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Now his words made so much sense. I trusted every word he sent with the weight of hundreds of years.
I texted him back:
“I’m in Târgovi?te. I’m driving to the castle. Alone.”
He sent another text:
“A car will come and get you. Thank you, my love.”
In half an hour, a black Mercedes stopped next to the building. I handed the rented car’s keys to one of Gabriel’s people while he opened the car's back door. As I entered, I saw a couple of black SUVs close by. For a second, I wondered why they were there, but far greater matters occupied my mind.
Chapter 7
The drive to Bra?ov was quiet. I didn’t recognize the driver, but I came to distinguish vampires from regular people, and the man definitely fit the supernatural description. I looked at the same view. I’ve seen it several times before. Each impression built upon the other bestowed my eyes with a greater fondness for nature’s artistry.
Once we arrived at the castle, everything looked the same except maybe for the fretful anticipation. I still wasn’t sure how I would react to seeing Gabriel again. Was I going to feel sadder? Disillusioned? Distant? The different versions of Gabriel swirled in my brain, but none defined the continuum of the man I loved. Just the many facets of suffering he had to go through to be here with me. Guilt suddenly gripped my heart. Another heavy emotion I began harboring since the psychic visions. How many more were to arise underneath the burden of my existence?
I got out of the car, and to my surprise, Gabriel already waited for me at the front doors, alongside Troy and several other vampires. The official welcome made me feel like some emissary designated to bring good news or at least the hope of it. Once Gabriel made eye contact with me, he beamed his radiant smile. The one I could never have enough of. Suddenly, nothing else mattered. Not the past, nor our shaky future, or Smaranda, or Vedoma. It was just us in this world. In this world of uncertainty where our love was the only reliable part. A predestined love. A fated love destined to bloom in the driest of places––throughout history. Though I still had the freedom of an unsealed fate, I knew it was but a matter of time before I entwined my fate with his. We were meant to be together. How we would reach, it depended only on us and our will to vanquish the supreme evil. Together we were stronger beyond time. We defeated our enemies in the same way. As one. We just had to believe and put our minds to it. In no time, we would be the happy family we deserved: Gabriel, Athena, and I.
Within the next moment, I found myself in Gabriel’s embrace.
“Welcome home, Milady,” Gabriel said, leaning his head onto mine.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I’m so, so sorry.” I pushed myself deeper into his embrace.
“I should be the one to apologize for scaring you and Athena. You have nothing to be sorry for.” Gabriel searched my face, but I burrowed deeper into his chest.
“I have. I do…I am.” My eyes began staining his shirt with tears.
“Did something happen to Athena?” he asked.
“No, she’s safe with my parents,” I said.
“Then what is wrong?” He raised my chin and gazed into my eyes, trying to figure out what I was talking about. Even if I wished, I couldn’t hide the pain. It was too much to bear.
“I want to forget, Gabriel. Make me forget, and maybe, you can forget with me.”
“You may go. You are excused,” Gabriel said to his retinue in a stern manner, then he lifted me into his arms and went supersonic. I didn’t know where he went. I simply closed my eyes and let him. When I opened them again, we were in the bedroom. He sat me on the bed.
“You must be tired, my love,” Gabriel said. “You should rest. We can talk later.”
I grabbed his wrist. “No, I’m not tired. I want to forget about everything. Please help me forget.”
He turned to me and asked, “How would my love wish to forget? A glass of whiskey might help you relax. I’ll pour you some.”
“I want you to bite me.” I tugged at his wrist.
“You must be jesting.” He furrowed his brows.
“I am not. I want you to bite me, for I wish to forget about everything else while being in your arms.”
“It is the most preposterous idea you’ve had to date.” He took my hand and kissed it. “A good night’s sleep would calm these new spirits.” Gabriel began walking toward the door.
I ran and embraced him from behind. “Please. Grant me this wish. Just once.”
“Why?”
“I wish to savor our love…to relish in the awe of who you’ve become. For me.” I embraced him tighter.
