DELGADO || Sebastian Sallow (Hogwarts Legacy)

Part 80 - Lies and Surprises

ꕀꕥ〡~𐀔~〡ꕥꕀ

❝Breath shallow. Hands trembling. Heart pounding.❞

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The villa had fallen silent. Moonlight stretched across the marble tiles like a whispered secret.

I stepped barefoot onto the balcony, the hem of my robe brushing against my calves. The cool night air kissed my skin, carrying faint traces of citrus and salt.

Below, Sebastian sat at the edge of a lounge chair by the pool, shirtless, shoulders slumped, elbows resting on his knees. He stared into the distance, wearing only his shorts.

My breath caught, not because of how he looked under the stars, but because of how worn he appeared. Like he'd been wrestling with shadows all night.

Lighting a cigarette, I watched him. He was fighting his inner demons, I could see that.

Then, as if he sensed my gaze, he turned toward the balcony. His face unreadable, strange. I wished I could see what was going on inside his mind.

He stood and disappeared into the house, leaving me alone. I finished my cigarette, eyes drawn upward to the stars, so bright and constant, no matter where I went in the world.

The full moon tugged at my memories, dragging me back to my time with Marvolo. Regret stirred. I wished things had gone differently. Everything with him was a mess... one I clearly hadn't escaped. My gaze fell to the mark on my hand, the symbol of our bond and shared future.

Did he feel what I did with Sebastian? Could he have heard us? My fingers brushed over the black rose mark. I desperately hoped he hadn't.

Then, everything changed.

A tremor ran through the walls, followed by a sharp, cracking sound. The estate's protective enchantments groaned under some unseen force.

Sebastian rushed outside, his face stricken. "Did you feel that?" he yelled.

"I did!" I shouted back.

A blinding light erupted around us, followed by a deafening boom. The silence shattered like glass as the magical barrier surrounding the house cracked, then crumbled in a wave that shook the windows.

"Shit-" was all I heard Sebastian say before the room was engulfed in light. A rupture tore open at the center, swirling with black and crimson energy, slicing through reality like a wound.

"Baby, I'm home!" a deep male voice rang out, laced with dark amusement, as the smoke began to clear.

I blinked once and found myself face-to-face with Marvolo. He looked devastatingly good- dangerously so.

He knew exactly what I liked about his appearance, and he leaned into every bit of it.

He stood before me with tousled white hair, a half-buttoned white blouse with rolled sleeves, and black jeans tight at the waist, a belt cinching his lean frame. Daggers and a wand were strapped across his chest. Tattoos ran down his arms, and his jawline was freshly shaved with just a trace of stubble.

The man was a living sin.

His gaze roamed over me, robe-clad, cheeks flushed. "Well, hello there," he said with a smirk.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, my frustration sharp.

Before he could answer, the rustle of leaves caught my attention. Sebastian was climbing up the side of the balcony like a predator.