“Clearly it’s notjusther, as you promised,” Steele bit back at Gabe, tearing his gaze away from us to land on him. His attitude wassounnecessary, and I felt my skin prickling. “Three angels and a creature. Why are they here? How did theyallget into our training grounds, Gabriel?”
The insinuation that we were a threat caused my spine to stiffen, but I put a reassuring hand on Ronan’s chest and stepped forward. The gazes of those surrounding us snapped from the two men back to me. This was my fault. I couldn’t allow Gabe to bear the brunt of Steele’s wrath for me.
I spoke honestly, though I was a little flustered from all of the attention on me. “We left Alfemir, using the portal to come here. There was a lot going on as we left, and we didn’t have time to?—”
Gabe shook his head at my floundering before his long legs closed the distance between us, cutting off my words as his large frame appeared in front of me and took up every inch of my view. “You don’t need to prove yourself to any of these people, Little Star.” I let out a small exhale of relief as his rough hand cupped my jaw and he looked over me in concern.
“She needs to prove herself to me,” Steele quickly cut in snidely before rumbling, “or do you forget your place, Gabriel?”
Gabe’s jaw clenched before he whipped his head to the side. “Could you just give me a fucking minute to figure this out, Steele? She doesn’t need to stand trial in front of everyone.”
He didn’t seem to give a damn about Steele’s harsh reaction, focusing on my comfort instead. I shivered when a familiar hand slid over my back, and I knew it was Ronan. I found myself trapped between the two men’s heat, my cheeks flushing with the realization that I didn’t hate it.
It didn’t escape my notice that Ronan’s action was protective and possessive in nature, but it didn’t seem to bother Gabe. Or he was damn good at ignoring people’s general presence. Hiseyes didn’t drift from my face once or harden at Ronan’s move. The intensity he held for me took my breath away.
“Ignore Steele,” Gabe breathed out, brushing his thumb across my jaw. “He knows exactly why you’re here. I’m just glad you came…” He shook his head as his eyes widened. “I can hardly believe it.”
I felt pride surge through me that I didn’t have the time to feel before. Ihaddone it. I made the choice to leave, and no matter what came next, no one could take that away from me. It was the first step toward living my life forme.
“It was the right move. I couldn’t stay there any longer, my father, he…” I attempted to explain softly as his gaze darted across my face, as if just seeing the shadow of the bruises I had tried to cover up with makeup. I saw fury and sadness in his gaze as he nodded, seeming to understand that I couldn’t talk about it at the moment, before his gaze moved to Ronan.
“And you brought friends, I see,” he gently segued.
“Ronan,” the Beast Tamer behind me introduced, his voice firm and hard, but not completely unfriendly. “And you’re Gabriel Astor—aren’t you supposed to be dead?”
KIERAN
My jaw dropped at Ronan’s blunt statement, but it shouldn’t have surprised me that he knew who Gabriel was when I thought about it. We had all gone to the same core-curriculum school, and Gabe was closer in age to Ronan than me. For some reason, I just hadn’t connected the two prior.
“Yes,” Gabe admitted with a nod, continuing to hold my gaze as he answered Ronan. “That’s what we needed everyone to believe.”
Ronan let out a deep breath, and I could feel his eyes probing into the side of my face. With the way he’d made his presence known and touched me, I knew Ronan was putting it together that Gabe was clearly the one I told him I had relations with.
“And is he…okay?” Gabe asked skeptically as he gestured behind me, saving the day with that uncomfortable moment for me. I followed his gaze to Bastian on the ground.
Ronan let out a deep, rumbling laugh before muttering, “It depends on your definition of okay, and you shouldreallyclarify whether you’re asking about his emotional or physical well-being.”
My gut reaction was to laugh at Ronan’s quip, but I swallowed it as I remembered the parts of Bastian’s life he’d shared with me. It was really fucking tragic, honestly. I was sure there was more to unpack there, and something in me decided he could really use a friend before I offered him my hand to come through the portal with us.
Gabe’s attention was fully on Bastian now, who was still spread out on the ground and looking completely at peace. I couldn’t help but shake my head as a small smile lifted the corner of my lips at his antics. I would’ve assumed he was asleep by the serene look on his face, but something told me he was fully aware of everything going on around him at all times. There was this energy to the Caster that seemed to surround him at all times, one filled with power and vibrancy—like he was always ready to pounce. My eyebrows rose as a sobering thought hit me. I supposed that likely came from being constantly in survival mode while imprisoned.
“Bastian?” I questioned, and he glanced at me, offering a subdued, yet curious look. I shrugged as he closed his eyes once again and began to hum a song under his breath that I didn’t recognize. Turning my eyes to Gabe, I gave him the best answer I could. “Yes, he’s okay. I think so at least.”
“That’s a prison uniform,” Gabe stated, his eyes running the length of Bastian, and I winced. How had I already forgotten he was wearing that. Ireallydidn’t have a good way to explain that one. I mean, even to me the truth sounded a bit…unrealistic.
How could I explain that I was forced to listen to his sad life story and then felt so bad for him that I instantly agreed to the very thing he wanted? Despite him being an escaped convict…I nibbled on my bottom lip. Yeah, that wasn’t going to roll off the tongue wellat all.
“She brought a convict into the Rebellion camp?” Steele butted in with a bewildered tone and wide eyes.
Fuck.
A sigh puffed over my lips, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. There was that damned overbearing brute again, growling out things that could’ve really been taken down a notch or two for the sake of formalities and manners.
Was he raised with wolves or something?
Steele’s demanding question had me tensing as he appeared next to Gabe. “I gave you long enough for a reunion. It’s time to give me the answers I’m owed.”
Owed? Who did this guy think he was?
