Page 108 of De-Witched

And the company was keen to increase their human employees, encourage more melding for expansion purposes. They were clearly looking for an indication that he could follow through on that.

He shifted, barely aware of the telling gesture. “It’s been an experience,” he said carefully. “A valuable one. Now I’ve lived there, my understanding of them is clearer. They are, after all, very similar to us. But,” he added, without thinking, “also more.”

From the head of the table, August raised his eyebrows. “More?”

Fuck. Gabriel rushed to cover the slip. “We’re dependent on our magic,” he explained. “Because they don’t have magic, they’re forced to be more resourceful. Creative. Determined. Stubborn.” Leah’s face came to mind. “Definitely stubborn. And brave. Kind.” Realizing the board was staring, he cut himself off. His cheeks felt hot.

“Sounds like someone has been wooed by the humans,” Peter, a warlock who’d been voted in ten years ago, said with a smile. It wasn’t snide, but it still made Gabriel desperately want to hunch in his chair.

“He makes a point.” August sat back, gazing at Gabriel over steepled hands. “You forget: humans are not altogether altruistic, just as we aren’t. They can be manipulative and grasping, out for money or power.” He paused. “Your...friend from the shelter, for example. Leah.”

Every nerve, every atom, in Gabriel’s body stilled. “Excuse me?”

“We want to help humans here; that is the whole raison d’être of this company. But let’s not get swept away. Leah used your connections to organize a charity event to further her own ends.”

“No.”

“I’m delighted you’ve learned from this experience,” August went on, rolling over Gabriel’s denial. “But keep it in perspective. Don’t romanticize them.”

Gabriel couldn’t believe his uncle was lecturing to him, especially in front of the board. Many of whom sported uncomfortable expressions as if they didn’t want to witness this, either. “I’m not.”

“That isn’t what I’ve observed or been told.”

Gabriel’s gaze winged to Will, who had the decency to wince, before returning to his uncle.

He made an effort to keep his voice calm. “I believe the terms of the will have been met. My experiences will further my role when I take over from you as CEO in two weeks.”

“And your human friend?”

Gabriel kept his eyes steady. “Will be left behind.”

Another witch who’d only been voted in last year spoke up. “Glad to hear it. You don’t want to lose sight of what’s important because of a manipulative human out for anything she can get.”

The window behind the witch shattered without warning, throwing glass in every direction. The closest board members yelped, gabbling a barrier incantation as shards rained down on them. From where he’d leaped up, August gaped at Gabriel.

Mortification ran through him like a river. It lapped at his feet as he stood, smoothing a hand down his tie. Only those closest to him would see that it trembled.

“Apologies,” he said through the groaning ache in his temples. He nodded at them all, registering their shock alongside his own. “I will see you in two weeks.”

If they still voted him in after that display. Panic flapped in his chest and he barely made it out of the room before bracing a shaking hand against the wall. He bent his head, breathing deeply.

He needed to get a handle on himself. That outburst was unacceptable. Even if the insult had made his vision go red, even if the lecture from August had been beyond humiliating. He should have better control than to create such a scene.

Especially since it could lose him everything he’d ever worked for.

24

“It was so sweet.” Leah smiled over her beer bottle at Gabriel. The candle she’d plucked from her living room flickered merrily between them on her kitchen table, her dogs curled at their feet. “Chuck sat at the yard door for at least ten minutes, hoping you’d show.”

Gabriel nodded, gaze on his plate as he pushed spaghetti around. He’d been like that since he’d arrived. Not cold but moody, pensive.

“Nothing could tempt him,” she went on. “I mean, nothing. I tried a ball, a toy, a chew.”

“Hmm.”

Leah tucked her tongue firmly in her cheek. “And then I sprayed whipped cream all over my body. Offered myself to Mitch, who proposed we make it a threesome.”

“Sounds good.”

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