Family of Lies: Sebastian Read Online Free PDF Page B

magic.”
    “What? We could find out more.”
    “Break it before whoever that is feels you,” Sebastian warned.
    “What are you—” Ophelia began but scrambled to bundle the map. “Damn, that was close. Diana, did you feel that?”
    “Yes. No wonder Father didn’t want us touching it. This troublemaker was powerful enough to latch on to Ophelia from that great a distance.” Diana turned to Sebastian. “How did you know when you have no magic?”
    “Father didn’t have the map out for long, so he must have been afraid of being caught. He wouldn’t care about us finding his secret.”
    “That is a good point,” Diana said. She placed her palm on Sebastian’s face and closed her eyes.
    “No magic, Diana, just guesswork. Maybe you should check Kevin.”
    “Knock it off, both of you, and let’s go downstairs before the others awaken.” Kevin shoved himself between them and into the hallway.
    Diana glared at Sebastian and followed Kevin.
    Sebastian held the bag open, and Ophelia dropped the map inside, ribbon newly tied. “You’re pushing your luck,” she said while returning the bag to its hiding place.
    Sebastian shrugged, and they closed the door behind them. Diana whispered over the door, reassembling the protection spell, and the four of them went to join their family in mock sleep.

C HAPTER 3
     
     
    S EBASTIAN WOKE with his spoon clutched in his fingers. He looked up, and the rest of his family was groggily coming to their senses—including the three siblings involved in the scheme. I can’t even pretend to be surprised that she drugged all of us.
    Kevin swung his head in Diana’s direction but stopped midway. He instead turned to Kraven. “Did you wash your hands before handling our food?”
    “What?” A piece of onion fell off Kraven’s cheek.
    “The herbs you cut for our supper. Obviously you and Pratchett contaminated them,” Diana said.
    “We washed our hands several times, you—” Pratchett broke off and licked his lips.
    “You what?” Diana asked.
    “Father, we washed our hands,” Kraven said.
    “It was a simple mistake, Kraven, and we needed the rest.” Lord Orwell stood and stretched. “Your mother will be home soon. Clean the table and dishes. I’m off to bed.”
    Their father left the room, and Ophelia sighed. “He knows it wasn’t the boys.”
    “What have you been up to?” Demetrius asked.
    “None of your business,” Diana told him. She stared at the ceiling. “I bet he’s going upstairs to check his bag.”
    “What bag?” Kraven asked. “I knew I washed my hands!”
    “Shut up.” Kevin covered Kraven’s mouth.
    When the strangled noise died down, Kevin released him. He turned hurt eyes to Sebastian. “But I was nice to you.”
    “I said blame Pratchett, not Kraven,” Sebastian said to Kevin.
    Kevin shrugged. “They all look alike to me.”
    “I hope you all rot in a dragon’s pit.” Pratchett grabbed his dish and stomped into the kitchen.
     
     
    “D EMETRIUS , WHY are you smiling?” Sebastian found his brother in the sitting room, grinning with his legs propped on a stool.
    “Sorry, but you forgot your place and conspired with the enemy.” Demetrius closed his eyes and hummed.
    “Idiot,” Sebastian mumbled. He walked into the kitchen and found his mother looking at a picture of the monstrous cloaked man.
    “What an unbecoming picture. How did this happen?” Lady Orwell held up the wanted poster.
    “A villager’s vivid imagination?”
    “And this one?” Lady Orwell showed him the accurate picture.
    Sebastian raised his eyes to his mother’s equally peridot ones that gleamed with annoyance. He squeezed his hand into a fist and didn’t look away from the harsh gaze. “Father knows.” He watched her lips move as she chewed the inside of her mouth. “If you yell at me, Father will know and run away before you talk to him.” His mother’s eyes narrowed, but Sebastian knew it wasn’t enough. “And he knows who tried to assassinate