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Gabriel’s snarl was more animal than human.
I stiffened my spine. It was the truth, damn it. I wasnotgoing to apologize.
For a time, we drove in silence. Gabriel stared straight ahead, a muscle jumping in his cheek.
“There’s one thing I don’t understand,” he said at last. “Why did you keep running? I let you go. I promised the decision was yours, and I meant it—the blood bond, us mating... You could’ve trusted me that much, at least.”
He doesn’t know.
I’d told myself he didn’t, that if he knew he’d have stopped them, but I hadn’t been sure. Maybe he’d just washed his hands of me. After all, he was a rich, powerful Kral, and I’d walked out on him without even saying goodbye.
“Someone found out about us,” I said. “A vampire, maybe more than one. They’ve tried to kill me three times.”
“What?”
We were in one of the small, pretty towns that dot Long Island. Gabriel swerved to the curb and slammed on the brakes. Tomas continued past, stopping a little further up the street.
Gabriel shut off the car and turned to me, his expression pure predator. “Why the fuck didn’t you let me know?” His phone was on a small shelf between us. Before I could answer, it lit up. He tapped it and barked, “I need a minute here, Tomas.”
Gabriel unbuckled first his seat belt and then mine. He dragged me toward him so that we faced each other across the console.
Green eyes blazed into mine. “You should’ve got hold of me. It’s because of me you were targeted. If someone was threatening you, the least you could’ve done is contact me so I could stake the motherfucker.”
I shoved at his chest, but it was like pushing on solid rock. “I didn’t know what to do, damn it. They didn’t just threaten me, they threatened my family. If I returned to you, if I even tried to contact you, they’d kill them one by one, starting with my nonna first.” My voice broke.
“Who?” He tightened his grip on my shoulders. “I want names.”
“That’s just it,” I returned, fighting back tears. “I don’t know. The calls are always anonymous, and the voice is disguised. It’s just this weird computer voice—you know, like a robocall. And the vampires always attacked after dark, so I didn’t even get a good look at them. I’m not sure how I got away, actually.”
“They were toying with you.” His eyes closed. Beneath my hands, his heart beat heavily. “You could’ve died, damn it. And I wouldn’t have known until it was too late.” His Adam’s apple bobbed in a noisy swallow. “You could’ve died.”
“But I didn’t.”
“So you kept on the move.”
I dashed the tears away. “I kept thinking they’d give up.” I moved a shoulder in a helpless shrug. “I mean, how long were you going to wait around for me, anyway?”
“They would’ve never given up. To a vampire, you’re prey, and they like to stalk their prey—especially the old ones, the vampires who’ve forgotten they were ever human. It’s a fucking game to them.”
A chill ran down my spine. Ihadfelt like prey. Outgunned and outsmarted every step of the way, like a mouse being toyed with by a cat.
Except it was multiple cats with unlimited resources at their disposal, and I was just a single poor, puny mouse.
Gabriel buried his face in my hair. “They would’ve never given up,” he repeated in a raw voice. “Especially since they know that killing you would gut me. Because Mila? I would have waited for you forever. That part of me is all vampire. When we mate, it’s for life.”
My heart stumbled. My arms came tightly around him. “Ididmiss you. Every single fucking day. I knew it was a mistake almost as soon as I left. But then the threats started… I swear, if I could’ve come home, I would’ve.”
“Gods,” he gritted. “I could kill Mraz right now. And my father, too. I know he was behind this. Mraz doesn’t make a move without his say-so.”
I stroked his nape. I didn’t know what to say, because he was probably right. I’d wondered myself if it had been Karoly Kral who’d sent the vampires to kill me.
It’s why I’d been reluctant to tell Gabriel the whole story. Part of me had been afraid Gabriel wouldn’t believe me, and the other part hadn’t wanted to hurt him. Because if Karoly Kral was that against his son mating with me, where did that leave us?
“All right. All right.” Gabriel dragged in a breath and pulled back to meet my eyes. “Promise me you won’t run away. That you’ll give me a chance to work this out. That you’ll giveusa chance. And I don’t mean because you accepted that thrice-damned blood bond.”
I nodded. The lump in my throat had grown larger, but I knew he needed to hear the words.
“I promise,” I said in ragged tones.
