"Do you want to make him yours? You know right now you smell like him, but he is still left unmarked. Does that not bother you?" Gabriel asked.
I shrugged again, but the truth was it did bother me, and it was not like I hadn't been tempted, but I had stopped every time. The thing was, I was still scared. Scared this was all a dream, and I couldn't let go of that threat from the council in my head. I wanted to make sure I gave them no true reason to hunt any of us down. Clearly, I wasn't fooling Gabriel with my little shrug, and he narrowed his eyes, the dark pools watching me.
"What?" I asked.
"What is stopping you?" he asked.
I sighed, looking down at the green surface of the pool table, and taking another sip.
"I'm just ... Are you ever scared to just wake up one day, and all that is good in your life is just somehow gone?"
Gabriel watched me a little surprised.
"Have you ever had that feeling?" I asked.
He sighed, and then slowly nodded.
"I have lived that nightmare," he then answered.
"I still can't really believe I am here. Before my mother died, everything was so good, then one day it wasn't, and now things are good again, you know. I'm happy!"
That made Gabriel smile, but there was something sad about it too.
"I'm glad to hear it," he said.
"But I could lose it all, and I know it is not just a stupid fear ... you know it too," I said and pointed at him shortly.
He sighed and nodded.
"You're scared of the council."
"Yes," I said, even though what he said was more like a statement than a question. "Maybe if I don't mark him, I don't have to be scared of the day they will try and rip us apart, or maybe I won't give them a reason to."
"Like having a foot out of the door," he said.
"Yes, exactly. It's like ... a safety net."
"But it is hurting you too," he said. "It is hurting both of you because you are so close to completing the bond, but you refuse to."
I sighed, and nodded, our eyes locking, as a quiet moment passed between us. Gabriel and I were surprisingly alike in some ways. The way we thought, the way we felt about a lot of things. That was why we had already become close friends. Dominic and I had a deeper connection. Our souls fit together like two pieces of a puzzle. With him, I felt complete. Around Gabriel, I felt relaxed, and with Ace ... well, I couldn't really say I felt relaxed, but despite his scary look and the dark aura around him, I felt safe, almost like I knew nothing could touch me because I stood by his side.
"I know ... but isn't ... isn't love worth a little pain?" I asked.
"You love him?" he asked, a smile slowly spreading on his lips.
I looked away, feeling my cheeks grow hotter. I had thought about it. The day after the party had been such a lacy one, Dominic and I spent all morning and some of the afternoon in bed, just talking, connecting, and enjoying each other. It felt like we lived in our own little world, away from everyone around us, and I thought about it and the thought had not gone away.
"I don't know," I said. "I just know I don't want to lose him, or any of you guys."
"Well, I feel honored, little queeny," he said.
I just rolled my eyes at his stupid nickname and was about to tell him to continue the game when we heard the doorbell ring.
"Are we expecting visitors?" I asked.
Gabriel shrugged and said he would check who it was. Dominic had made sure the place was guarded, but I knew the only people he truly trusted were Gabriel, Damon, Ace, and now me, of course. Still, we shouldn't worry that it was anyone with bad intentions coming here. Who would dare go up against Gabriel? He might be full of smiles and flirty jokes, but I had no doubt he was deadly. They all were. Though, I did grow worried when I didn't hear voices or Gabriel coming back.
I placed the cue up against the pool table, downing what was left in my drink, and then walked towards the doors leading out into the big hallway.