Page 41 of How to Woo the Undead

Sebastian wrung out his drenched hair like a rag then tossed it over his shoulder. Despite the fact they were outside in the sun, and working to clear the yard, he was still in a suit. At least he wasn’t wearing his mask, and his jacket was hung on the fence. Austin’s maker had his sleeves rolled up but he made Austin feelsweaty just looking at him. Sebastian panted, “Ah, yes, I do not believe a wig will help in that aspect. Though, maybe we ought to invest in headbands? Yes?”

Austin considered those ridiculous animal headbands that Dahlia bought not that long ago to give them alla spa day.While cute and helpful with keeping the goop from getting into his ears, they pinched his head a little too much for his liking. He didn’t like the headache they gave him every time either. Things like that were not made for the size of his skull.

“Why can’t you stitch some into my scalp?” Austin furrowed his brow.

Sebastian grimaced, swiping at his own brow. “Well, to be quite frank, my boy…you don’t have the hair follicles for it.”

“What?” He blurted out, less in befuddlement, and more he was so tired he stopped watching Sebastian’s lips move and thus heardnoneof what he said.

Sebastian wheezed, “Nary a spot on that pretty dome of yours for a hair. Your previous model simply did not grow hair. What an oddity he must have been from his fellow ogre, but, that’s the truth. In order to give you hair, I’d have to remove the skin from the top of your brow to the base of your skull and replace it with skin that was made for hair.”

No follicles. Not made for hair.

“Like…a werewolf pelt?” He raised his brows.

“No,” Sebastian grumbled. “I knew it was a bad idea for you to keep that carcass. I know you keep saying we’ll find a use for it, but werewolf pelts simply are not good for many projects.”

Except teddy bears.He kept that to himself while he let his maker continue his rant over keeping pieces they did not have a current project for…completely overlooking all the things he added to their collection all the time because Lady Rosemont thought itlooked cute!Austin and Sebastian did this same dance for hundreds of years and he imagined they’d have it till the end of time.

Because you never know when it’ll be useful… Is that Smith?He lurched toward the gate. Out front, the lawyer and his loving Melody were limping back toward the gate. If Austin had a heart that still beat, it would have dropped into his feet.

“Austin? A little help, big guy?” Smith croaked.

Hyacinth was draped over both their shoulders. Austin rushed forward, ripping the gate open with a metallic scream. The pair stumbled inside and he scooped the pale woman out of their grip. Melody dropped to her knees, Smith crouching in front of her in worry. Sebastian was by the fence in the blink of an eye. It swung shut with a long creak, then clicked as the lock set into place.

“What happened?” Sebastian barked.

“Hyacinth wanted to go to the city. Thought she could figure out who the lady that’s haunting her is called or retrace her steps. But she couldn’t get in the city.” Melody spoke through bloody teeth. Smith pulled a water bottle out from his jacket and poured it into her mouth. Melody gargled and spat out globs of blood to the side. “Smith, I’m fine. Tasted worse than it looks.”

All Austin’s attention was on the limp woman in his hands. Cradling the back of her head, he inspected her for injuries. Outside of minor scratches and a thread on her stitches having frayed, she was undamaged. That, however, did not say much. Austin of all people knew there were a hundred different ways to be hurt that weren’t visible on the surface.

“She seems intact, why don’t you take her inside to rest up?” Sebastian nodded toward the house.

“Sir,” Austin glanced up, worry etching every inch of his face.

“There’s not much more you can do for her till she awakes, Austin, and I’m sure your face will be a comforting one.” Sebastian patted his shoulder. Austin knew there was more at play, but he also didn’t want to argue. He scooped Hyacinth up in his arms. Cradling her against his chest, he hooked an arm under her knees and carried her back toward the house. A pang of guilt took up residence in his chest as he passed through the front door.She kept saying she was being haunted and we never did anything about it.Things just kept happening, getting in the way. She asked for their help and he let her down.

Austin should have taken her down to the lab. He could have gotten her in a regeneration tank to help soothe any ailments. Or at least addressed the thread that was frayed against her collarbone. And yet, he stepped onto the staircase and followed their creaking steps all the way to the second floor. He turned right into her doorway and found her room empty, sans for a slumbering bunny at the foot of her bed. Austin closed the door with his foot and carted her over to the blankets. Thankfully her boots were so loose they were easily flicked off. It was less simple for her belt, but Austin managed it without dropping her. He pulled a single cord on the front of her over skirt and it fell away, leaving her in a white chemise. Snuffles didn’t budge an inch as Austin pulled back the covers and slipped her toes down into comfortable sheets.

There was a part of him that insisted he lay down beside her. He didn’t listen to himself, instead, perching by her hip, he stroked her hair. For what felt like an eternity, he found solace in the rhythm. Up and down. Lift hand up, place near her scalp, slowly pet downward, regret letting her leave the house, rinse and repeat.

“I’m so sorry, Hyacinth,” he croaked finally.

“Mmm, for what?” she murmured back sleepily.

Austin leaned forward sharply. “Hyacinth?”

She cracked a lilac eye open, and her shoulders visibly sank back into the bed. “Austin.”

“You are alright?” His lungs squeezed and the words came out like air escaping a balloon.

“I believe I am functioning,” she groaned with a wet cough. Both hands rushed to rub her eyes, then her cheeks, then her jaw. After a moment of recalibration, she exhaled heavily, “And Dahlia says that’s all one can really ask for.”

“No,” Austin chuckled, “you can ask for so much more.”

“Mmm?” She hummed in confusion. An eyebrow was raised but her attention was on peeling herself out of the bed. Austin rushed to stop her and only managed to help her sit up against the headboard. Snuffles appeared and deposited himself as a lap pillow soon after. Hyacinth peeked up at Austin’s face. “What do you ask for?”

Austin froze, as the words on his tongue felt too real. Too deep. Too heavy to lay on her at a time when she was recovering. Instead, he smiled through the pain in his chest.I asked for you, Hyacinth.