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However, Gabriel Priest has the ability to bring me to my knees with just a look, and I hate feeling that way.
“If this is what the Fated Bond looks like, then I don’t want it either,” Xenia’s murmured voice comes from behind me and I smile wistfully before turning to face her.
“Valentine is getting something ready so we can break the Bond. He’s… he’s going to…” I can’t find the words and feel tears clouding my vision, so I hug my arms closer to my body and dig my nails deep into my skin.
“It feels like my heart is slowly being ripped in two, Xen,” I say, sliding down to the floor and drawing my knees to my chest. “It feels like I can’t breathe when I see him, and when he leaves, it feels like I can’t breathe without him. I hate this, I fucking hate it.”
She joins me on the floor and comforts me like I comforted her last night, rubbing circles on my back as I finally break down in someone’s arms. I’m so tired of acting strong and keeping it all in; I’m so exhausted from pretending Gabriel doesn’t affect me.
At least if I don’t see him, things will be better. I’ll be able to sever our ties and leave with my hatred for him back in full force.
There’s no place for a hunter at the side of a Vampire King, especially if that hunter’s family has killed his entire bloodline.
Xenia releases me from her hold and places her hands on my shoulders. “Feel better?” she asks with a tight smile and I can do nothing but nod.
“I’ll go take a shower. Maybe I’ll feel better,” I say, then get to my feet and head to the bathroom.
But as I stand there, holding Gabriel’s shirt to my chest, I know I won’t feel better.
GABRIEL
I’m standing outside one of the many hotels Fenriz owns, with Valentine at my side as we wait for Andreas. He has news for us concerning Katherine’s father, Alexander, and thought we should know since the fucker is a common enemy.
It’s been almost a month since they attacked us and things have been deadly quiet on their front. It can’t be a good thing that they’re being so silent, but after tonight, things should be better since our estate in DC is ready for us.
Everything, right down to the tomb, has been moved to that mansion… everything but Katherine. I’ve kept my distance from her as I promised, but on the occasional evening, I find myself at the foot of her bed, staring down at her as she sleeps.
As much as I know this will hurt, it will be better for both of us. Valentine says that he’ll help her move across the country and has a few guards stationed to look out for her. He still feels like he needs to do this because of who her mother was, so I won’t stop him.
Who would have thought that we would end up like this? My revenge was supposed to be drawn out just so it can hurt her, but I ended up feeling things for her that I shouldn’t. Hours I’ve laid awake in bed, wondering if it’s just because she’s a forbidden commodity and to this day, I still don’t have the answer.
“It’s weird how some of the members and prospects have grown attached to Kat,” Valentine suddenly says, crossing his arms and smirking.
I shrug. “She’s been teaching them about the weapons and artillery the hunters use. Of course, she would grow on them,” I say. She surprised me one day by asking me if the others would appreciate what she had to tell them and since then, my men have grown to respect her.
It pisses me off knowing what Valentine is doing right now, but I ignore him and what he’s implying.
“It does still astound me that she’s left that part of her behind after training for years to kill me. Makes me worry how easily her loyalty can be swayed with a little bit of truth; who’s to say she won’t come after us when she finds out what you really did to her mother –”
“Here he comes,” Valentine announces, cutting me off. I can’t help but smirk at his reaction because, although Valentine and Giselle loved one another, there are a few buried secrets he would die to protect.
The second I look at Andreas, I can tell something is up. The Lycan has a faraway look in his eyes, but as quickly as I see it, he slips it underneath with anger.
“Priest,” he says, shaking my hand, then Valentine’s. “I hear that you’ll be Pres when this fuckhead leaves tomorrow since he accepted the position as King. Congratulations.”
Valentine chuckles. “Yeah, it’s going to be difficult shoes to fill, but you can rely on me as much as you relied on Gabe,” he says, nodding at Andreas, who grins.
“I’ll make this quick. We have spotted Alexander just outside Bakersfield, and they are actively heading this way. Do you think you can handle it without my help?”
I frown when he asks me this, knowing that he’s waited a long time to have his revenge on Katherine’s father for what he did to Kalea, his mate. But now he can’t help with this? The fuck?
He sees the look on my face and sighs. “Fenriz and Umiko are expecting their first child soon and there are… other things happening within the pack. He’s just returned home from Germany with two literal feral women that were given to him, so we kind of have our hands full with trying to tame them.”
“Ah. Duly noted; send Fenriz my regards and pass the congratulations onto him from us,” I say, nodding then getting on my Harley just as he walks back inside the hotel.
Valentine shakes his head. “You would think killing the man who brutalized his mate would be more important than some feral women,” he says, putting on his helmet again.
I watch as he speeds away, knowing that he’ll be heading to Void to handle the books on my last night in Vegas.
