of his voice. I turn to him, my aggravation already a distant memory. “If your ascension has influenced others, that means they are susceptible to Dark—or even Light—influence. It may not be safe for you here anymore.”
“Safe for me?” I bark out a sardonic laugh, causing Morgan to flinch and scramble to the opposite arm of her seat. “When has it ever been safe for me? This is my home, Dorian. No one is going to force me to leave. Especially now.”
“Listen to him, Gabriella,” Alexander says, his voice gently commanding. “Just because you have your abilities, that doesn’t mean you’re invincible. If anything, you’re more vulnerable than ever. You’re the Dark Light; you’re more unique than anything this world has ever seen. And there will be enemies from both sides that will want to harness your power.”
Before I can even roll my eyes, Dorian is before me, grasping my hands and pulling me into his arms. He looks down at the little, faded blue anchor on my hand, and runs is thumb over it, willing it to stay. “You can’t fight them all, baby. I know you think you can, but I won’t let you bargain with your life. Losing you is not an option, little girl. Not when loving you is the only thing I have to live for.”
I look up into Dorian’s eyes and see eternity in those boundless, blue depths. I can’t resist him when he’s like this—so vulnerable and open to me. Its occurrence is such a novelty that I’m tempted to freeze time and everyone around us, just to stay with him like this forever.
“Ok,” I whisper hoarsely. I clear my throat and try again. “Ok. What do you suggest we do?”
“I have a house,” Niko chimes in from the couch behind us. “In Louisiana, just outside New Orleans.”
Reluctantly, I unravel myself from Dorian’s arms to give his younger brother my attention. “And you think we’ll be safe there?”
“Safer than anywhere else. Very few people know it even exists. And those who do…are dead.”
I don’t miss the momentary flash of pain on his face before he shrugs and turns away. I just chalk it up to the appeal of Nikolai Skotos—that raw emotion that makes him seem almost…human. From the start, we shared a common agony, and I understood his need to cope with over-indulgence and vulgarity. It mirrored my own escape tactics.
“And what am I supposed to do about my friends? My family? What am I supposed to tell Chris and Donna?”
“They’ll understand,” Dorian reassures.
“And whoever doesn’t, we’ll make them,” Niko adds with a wink.
“I CAN’T BELIEVE what I just agreed to.”
Dorian and I are heading North on Academy Blvd. toward Chris and Donna’s house. Morgan opted to ride with Niko and Alexander in the Range Rover, so Dorian was left to drive her ostentatious, candy-red Mustang. He looks out of place in the brightly colored car—too polished and refined. I never really noticed how gaudy Morgan’s ride was until it was graced with Dorian’s beauty.
“Agreed to what?” He peers over at me through the corner of his black shades and the edge of his mouth twitches.
“You know what. Letting you guys take me away from my home…my job.. .my life . To agree to run. I’ve never run from a fight before, Dorian. I don’t see why I should start now.”
He shakes his head and purses his lips, as if he’s trying not to tell me something. As if he’s keeping another secret from me. I know I could make him tell me, but I don’t want to. I want him to want to be honest with me. I’m owed at least that much.
“There’s more, isn’t there? There’s something you’re not telling me.”
“Gabriella…”
“Spit it out, Dorian. If you want me to go along with your plan, I need full disclosure. You promised—no more secrets.”
He shakes his head, but I can see his defenses crumbling. He can’t lie to me. He wants to, but his curse won’t let him.
“There’s a bounty out—my brother, your father and myself.
“Safe for me?” I bark out a sardonic laugh, causing Morgan to flinch and scramble to the opposite arm of her seat. “When has it ever been safe for me? This is my home, Dorian. No one is going to force me to leave. Especially now.”
“Listen to him, Gabriella,” Alexander says, his voice gently commanding. “Just because you have your abilities, that doesn’t mean you’re invincible. If anything, you’re more vulnerable than ever. You’re the Dark Light; you’re more unique than anything this world has ever seen. And there will be enemies from both sides that will want to harness your power.”
Before I can even roll my eyes, Dorian is before me, grasping my hands and pulling me into his arms. He looks down at the little, faded blue anchor on my hand, and runs is thumb over it, willing it to stay. “You can’t fight them all, baby. I know you think you can, but I won’t let you bargain with your life. Losing you is not an option, little girl. Not when loving you is the only thing I have to live for.”
I look up into Dorian’s eyes and see eternity in those boundless, blue depths. I can’t resist him when he’s like this—so vulnerable and open to me. Its occurrence is such a novelty that I’m tempted to freeze time and everyone around us, just to stay with him like this forever.
“Ok,” I whisper hoarsely. I clear my throat and try again. “Ok. What do you suggest we do?”
“I have a house,” Niko chimes in from the couch behind us. “In Louisiana, just outside New Orleans.”
Reluctantly, I unravel myself from Dorian’s arms to give his younger brother my attention. “And you think we’ll be safe there?”
“Safer than anywhere else. Very few people know it even exists. And those who do…are dead.”
I don’t miss the momentary flash of pain on his face before he shrugs and turns away. I just chalk it up to the appeal of Nikolai Skotos—that raw emotion that makes him seem almost…human. From the start, we shared a common agony, and I understood his need to cope with over-indulgence and vulgarity. It mirrored my own escape tactics.
“And what am I supposed to do about my friends? My family? What am I supposed to tell Chris and Donna?”
“They’ll understand,” Dorian reassures.
“And whoever doesn’t, we’ll make them,” Niko adds with a wink.
“I CAN’T BELIEVE what I just agreed to.”
Dorian and I are heading North on Academy Blvd. toward Chris and Donna’s house. Morgan opted to ride with Niko and Alexander in the Range Rover, so Dorian was left to drive her ostentatious, candy-red Mustang. He looks out of place in the brightly colored car—too polished and refined. I never really noticed how gaudy Morgan’s ride was until it was graced with Dorian’s beauty.
“Agreed to what?” He peers over at me through the corner of his black shades and the edge of his mouth twitches.
“You know what. Letting you guys take me away from my home…my job.. .my life . To agree to run. I’ve never run from a fight before, Dorian. I don’t see why I should start now.”
He shakes his head and purses his lips, as if he’s trying not to tell me something. As if he’s keeping another secret from me. I know I could make him tell me, but I don’t want to. I want him to want to be honest with me. I’m owed at least that much.
“There’s more, isn’t there? There’s something you’re not telling me.”
“Gabriella…”
“Spit it out, Dorian. If you want me to go along with your plan, I need full disclosure. You promised—no more secrets.”
He shakes his head, but I can see his defenses crumbling. He can’t lie to me. He wants to, but his curse won’t let him.
“There’s a bounty out—my brother, your father and myself.
Similar Books
