Chapter 29

29

Gabriel was on the manor's downstairs terrace, where he always went to think, when Melly flew out the French doors.

"Please tell me you're not considering this."

Chuck lifted his head from where he'd been lying in a pool of sunlight, wagged his tail in greeting as Gabriel turned to face her. "What?"

"Uncle August told me." She stopped in front of him, hands on hips. Her charm bracelet glinted in the afternoon light. "Will. The ultimatum they handed you. It's BS. Tell me you're not even considering it."

He took a breath, released it. "I'll make sure the company is safe for you, no matter what."

She blew a raspberry, making Chuck woof in response. "Screw that. I meant, tell me you're not even considering the answer. Tell me you're only out here thinking up ways to persuade the High Family to let Leah in."

It made him smile, faintly. Of course she'd be on Leah's side.

He gave her a searching look. "Are you mad I didn't tell you she knew?"

"No. Because I already guessed." She laughed a little as she joined him at the railing, diverting to give Chuck a quick fuss. "C'mon, Gabriel. She never questioned why or how I'd show up from New Orleans so quickly, or any of the small magic I accidentally used. Besides." She leaned back, eyes on the landscaped gardens. "Leah can't lie for shit."

It startled him into a laugh.

She grinned up at him. "That's a nice sound. I've heard it more since she's been around." She slid her hand over the railing so she brushed his fingers. "You love her, don't you?"

He exhaled. Saying nothing, he faced the gardens, too. When he spoke, his voice was low, but strong as spelled steel. "Yes."

Melly's whoop made him start. "I'm so happy for you," she crowed. "And me. Leah's cool."

"For a human?"

"For anyone. Better than the legacy lovers that always primp when you walk into a room."

He ignored that, focusing on the more important point. "You've never had an issue with humans," he said. "The opposite, in fact. Why?"

"Why did you?"

He hesitated.

"Gabriel." Melly angled her body toward his, eyes suddenly serious in her young face. "I'm fourteen, almost fifteen. I can handle it."

She really was growing up on him. "Because of how Mother and Father died," he admitted. "And not just...the rebels." His shoulders rode a discomforted wave as he stumbled for words. "I felt like they'd chosen them. The humans."

"Over us?" Her voice was soft.

He moved his head in a small nod.

Sunlight dappled over features that spoke of both of their parents as his sister drew her bottom lip between her teeth, darting him a glance. "Can I tell you a secret?"

"Yes."

"I don't remember them." She didn't look at him now, focused on the gardens. "I feel guilty that I don't, and a little sad. But I don't have that connection with them. Everything you've told me, everything I've read or heard, it makes me proud to be their daughter. They dedicated their lives to helping others. But..." Her mouth pinched. "I just don't feel it."

He had no idea what to say. "I didn't know."

"I didn't want to tell you in case you, I don't know, thought less of me."

He covered her hand. "I would never think less of you."

"Not even when I blew the roof off with that potion?"

"Maybe then."

They both smiled.

Something churned inside him, an ocean he'd worked to keep inside. But as he looked at his sister, at the young adult she was becoming, Gabriel realized it was time to let it out. "Can I tell you a secret?"

"Always."

She meant that. He held the brilliance of that to him as he removed his hand from hers, gripped the railing. "I'm so damn mad at them."

"Mother and Father?"

"They were never around. They chose to leave you, to help other people instead of spending even a fraction of time with you."

"With us."

He shook that away. "And even worse—" His voice caught as the truth he'd tried to bury stuck in his throat. He felt Melly's hand slide onto his, drew strength from it. "Even worse," he continued, gruff, "was that they chose not to risk exposure and live for us." The words left him after a lifetime in the dark, leaving him raw and open. Somehow free.

A flock of birds passed overhead, their calls the only sound for several heartbeats. "You grew up alone, Gabriel," were his sister's first words, surprising him. "I had you, Uncle August." Her hand tightened on his. "You grew up alone, and with their disapproval when you tried to get their attention. Please," she said as he glanced at her, "you don't think Mrs. Q tells stories?"

He winced.

"I think it's okay to feel angry, hurt, that they chose everyone but you. In a way, they still chose reputation over family, even if they went against normal society to do it. And I love you for showing up for me , for trying to be the parent they never could. Even living with humans so you could demonstrate responsibility to our name." Her tone turned teasing. "Though that worked out for you, huh."

He smiled faintly as the wind caressed the tips of his hair. "Will says Leah only likes me because I'm a warlock."

"That's stupid. And you're not stupid, right?"

"You can't deny there'd be an allure." He paused, shook his head. "No. I think she might actually like me for being...me."

"Arrogant jackass with a marshmallow interior." Melly nudged his shoulder with her own. "So, you love her. You're obviously going to the High Family, right?"

"You aren't disappointed with me for potentially throwing away our legacy?"

"What legacy? The company?" She gestured between them. " We're our legacy, Gabriel. You and me, Uncle August, Mrs. Q. Chuck," she added with a laugh. "As long as you live up to that, I won't be disappointed."

"I love you, Melly."

"I love you, too." She grinned, bright and brilliant. "Now, c'mon. What's next?"

It had been five hours and nothing. Nada. Not a carrier pigeon or flying broom. No talking mirrors, either, and Leah had made sure to keep a compact nearby just in case.

Gabriel had said he'd come back but now he was with his own kind, maybe he'd decided to skip the awkward breakup conversation altogether. That or he'd been right about his uncle and had lost the company and it was too painful for him to face.

She didn't do patient. Sitting on her ass was driving her nuts, even if her body still felt weak. She'd made it downstairs, at least, lying on the couch and stroking Delilah, who lay on Leah's belly, her other hand on Rosie's head where the sprocker curled on the floor. Louie nestled between her legs and Sylvie stretched on the back of the couch. Even Ralph had shown his support by venturing forward to nudge Leah's hand before streaking back to his hiding place.

"Get used to it, gang," she murmured. "This is it now."

Just her and her animals. Sounded perfect.

With a sigh, she turned off the TV and stared at the ceiling. What was this? She wasn't the type to sit around. She went out and got what she wanted, knocking down every wall she came across. In some ways, her fear of rejection had become her drive to succeed—and wasn't that a kicker to realize? She might've put up her own walls but everything she'd gone after, she'd got.

The question was, what did she want now?

Gabriel. Every screwed-up, annoying, loving inch of him. She was even willing to brave the twisted society that came with. The trouble was two hearts were involved here. He had to bend toward her as well. And she doubted her warlock, forged in discipline, would ever bend that much.

"Leah."

She choked on the chocolate-covered pretzel she'd just crunched down on, her chest seizing as she coughed. The dogs leaped off her, scrambling to greet the owner of that wonderfully sinful voice. By the time she'd got her breath back and had risen from the couch, he'd petted them all, even little Louie, who'd deigned to leave his comfortable position.

Gabriel's face was achingly familiar as she took in every inch, trying and failing to read his expression. He wore a suit still, perfectly pristine and gorgeous.

And she wore a tattered hoodie, and sweatpants with the word juicy on the ass.

"Hi," she said for lack of anything better. She shifted her weight, swallowing down the nerves that wanted to flutter. "I didn't know if you'd come back."

"I said I would."

"And Goodnights always keep their promises." It was said with some affection, a tinge of longing.

If he caught it, he didn't let on. "I wanted to talk to you. About Chuck."

Leah's mind halted. "You...came back to talk to me about Chuck?"

"Yes. I want to adopt him."

She could almost hear the high-pitched whine of her ego deflating. Or was that her soul crying? Could be either. "Okay."

"Melly already adores him. No matter how long he has left, he's going to get as much love as he can stand."

He was staring at her in a way that made her feel like she should be getting some kind of message. She wasn't.

"Okay... Will that be cash or credit?" she asked, seriously confused and not a little pissed.

His throat moved as he swallowed. "I'm trying to say...you were right."

"I usually am."

He ignored her. "Blocking out something I love in case it leaves me isn't possible. Not when loving is worth the risk of pain."

A glimmer of something danced across her mind. It clutched in her belly, painful, raw. Hope. "You love Chuck?"

"I do."

Her throat constricted but she forced the words out. "Only Chuck?"

He moved then, coming forward to clasp her arms. One tug and she was against him, her hands pressing into his hips as she fought for balance. A joke. She'd never found her balance again after that first night on the balcony.

Those intensely green eyes scanned her face as he confessed, "I never had a chance, Leah. I was a breath away from falling for you since the moment you first punched Laurence."

She hiccupped a small laugh.

"I didn't want to admit it. As if that would make it hurt less. So, I pushed you away like a fool. Like a dick," he corrected, making her laugh again, stronger this time. "I was the weak one. Blaming it on your being a human, the obstacles we'd face, the chance I could lose you. I lost you anyway and it fucking gutted me. It made me realize I would sooner have one moment of life with you than years alone." His hands tightened on her arms a fraction, as did all the muscles in his body. "I don't know... I honestly don't know how someone as bright and warm as you could love someone like me, but I'm willing to spend a lifetime learning how to make you smile." He paused, and the edge of uncertainty just about killed her as he traced her face with his gaze. "Leah," he said, voice unsteady. "I love you."

Emotion burst inside her like fireworks, joy bubbling into laughter that wanted to spill out. "I love you, too," she choked out. "I love you, Gabe. You're everything I want. Everything. You're generous and loving and just enough of a dick so you're not perfect." His rare dimple danced. "You make me happy. You make me feel chosen. Just like I will always choose you." She watched the relief, the elation rise before she hauled him down to her, crushing her mouth to his.

When he broke the kiss, he pressed his forehead to hers. "I'm sorry it took me so long."

"It was worth the wait." She breathed him in for several seconds before forcing herself to say it. To burst the bubble. "But are you sure? What about—?"

He shifted to kiss her, silencing the words. "The second part of my plan."

"There's a plan? What am I saying? Of course, there's a plan." Leah grinned up at him when he gave her an arch look. It helped mask the flicker of sudden fear. "So? Tell me."

He squeezed once before he explained what had happened in the board meeting, his uncle's PA's betrayal and worse, the bomb he'd dropped.

The aftershock rippled through Leah as she dropped to the couch on weak legs. "They know." She didn't know what to feel. Except, "You could've denied it. It would've been the safer, sensible thing."

"Please. I'm a rebel."

It made her smile as she knew he knew it would. She reached up and drew him down to sit next to her, so close his knee pressed hers. She kept her grip on his hand. "The company..."

He stroked his thumb down her palm. "Melly and I talked. About a lot. Including how my parents might have loved us, but they loved each other and their cause more. Their name. Their legacy. And that sucks," he said, using a word she'd never thought he'd say. "But being in that fire with you made me realize how far a person will go for someone they love. It doesn't excuse my parents for abandoning us. But it means they were flawed. They weren't perfect, and they shouldn't have expected me to be. I have to start living my life for me. If that means I'm out of the company, so be it."

"No, Gabe." She shook her head, gripping his hand in denial. "It means everything."

"You mean more," he said simply. But even under the truth of that, his inner turmoil trembled through, enough that Leah inched closer, pressing her thigh against his.

"We won't let it come to that," she vowed.

He gave her a grateful look but didn't comment.

For now, she moved on. "So, August gave you the choice." She searched his face, nerves a lead ball in her stomach. "Does that mean you're going to the High Family?"

"No." He let go of her hand only to cup her face, his own grave. "We are. If you'll be by my side."

Knowing how scared he must be for her to face his worst fears made her fall a little more in love with him. If the High Family ruled against her, it would destroy him. All her life she'd feared rejection but this time, she welcomed the chance to face it. She wouldn't be taken from this man so easily.

She leaned into his touch and put her heart into her answer. "Always."