“Excuse me,” she said again, following him back into the apartment, urging the embers of her anger back to life. “If I get any more rest, I’m going to need a coffin.”
He set the plants on the table and sighed. “Jacinda, you’re still recovering from a serious—”
“No. You don’t get to do that. Not now.”
“Do what?”
She tossed her purse and coat on a chair and folded her arms across her chest, glaring at him with every version of the evil eye she had in her arsenal. “Show up here acting like you know what I need. Like you’re suddenly concerned about my well-being. You haven’t even returned my calls or texts.”
“I’ve been running around this city for days, looking for Viansa. Trying to parse through the intel Cole’s getting from the warehouse. Trying to figure out our next move. I meant to call, but I—”
“That night was a horror show, Gabriel. An absolute horror show. And I’ve spent the last four days wondering if I did something wrong—some terrible thing I must’ve blocked out—even though everyone keeps telling me I’m some kind of badass for saving Charley.”
“Badass is an understatement,” he said. “I had to talk Dorian out of coming down here and throwing himself at your feet. He has a whole speech prepared—be warned.”
He tried to smile, but Jaci shook her head, the fire inside her gathering more heat.
She didn’t want his smile any more than she wanted his brother’s speech.
“Jacinda,” he said, his voice softening. “Why would you think you’d done something wrong?”
“You didn’t come,” she blurted out.
“But… Colin assured me you were fine. He and Isabelle, Charlotte… I knew you were in good hands.”
“They’ve all been amazing, and I’m grateful for that—more than I can ever express. But of all the people taking care of me, the one Imostneeded to see—the one I just really fucking missed—was gone.”
Gabriel’s face fell, guilt clouding his eyes. “Jace, I—”
“Look, I know things between us aren’t exactly… I mean, I lied to you about my life and my sister, I put you and your family at risk, and you already hated witches and demons more than most people hate spiders and root canals, but—”
“This isn’t about—”
“But even with all that… It’s not like I’m expecting your forgiveness or your trust, but I thought we’d at least gotten to… I don’t know. A better place, maybe. A place where if I got hurt, you’d come and check on me once or twice. Hell, even Maritza and the servers at Obsidian sent cookies and balloons.”
“I brought mint!” he exclaimed, gesturing at the plants as if they made up for his absence. His disregard.
But even Gabriel knew it was a flimsy attempt. He lowered his hands and closed his eyes, cursing.
“You ghosted me,” she said softly. “I almost died, and the man I… You weren’t there, Gabriel. What was I supposed to think?”
Tears sprung to her eyes, undoubtedly ruining her perfectly gorgeous makeup.
So much for dignity.
“Is that really what you think?” Gabriel asked, hurt and confusion filling his eyes. He stepped closer, bringing with him the scent she loved so much. The scent she’d missed. “That I ghosted you?”
Jaci nodded and lowered her gaze, unable to find any more words, unable to bear the weight of the inexplicable pain in his eyes.
Shewas the one who’d been hurt and ignored. Gabriel had no business acting like—
“Jacinda,” he breathed, cupping her face and resting his forehead against hers. The touch was so unexpected, so intimate, it made her gasp. “When I saw you bleeding that night… When I saw what I’d done to you… I have been bloodybesidemyself with worry ever since, tormented by things I cannot even begin to voice. I thought I’d lost you. I thought I’d…”
He trailed off into a deep sigh that whispered against her mouth, and she closed her eyes, the tears slipping silently down her cheeks.
In a broken whisper, she said, “Then why weren’t you here?”
“Oh, little moonflower. Iwashere.” Still holding her face, he drew back, pressing a kiss to each eyebrow, his thumbs gently wiping her tears. “Night after night, I watched you sleep. I knelt at your bedside and held your hand, trying to convince myself I could still keep you safe. That I’d never again allow myself to be put into a position where I might hurt you.”
