket toward his shoulder while Duncan discreetly moved toward the door.

The room had become pleasantly warm, and sleep was already beginning to pull at the edges of Sebastian’s thoughts again.

"Are you still in Altera?"

"Yes."

"Good."

Nero made a dissatisfied sound.

Sebastian smiled.

"Stop worrying about everything, love. I’m fine."

"I prefer verifying that personally."

"You have Duncan, Roberta, Claude, and an entire research center monitoring me. If anything changes, you will probably receive a report before I notice it myself."

"That is the intention."

"Then let them do their jobs."

Nero remained quiet.

Sebastian could almost picture him standing somewhere in the palace, dressed in black and purple, long white-blond hair falling over his shoulders while he considered how to turn a perfectly reasonable conversation into another argument about Sebastian’s safety.

He smiled into the pillow.

"Besides, you have a kingdom to terrorize."

"Manage."

"Of course."

"I am an excellent administrator."

"You are a menace."

"An effective menace."

Sebastian laughed softly.

"Then go be the menace I know and leave the medical supervision to the people who actually studied medicine."

Nero laughed.

The sound was warm enough that Sebastian felt his own expression soften, despite the fact that he was still struggling to keep his eyes open.

For a moment, he wished Nero were there.

Not because he needed stabilization.

Not because the physicians recommended proximity.

He simply wanted to turn onto his side and find that enormous bastard sitting beside him, perhaps complaining about his schedule while Sebastian pretended not to enjoy the attention.

The thought made him smile again.

"You’re getting quiet," Nero said.

"I’m falling asleep."

"Then sleep, my moon."

Sebastian’s eyes closed.

"Call me tomorrow."

"I will."

"And eat something."

"I already have."

"Good."

There was a brief silence before Sebastian murmured, "Good night, love."

"Good night, my moon."

Sebastian handed the phone back to Duncan without opening his eyes.

The head of safety accepted it and stepped away from the bed, lowering his voice as he spoke to Nero.

"I’ll continue checking on him every ten minutes, Your Highness, as instructed."

"Thank you, Duncan."

The call ended.

Duncan dimmed the television, leaving the comedy playing quietly enough that it would not disturb Sebastian, then returned to the adjoining monitoring station.

The room settled into silence.

Sebastian shifted beneath the blanket, pulling one pillow closer while the last remnants of the conversation drifted through his thoughts.

Nero sounded better. Less irritated.

He had probably enjoyed making House Mynatt regret whatever stupidity had brought them before him.

Sebastian smiled faintly.

Menace.

The word lingered pleasantly as he slipped back into sleep.

Then the warmth disappeared.

The mattress vanished beneath him.

Sebastian opened his eyes.

Dark red liquid stretched in every direction, perfectly still beneath a colorless sky.

There was no villa.

No television.

No medical equipment.

Only the endless red ocean.

A single drop fell somewhere beyond his sight.

Then another.

Sebastian looked down.

His hands were submerged in blood.

And somewhere in the distance, something moved beneath the surface.