Chapter 143: Over a Drink

Liam/Ian

Sebastian watched my face for a second, then the edge in his eyes softened.

“I understand, and I will respect your decision,” he said, his voice quiet but steady. “However, know that Regalia will always be waiting for you. It remains your home.”

A faint smile pulled at my face. “Well, cheers to that.” I raised my hand to get the bartender’s attention. “Forget the shots. Bring us the whole bottle. It’s a reunion, after all.”

Sebastian raised an eyebrow, a familiar, challenge creeping into his expression. “Are you certain you can handle your liquor?”

I let out a rough chuckle. “Can you?”

It was probably a terrible move considering I already had three shots of whiskey sitting in my stomach, but some occasions are worth getting wasted over.

We kept drinking. I gave him the brief rundown of my life in Bendis. There wasn't much to brag about, really—it was a smooth, quiet ride compared to the bloodbath he’d been dealing with. His side of it, though? That was a whole different mess.

I poured him another glass, watching the amber liquid hit the rim. “So... you and Sienna, huh?”

The second her name left my mouth, Sebastian’s face completely changed. The guarded, battle-hardened Alpha vanished, replaced by a subtle, dazed softness. Talk about a smitten bastard.

“She’s a great woman,” I said.

That earned me an instant, sharp side-eye. I almost laughed out loud.

“What, getting jealous of your own brother now?” I smirked, nudging his arm with my elbow. “So put your mark on her. Claim her and get it over with.”

“Sienna is not a piece of property to own,” Sebastian’s jaw set, his tone instantly shifting into something serious. “I belong to her, not the other way around. I will mark her only when she chooses to accept me.”

“Damn. Respect.” I leaned back against the bar. “To tell you the truth, though, Sienna might be direct, but she’s still guarded as hell. You’re gonna have to step up your game if you want to open that door. You do want her to be your mate, right?”

“There is nothing in this world I desire more,” he said without a second of hesitation. Then a rare, competitive glint lit up his eyes. “And what about you? Is there anyone you plan to introduce to me?”

“I’d rather serve women than be tied down to one,” I muttered.

Maybe the alcohol was finally hitting my brain hard, because I threw a heavy arm around Sebastian’s neck, yanking him sideways so fast he almost lost his balance on the high stool.

“You want some advice from your little brother, Alpha?” I dragged him closer by his shoulder. “You need to kiss her when she’s not expecting it.”

Sebastian narrowed his eyes, his voice dropping low. “And how would you know such a thing?”

“Because I kiss women all the time! Every time I do it to Sienna, she giggles right after!”

I watched his jaw lock tight, a muscle twitching in his cheek.

“On the cheek, man! Just the cheek!” I barked out a laugh, shaking him slightly. “It catches her off guard, but she loves it. Trust me. Do it. Surprisingly.”

God, I was blasted.

Sebastian pulled my arm off his neck and stood up. “I believe it is time for us to leave.”

“What? No way! Look at the bottle—” I grabbed the neck, tilting it. “Why the hell is it empty?”

“Because we have emptied it.”

“Well, fuck, order another one!”

He gave me a dry look as he threw down a stack of bills on the bar. “Do you wish for the two of us to stumble through the streets starting fights?”

“Damn... you really can hold your liquor,” I muttered, shaking my head.

A subtle flicker of pride touched his face before he caught my arm and hauled it over his shoulders.

“Hey, I’m not drunk yet!” I argued, but my legs weren't listening to my brain at all.

Sebastian didn't even bother answering. He just shoved me into the back of a cab, slammed the door, and the next thing I knew, the car was stopping outside Sienna’s apartment building.

“This is... Shhhienna’s place,” I slurred, squinting out the window at the front door.

“It is,” Sebastian said, grabbing my belt to keep me from faceplanting onto the curb as he hauled me out.

The lobby was blinding, the bright fluorescent lights hitting my eyes like a pair of high beams. I stumbled against the wall, but Sebastian grabbed my jacket, dragging my heavy ass toward the elevator.

We stepped inside. The sudden upward pull of the elevator made my stomach do a nasty flip, and I had to press my palm against the wall just to keep the room from spinning out of control.

The bell chimed, the doors opened, and he practically steered me down the carpeted hallway. We pulled up outside Sienna’s door, and Sebastian raised his knuckles, giving the wood three firm knocks.

It opened almost instantly. Sienna was standing in the entryway, her arms crossed over her chest, looking ready to rip someone’s head off.

“It’s almost midnight!” she snapped, glaring at Sebastian before her eyes landed on me. “And you brought Liam back drunk? He never gets drunk.”

My head felt heavy, the whole apartment swaying in slow circles. I shoved Sebastian’s hands off me, took two sloppy steps forward, and wrapped my arms around Sienna in a massive bear hug.

She flinched, leaning her head as far back as it would go. “Ugh, Liam! You stink!”

“Shhhienna... you know I love you, right?” I muttered into her shoulder. “But my brother loves you way more. You guys should just get married. Are you gonna invite me to the wedding?”

She didn't answer, just sighed and tried to drag me into the spare room. Halfway down the hall, my knees buckled completely. I was way too heavy for her to haul on her own.

“Allow me,” Sebastian said quietly, stepping in beside her.

He lifted me effortlessly while she let go of me. I caught the way he looked at her—careful, gentle, like she was made of glass.

A dumb, sloppy grin spread across my face. Look at them. Adorable as hell.

Then the room went completely pitch black.