☬♛ PART SIXTEEN ♛☬

Sebastian stormed into his chambers, slamming the door behind him.

Three days.

His father had given him three days to make an impossible choice.

"Marry Gabriel or lose Alex forever."

His hands trembled as he ran them through his hair. He wasn't afraid-no, fear had long since burned away, leaving only raw, unfiltered rage.

A voice broke through his fury.

"Sebastian."

He turned.

Alex stood near the door, face carefully blank.

But Sebastian knew him too well.

He could see it.

The tension in his shoulders. The way his fingers curled slightly against his sides.

He was trying to act calm.

But he was not.

"You heard." It wasn't a question.

Alex nodded once.

Sebastian exhaled sharply. "Then you know I cannot allow this."

Alex's jaw tightened. "Sebastian-"

"No."

Alex fell silent.

Sebastian took a slow step forward. "I will not marry him. And I will not let my father take you away from me."

Alex inhaled sharply. "And what will you do? Defy the king openly?"

Sebastian tilted his head. "I've done worse."

A soft, humorless laugh. "Yes. You have."

Sebastian's lips curled. "Then trust me, Alex."

But Alex only stared at him.

And that-

That was what broke Sebastian.

Because Alex did not look at him like a man with hope.

He looked at him like a man already mourning what was coming.

"Say it," Sebastian murmured. "Say what's on your mind."

Alex hesitated-then exhaled.

"You should marry him."

Sebastian froze.

His entire body went rigid.

"What?" His voice was low, dangerous.

Alex's eyes did not waver. "Marry Gabriel. Secure your throne. Keep the kingdom stable."

Sebastian laughed.

Sharp. Bitter.

"You would have me marry a man I do not love?"

"Yes."

Sebastian took another step forward, voice dark with disbelief. "You would have me stand at the altar, say my vows, and pretend you do not exist?"

A flicker of something flashed in Alex's eyes.

Pain.

Just for a moment.

Then it was gone.

"Yes," he whispered.

Sebastian snapped.

"You are a coward."

Alex flinched.

Sebastian never spoke to him like that.

"You would rather sacrifice yourself than fight for what we have."

"We have nothing, Sebastian."

Sebastian stilled.

His breath caught.

Alex's face was blank.

Expression unreadable.

"You are a prince," Alex said quietly. "And I am a servant. That is all we will ever be."

Sebastian's stomach twisted.

Because it was a lie.

A lie to protect himself.

To protect both of them.

Sebastian knew Alex loved him.

Knew it in the way he lingered when no one was looking.

In the way his hands trembled, just slightly, when Sebastian touched him.

In the way he always stayed-despite every reason to leave.

"You don't mean that." Sebastian's voice was softer now.

Alex clenched his jaw.

"It does not matter what I mean," he whispered. "It only matters what you must do."

Sebastian reached forward, fingers brushing against Alex's wrist.

"Do not ask me to give you up."

Alex closed his eyes.

"You have three days, Sebastian."

And then-

Before Sebastian could stop him-

Alex stepped back.

And left.