Chapter Six
In all their centuries of bickering, in all their petty childhood skirmishes, in all the family drama that had done its best to wedge them apart as men and immortals both, Gabriel had never seen his eldest brother so incensed.
“Explain,” Dorian demanded, his jaw clenched so tight Gabriel thought his teeth might shatter.
The two of them were locked away in the study, alone for the first time since Gabriel and Jacinda had shown up on Dorian’s doorstep hours earlier with a broken wolf, an unconscious vampire, and little time for conversation. A roaring fire cast the room in a soft, warm glow, but the mood was anything but cozy.
Gabriel headed straight for the bar, helping himself to a glass of bourbon. Dorian was already three drinks in, but he poured his brother another scotch anyway, hoping it might help the story go down better.
“We got the call in the middle of the night,” he said, passing Dorian the glass. “Duchanes had taken Cole. Said he’d trade him for Jacinda.”
“You knew it was a trap.”
Gabriel nodded.
“Yet you marched right in anyway, guns blazing.”
“Not guns so much as magic, but—”
“For fuck’s sake, Gabriel. Do you have any idea what could’ve happened? A vampire and a witch, taking on a warehouse full of grays, dark mages, enemy vampires, demons—”
“What choice did I have? He was going to kill Cole, Dorian. Cole!”
Dorian cursed under his breath. Tossed back half his drink in one go. “You should’ve called me. As much as you excel at violence, going in there alone to commit a mass murder—”
“It was the only way to pull this off. If Duchanes had caught so much as awhiffof an attack plan, Cole would’ve been dead in a heartbeat, and Jacinda and I would’ve swiftly followed.”
“So you decided—without a consult from me, mind you—vigilante mode was the better bet?”
“Jacinda had a plan. A damned good one at—”
“You’re saying this was her idea?” Dorian shook his head, a bitter laugh escaping. “I don’t buy it. This has your brand of recklessness and disregard stampedallover it, little brother.”
Little brother.
Gabriel seethed. As if Dorian would ever let him forget.
“What would you have done, Dorian? Leave your friend to torture and death? No way. No fucking way.”
“Iwould’ve called my family. Called our allies and made a plan that—”
“There was no time. Besides, Rogozin would’ve given this mission a hard pass. He’s got no interest in risking his hellspawn arse for a lone wolf. ”
“He’s our ally. Why can’t you accept that?”
“Rogozin can’t be trusted. He’s a bloody demon, Dorian. A demon!”
Anger flared in Dorian’s eyes. “So is the woman with whom you share your bed. Perhaps you’ll bear that in mind the next time you decide—”
“How can you evenmakethat comparison? Alexei Rogozin is the head of a demonic crime syndicate. A hellspawn thug who trafficks human souls and damns innocent people to hell. Jacinda saved Charlotte’s life—she nearly died because of it.”
Dorian’s hand tightened on his glass, the color draining from his face. “I don’t need the reminder.”
“Apparently you do.” Gabriel turned away from him, unable to bear the weight of his brother’s judgmental gaze. His scorn.
Why the fuck had he even come here? Why had he thought, for one stupid moment, that Dorian would understand? Would offer anything but criticism and rebuke?
“This was a bad idea,” Gabriel said. “Sorry to have disturbed you,highness.” He set down his glass and had just taken a step toward the door when he felt Dorian’s hand on his shoulder—a brief squeeze that stopped him in his tracks.
