Chapter 84

Sebastian’s POV

All the servants around the palace were given the night off so they could attend the ceremony for Caroline. Sebastian arrived in time to see a couple of servants that were close to Caroline say a few words as they stood around her grave. He could hear the soft sobs of those around him and it admittedly made him feel a sense of loss. He never meant for Caroline to die; he never means for any of them to die. He’s hoping now that Magnolia is in custody and locked away in the dungeon, that the deaths of the servants will cease to exist.

The servants stepped aside immediately, forming a path for Sebastian to walk through so he can make his way to the front. He paused though and looked around at all the sad, tear-stained faces. Some of them looked frightened that he was there, which was also something he didn’t want.

He took a step back from them, refusing to take their path. This funeral and ceremony had nothing to do with him; this was for Caroline and for those who loved and respected her. This was for Hannah. He wasn’t going to outshine his luna; not for this.

Once they realized he wasn’t going to walk toward the front and he was going to stay in the back, their fear turned into gratitude, and they turned away from him.

Hannah stood in front of Caroline’s grave. Like everyone else, she too had tear-stained features. She wore a long black gown that covered her feet and dragged through the dirt on the ground. It was a noodle strap dress, and the straps were covered in a shimmering material that went around her neck, hugging her body and forming around her curves perfectly.

She left her long wavy brown hair down, so it draped around her shoulders and down her back. She wore a light layer of makeup, but she darkened her eyeliner to make it seem like her eyes weren’t as puffy.

Even when she was sad and mourning, Sebastian still found her to be the most beautiful woman in the kingdom.

“Even though Caroline was my handmaiden…” her voice sounded so broken; it tugged painfully at Sebastian’s heart. “She was also an amazing friend. She was loved and cherished by everyone in the palace. She stood by what she believed in, and she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. I wish things could have been different for her. I wish she didn’t have to die…”

She stopped speaking as her eyes found Sebastian’s. She held his gaze for a moment; her expression was hard to read, and he was getting an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. He thought about the text he received on his phone earlier from her; she said she needed to talk to him about the moonstone scepter.

Hannah had expressed her concerns about it not long ago, but he thought he laid the conversation to rest. Apparently not.

He wondered if that was what she was thinking as she stared at him.

She finally pulled her gaze from his and addressed everyone else.

“She’s going to be missed…” she concluded before stepping away from the grave.

They waited a few moments while each servant said their goodbyes to Caroline. Some spoke out loud, and some spoke in their heads. But everybody cried. Hannah was keeping a respectful distance away from Sebastian; in fact, she was hardly even looking at him which was driving him wild.

Once they finished saying their goodbyes to Caroline, they moved the ceremony over to the gardens. Sebastian heard from some of the other servants that the gardens were Caroline’s favorite spot in the palace.

The kitchen servants had the food set up on portable tables; Hannah had lights and a little music playing around the garden. Sebastian was impressed that she managed to get all this done on such short notice. It was weird seeing the servants mingling and enjoying themselves, despite the circumstances. It was weird that they weren’t working, and they were just hanging out.

But Sebastian knew that I was something they all needed.

Hannah sat alone near the rose garden; she sat on the stone bench that overlooked the roses. She was staring down at her hands and looked completely defeated.

He went to join her; she was startled when he approached but she relaxed when she saw that it was only him. Her eyes were misty with tears, and she said nothing as he sat down beside her.

“You did a nice job,” he told her, keeping his voice low. “The funeral and ceremony are lovely.”

“She deserved the best,” Hannah said; her voice sounded heavy and quivered as she spoke. “Caroline deserved everything. She didn’t deserve to die…”

“I know,” he said in return, trying to assess her face.

“She deserved a chance to live,” Hannah continued. “She deserved for us to do whatever it took to make sure she didn’t die…” her voice was getting firmer, and he could tell she was growing angry.

“I understand that but…”

“Do you understand that?” She asked, snapping him a look. “Because she’s dead and we did nothing to prevent that.”

“She was dead when I arrived,” Sebastian shot back; he didn’t want to argue with her about this right now. Not tonight, but she was getting so worked up and he wasn’t sure how else to make her listen. “Neither of us could have foreseen this…”

“No?” She scoffed. “So, Magnolia didn’t tell you beforehand that she was going to kill Caroline?”

For a moment, he stopped breathing. He stared around her accusing face; her eyes darkening as fury was rising through her. She pressed her lips firmly together and he could see her body visibly trembling before him.

She went to see Magnolia; she went to see her behind his back. Even after he made her promise that she wouldn’t, she still did. She was the one betraying his trust now.

He stood to his feet quickly.

“No,” she said firmly, locking her eyes on his. “You don’t get to be mad. You’re the reason Caroline is dead.”

“Can we talk about this later?” Sebastian asked; he feared if they continued the conversation, he would lose control. Eric was already growing hostile within him, and he wasn’t sure how long he could hold his wolf back.

“The moonstone scepter,” Hannah said in a low tone. “All she wanted was the moonstone scepter and you refused her. She told you if you don’t hand it over, she will kill Caroline. You refused her. Caroline is dead. She is dead because you couldn’t let go of your precious moonstone scepter.”

“Hannah…” he warned through a tightened jaw.

He clenched his fists, trying to keep his wolf under control, but it was getting harder with each passing moment.

“You don’t get to be mad Sebastian,” she hissed, turning away from him. “You should go back inside. This ceremony is for those who cared about Caroline and her life.”

…

Sebastian didn’t stay around the ceremony much longer; fury was rising through him, and he let out a loud howl as he stormed into the palace. The palace foyer was vacant because everyone was outside with Hannah. His body trembled as he reached the inside of the palace; he took in steady deep breaths, trying to gain control of his wolf back. It was much easier to gain control when it wasn’t the full moon.

He threw himself against the wall, feeling the pain of the wall’s corner, digging into his back. Pain felt better than the agonizing madness was washing over him. If he could get himself hurt enough, he could gain control of Eric again.

He had never been spoken to like that by anyone in his life, especially not women. Sebastian slammed himself against the wall again, yelling out in pain. He felt blood trickling down his back and his breathing was starting to become his own again.

Sebastian pulled himself away from the wall and made his way towards the basement door. He slammed it open and stormed down the stairs until he reached the doors to the dungeon. A guard was sitting by the dungeon doors, looking startled as Sebastian approached him.

Sebastian wasn’t even going to ask him how Hannah managed to get past him. The guard opened his mouth like he was about to explain himself, but Sebastian shoved past him, entering the dungeon.

He made his way over to the cell he knew Magnolia was inside.

“Magnolia!!” He growled; his voice echoing through the concrete walls of the dungeon. “I want you gone. I want both you and Jack out of my kingdom for good. You are exiled!!!”