Fuck, the possibility that Gabriel was involved in this whole mess hadn’t even occurred to me. Too caught up in my own feelings to think of anything else. He’d been there for the first two attacks, was on the scene pretty quickly for the second two, and now here? And to top it all off, he was part fucking fae.
But as much as I hated him for lying about so much, for making me feel like I couldn’t trust who I was deep inside, those same instincts told me that wecouldtrusthim. That he had nothing to do with the attack on Callum or the others.
I didn’t say any of that out loud, because what the fuck did I know where Gabriel was concerned?
Axel said it for me. “I don’t think he’s involved, though. And Max trusts him. The police would have checked into his background. They’d know all about his fae heritage because even part-fae need to be registered.”
“I agree,” Falon added. “I don’t get that vibe from him.” He cocked an eyebrow at me. “I don’t know him as well as you appear to, but I trust him as much as I need to find out who poisoned Callum.”
“How is he?” I asked, ignoring the rest of his sentence. I should’ve asked as soon as I saw him. “Any change?”
Falon shook his head. “No. But at least he hasn’t got any worse.”
It was small comfort, but it wassomething.
Falon looked as eager to talk about it as I was about Gabriel, so I changed the subject. “What now?”
“Since Max and Mase are here now,” Axel said, lips twitching when I glared at him, “I suggest we go have a chat. No sense us both doing the same thing when we can work together.”
So much for changing the subject.
I’d lost sight of them since they’d left the arch, too busy trying not to lose my shit in the middle of a now-packed club.
Goddess, when had it got so busy?
I didn’t care how much Axel denied it, he seemed to read my mind as easily as if I had my thoughts on display these days. “I haven’t recognised anyone who talked to Callum since we’ve been stood here.” He leant in a little closer, voice only for my ears. “And Gabriel is over by the bar. Brace yourself.”
I had a half second to wonder why he’d said that, then my gaze landed on Gabriel as he was roughly pulled into a hug by Nick. Strong tattooed forearms enveloped him in what had to be the tightest, longest hug I’d ever witnessed. I felt the low growl building in my chest, but I was powerless to stop it.
Falon had already made his way over to them, followed by Axel. Only Talis stayed to witness my show of clearly unwanted and unwarranted possessiveness.
His brow furrowed and I could almost see the threads tying together in his mind. He glanced over at Gabriel, then back at me. “Is there something you’ve not told me about you and Mase?”
My lip curled at the nickname. Every time someone used it, it felt like they knew him better than me. Which was probably true, but that didn’t stop the part of me deep inside that wanted to scream that he wasmine.
Mine to hold tight.
Mine to give fucking nicknames to.
Mine tolove.
But in reality, he was none of those things. And more importantly, I didn’t want him to be.
Liar.
I shut my eyes, searching for some semblance of my old self in the riot of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. I’d have given anything to shift in that moment. Let my wolf take over and forget about the shitshow my life had become lately. Things were simpler in wolf form. Maybe not easy, but certainly easier than watching Nick smile and touch Gabriel while trying not to launch myself over there and rip his throat out.
I smirked.
In my wolf form, I’d have already done it.
When I opened my eyes again, Talis was watching me. Waiting.
Fuck, I’d conveniently forgotten what question he’d asked me. I didn’t want to answer him, but I wouldn’t lie. “Yes,” I said, meeting green eyes that looked as dark as our forest in this light. “But not here.” I rubbed a hand over my heart, the ever-present ache stronger than it had been in a long time, and I saw the exact moment he realised what I wasn’t saying.
“Goddess, help us,” he muttered, and I could only agree.
“Yep.”
