Chapter 23

23

Leah idly swished a cloth over the clean bar, eyeing Gabriel, who sat in a booth with Bastian and Henry. It was karaoke night, Lord help them all, and a man clutching a beer bottle swayed along to his choice of Take That's "A Million Love Songs." None of the men even looked up from their conversation.

What were they talking about? Potions, spells, society gossip? Bastian and Gabriel weren't exactly similar, while Henry seemed to be a chameleon, able to slip into whatever skin suited his purposes best.

"What do you suppose that's about?" Leah posed the question to Emma as her friend built a Witch's Heart for a customer. The blackberry liqueur shimmered in the martini glass, topped by a dramatic smoking mist.

Emma handed the drink to the customer, accepting the money before running a harried hand through her hair. "What?" She followed Leah's pointed gaze, winced. "Henry's here again?"

"Pretty sure he's got Tia bugged. He seems to know exactly when she's not around." Leah smiled automatically at another customer and dropped the cloth to pour two large glasses of red wine. Transaction complete, she got back to eyeballing the men. "You haven't told her he's been in?"

"It hasn't come up."

"Same." Leah tapped her fingers. "Are we bad friends?"

"Probably."

"Should we kick him out?"

"Probably."

Leah grimaced. "You're sure she'd have a problem with him being here?"

"Tia's not exactly rational when it comes to Henry." Emma gnawed her bottom lip. "But he's Bastian's friend. Puts me in an awkward situation."

"Whereas it's fine for the human to kick the all-powerful warlock out?"

Emma just shrugged.

"Fine. I'll go over there. But you owe me."

"I'll pick up extra shifts volunteering this week."

"Done." Leah looked back at the booth. "Seriously, what do you think they're talking about?"

"What song they're going to sing together?"

Leah let out a snort of laughter as Take That man finally finished and the next ballad cued up for a drunken twosome. She'd heard the friends arguing about whether to brave the stage or not earlier. Now, three drinks in and buzz firmly on, they wrapped their arms around each other's waists and belted out an Adele number.

Emma winced, tried to hide it. "I never get why anyone would do that," she commented. "Even drunk."

Leah nudged her hip against the bar as an idea formed. She considered the men, then turned to her friend. "I bet I could get Gabriel up there."

Emma scoffed. "Not even you can get Gabriel Goodnight to do karaoke."

"All I'll have to do is ask. He's a marshmallow when he cares about someone."

"I don't believe it."

"Bet you a dollar."

"A dollar?"

"And whoever loses has to kick Henry out."

Emma's gaze was full of pity. "You're biting off more than you can chew."

"Have you ever known me to fail?"

Doubt flickered briefly before she nodded. "No, I'm calling it. There's no way. We have a bet."

They soberly shook hands.

Leah reached up, tugged the band out of her hair so her curls fell loose across her shoulders. She slipped the band over her wrist and shot a cocky grin at Emma. "Watch the master work."

"Uh-huh."

With Emma's skepticism powering her, Leah moved around the counter toward the booth. Purpose drove her steps. It might seem like a bit of silliness, but for Leah, it began and ended with revealing Gabriel's sweet side. While her friends had accepted she was sleeping with him, they didn't like him. And worse, Gabriel didn't expect any different.

After the story he'd told her a couple of nights ago, she understood why he kept himself apart; he was used to being judged or rejected. Better to reject everyone first, to act like you didn't care.

She refused to leave it like that. He deserved to be seen for all his facets. Especially when she was...gone.

Emma would be the first domino to topple in Leah's campaign.

When he noticed her approaching, he slid out of the booth to stand. Society manners, she supposed. She couldn't say she hated it.

"Hi, men," she greeted, halting at Gabriel's side. She wished she could lean into him, wrap an arm around his waist. Even though he'd assured her that he wasn't ashamed of their relationship, she knew it wouldn't be smart to openly claim him in front of Henry. Still, she wished.

Bastian sent her a two-fingered salute as Henry nodded in acknowledgment.

"Couldn't stay away?" she directed at the latter in an arch tone.

To his credit, he winced.

"I asked him to come," Gabriel surprised her by saying. The back of his hand brushed hers and her stomach dipped like a teenager with a crush. "You're working the late shift, so I thought we could...hang out while I wait."

She cocked her head, at more than his testing use of the human phrase. "Wait?"

"To walk you home. It's not safe."

Bastian plonked his elbows on the table, framing his face with his hands. "Awww."

Baffled, Leah wasn't sure how to respond. Before she could settle on an action, he decided for her, clasping her hand, lifting it to his mouth. He kissed her knuckles before adding, "You look tired."

Amusement at the blunt statement trembled into a sweet ache as he lowered their hands but kept them joined.

Are you ashamed to be with me, Gabriel?

He'd really heard her.

God, her heart might spasm too hard and kill her. She knew he wouldn't be doing this in front of people he didn't trust, but the gesture still slayed her.

"Well, well," Henry murmured. His eyes were sharp as he studied them, lifting his beer for a sip.

Okay. Awkward.

She angled her head to Gabriel, pretending not to be affected. "I, uh, need you to sign up for karaoke."

Henry choked on his beer, chest convulsing as Bastian hooted a laugh.

Gabriel didn't move. "No."

"Please?"

"No."

"For me?"

"How would getting up there and humiliating myself be for you?"

"Because you'd do anything for me?"

One perfect eyebrow slid up an inch.

"Wouldn't hurt you to pretend," she grumbled. Then, because it was right there , added, "I thought you liked playing pretend."

His eyes heated to a simmer.

"Go on, Gabriel." Henry's encouragement held a touch of hoarseness as he regained his breath. His grin was wide. "I'll help you pick the perfect song."

"AC/DC?" Bastian asked.

"That or Phil Collins."

Gabriel ignored them. He leaned down so his murmured words were only for her. "Why are you asking me to do this?"

Leah pursed her lips. So low her voice wouldn't travel, she admitted, "I want Emma to like you."

"Why?"

"Because she's my friend."

"So?"

"So, I want her to like you."

"Why?"

Her eyes narrowed. "Don't make me hit you, Goodnight." At his perplexed expression, she couldn't stop the wave of affectionate sympathy. He was so obtuse sometimes. "I want them to see who you are."

"A karaoke singer."

"No." The word came out on a laugh. She tugged on his jacket, pulling him down even closer. "As a man who'd do anything for those he cares for." Awkwardness swamped her as the words left her mouth. Shit. She found her next breath difficult as he studied her, the green of his eyes vivid even in low lighting. "Um. That is... If you do care for me. A little."

This close, she saw every micro-movement in expression. "This is important to you?"

"Yes." She lifted her hand to cup his cheek, unable to stop herself. "I know you don't care how people see you, but I don't want anyone to think of you as the Warlock of Contempt. I want them to see you."

"And the best way is karaoke."

She huffed a small laugh, her thumb smoothing over the hint of stubble that had grown in throughout the day. "Maybe."

He was quiet for a long moment, the only noise the clink of glasses, the murmur of conversations, and the violent thump of her heart.

When he sighed, that heart leaped.

But five minutes later, as Gabriel reluctantly climbed on stage to the enthusiastic applause of Bastian and Henry, it was all she could do to hold her jittering nerves together. Oh, God. What if he was terrible? What if he was about to make a fool of himself?

"If they make fun of him, I'm going to sic my dogs on them." Leah glared at Bastian and Henry. "No! I'm going to call Tia and sic her on them."

"I can't believe you got him up there." Emma blinked fast, as if that might make Gabriel disappear. "I seriously underestimated you. Or him." Speculation crept into her face. "There's more to this than karaoke, isn't there?"

Leah barely heard her. Please be okay, please be okay , she chanted inside her head.

Then the first notes of the song he'd selected came through the speakers. Leah froze, processed, and broke into a grin so wide, it hurt her cheeks. "Unbelievable."

Even Emma laughed as Gabriel stepped up to the mic. He didn't sway or bounce his feet, just stood there tall and elegant as he waited for his cue. And when it came, he leant to the mic, hands linked behind his back, and politely said in a British monotone perfect for the song: "Tequila."

"All right," Emma murmured in Leah's ear as Gabriel didn't react to the cheers from the bar. "Maybe there's more to him than meets the eye."

Leah just grinned.

Gabriel didn't feel as at home as he'd expected as he claimed the seat in the conference room at Goodnight's Remedies. He'd left Leah asleep in his bed, nudging Delilah off his foot as she'd plopped on it when he'd stopped to brew coffee—he had the hang of it now—petting Rosie as she'd pranced over and then Louie as he toddled behind. He'd dressed in one of his suits, the act like donning armor.

A long-distance portal meant cold sweat was still drying down the small of his back, but at least his temples had stopped pounding as he faced his uncle and the rest of the board down the long rectangular table.

All heads turned to August as he began. "I know we're all busy, so I'll get right to it. The board has asked you to come here to express congratulations at how well you've been doing in Chicago."

Gabriel absorbed that without expression. When he'd been summoned unexpectedly, he'd assumed trouble, that the board suspected Leah knew the truth. He threaded his fingers together to hide his relief.

"We're all so impressed," James said, adjusting his body as he sat forward. "I'm not sure I could've gone this long with barely any magic."

"It's been an adjustment."

At Gabriel's dry comment, laughter rippled around the room. The atmosphere was relaxed, pleased. Strangely, Gabriel felt stirrings of resentment at their approval.

"Will even says you've learned how to cook?" another witch asked from across the table.

"Cook is a bit of a stretch." He glanced at his uncle's assistant, who stood unobtrusively in the corner, a pad and pen taking minutes at his side. "I can use a toaster." He allowed a moment of self-satisfaction at that fact.

"And how are you finding mixing with humans?" Fiona, a witch who'd been on the board with his parents, watched him with interest. "In the past, you've always been vocal about wanting to keep your distance."

And the company was keen to increase their human employees, encourage more melding for expansion purposes. They were clearly looking for an indication that he could follow through on that.

He shifted, barely aware of the telling gesture. "It's been an experience," he said carefully. "A valuable one. Now I've lived there, my understanding of them is clearer. They are, after all, very similar to us. But," he added, without thinking, "also more."

From the head of the table, August raised his eyebrows. "More?"

Fuck. Gabriel rushed to cover the slip. "We're dependent on our magic," he explained. "Because they don't have magic, they're forced to be more resourceful. Creative. Determined. Stubborn." Leah's face came to mind. "Definitely stubborn. And brave. Kind." Realizing the board was staring, he cut himself off. His cheeks felt hot.

"Sounds like someone has been wooed by the humans," Peter, a warlock who'd been voted in ten years ago, said with a smile. It wasn't snide, but it still made Gabriel desperately want to hunch in his chair.

"He makes a point." August sat back, gazing at Gabriel over steepled hands. "You forget: humans are not altogether altruistic, just as we aren't. They can be manipulative and grasping, out for money or power." He paused. "Your...friend from the shelter, for example. Leah."

Every nerve, every atom, in Gabriel's body stilled. "Excuse me?"

"We want to help humans here; that is the whole raison d'être of this company. But let's not get swept away. Leah used your connections to organize a charity event to further her own ends."

"No."

"I'm delighted you've learned from this experience," August went on, rolling over Gabriel's denial. "But keep it in perspective. Don't romanticize them."

Gabriel couldn't believe his uncle was lecturing to him, especially in front of the board. Many of whom sported uncomfortable expressions as if they didn't want to witness this, either. "I'm not."

"That isn't what I've observed or been told."

Gabriel's gaze winged to Will, who had the decency to wince, before returning to his uncle.

He made an effort to keep his voice calm. "I believe the terms of the will have been met. My experiences will further my role when I take over from you as CEO in two weeks."

"And your human friend?"

Gabriel kept his eyes steady. "Will be left behind."

Another witch who'd only been voted in last year spoke up. "Glad to hear it. You don't want to lose sight of what's important because of a manipulative human out for anything she can get."

The window behind the witch shattered without warning, throwing glass in every direction. The closest board members yelped, gabbling a barrier incantation as shards rained down on them. From where he'd leaped up, August gaped at Gabriel.

Mortification ran through him like a river. It lapped at his feet as he stood, smoothing a hand down his tie. Only those closest to him would see that it trembled.

"Apologies," he said through the groaning ache in his temples. He nodded at them all, registering their shock alongside his own. "I will see you in two weeks."

If they still voted him in after that display. Panic flapped in his chest and he barely made it out of the room before bracing a shaking hand against the wall. He bent his head, breathing deeply.

He needed to get a handle on himself. That outburst was unacceptable. Even if the insult had made his vision go red, even if the lecture from August had been beyond humiliating. He should have better control than to create such a scene.

Especially since it could lose him everything he'd ever worked for.