Lake Rodney I will still be your big brother

The fact that he'd wanted to leave before took her by surprise. Wildfire felt a hitch in her chest. Had Sebastian been unhappy this entire time? Despite his request, she felt her eyes beginning to mist. She wanted him to be happy. She just wished it was somehow compatible with staying in the caldera. For reasons she could not explain, she felt like a failure. She—they—hadn't been enough for him.

The mention of his father made her shudder inwardly. Was getting rid of him worth seeing Sebastian go? Right now, it definitely didn't feel like it. Wildfire's lips parted, though she didn't say anything. It wasn't her place to ask Sebastian to stay. He needed to do whatever made him happy, go wherever his heart led him. Trying to get him to stay would be selfish.

"When you find one," she said, her voice thick and tears wobbling on her lower lids, "will you come home? I'll convince dad to let you back." She wasn't sure she could actually do that but Wildfire would damn well try if it made a difference to Sebastian. "I'm sure you'll find a girlfriend," she added, finally blinking and causing tears to drip silently down her red cheeks. "You're a catch, Seb." She sniffed.