Page 63 of Witch's Promise

"Hey," Gabe's voice was gentle, his hand finding Sean's under the blanket. "Look at me."

Sean forced himself to meet Gabe's gaze, bracing for disgust or condemnation. Instead, he found understanding and a determination that took his breath away.

"You're not that person anymore," Gabe said firmly. "What your father made you do, what you were trained for, that's not who you are. Not now."

The simple acceptance in Gabe's voice threatened to undo Sean completely. He blinked hard against the sudden sting of tears, overwhelmed by a gratitude he couldn't begin to express.

"Touching as this is," Lucas cut in, his tone sharp with impatience, "we've got bigger problems to deal with."

Sean nodded, grateful for the chance to focus on something other than his own tumultuous emotions. "Right. Riley. He's my father's right-hand man. Has been for years. I always knew he was dangerous, but I had no idea how deep it went until last night.”

"What changed?" Emily asked, her maternal instincts clearly warring with her wariness.

Sean's jaw clenched, old anger bubbling up. "I found out he's been playing us all. I don’t know what he is but he’s powerful. HRikey has been manipulating his way to the top."

"And the attack on our family? Kidnapping Jessy? How does that fit into his grand plan?" Giana demanded, her protective fury radiating off her in waves.

Sean sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It seems that it is all part of a bigger scheme to take control of Salem's magical community. The attack on your family was meant to destabilize one of the most influential covens in Salem. And Jessy was leverage. A way to force compliance from the Wisteria coven. Riley's planning to position himself as some kind of savior, the only one who can bring peace to a fractured community. And once he's in power..."

"He'll have control over every major magical family in Salem," Gabe finished, horror dawning in his eyes. "Fuck. We can't let that happen."

Sean nodded grimly. "No, we can't. But stopping him won't be easy. Riley's smart, ruthless, and he's got resources we can only guess at. Plus, he's got my father's backing, which means access to a whole network of trained killers."

He wasn't running anymore. Whatever came next, whatever challenges they faced, Sean was finally ready to stand and fight.

Chapter 19

Sean

His eyes cracked open, sunlight streaming through the gaps in his curtains. For a moment, he lay there, disoriented. The absence of his usual post-fight aches and the lingering dread of another day in hiding threw him.

Surprisingly, Sean felt lighter. Like a weight he'd been carrying for decades had finally been lifted. He couldn't remember the last time he'd woken up feeling anything close to hopeful.

As he went through his morning routine – shower, shave, strong coffee that could probably strip paint – Sean's mind kept drifting back to Gabe. To the hurt in his eyes when Sean had revealed his magic, yes, but also to the understanding. The forgiveness Sean wasn't sure he deserved.

Gabe had wanted him to stay at the coven house last night, but Sean had declined. He needed time to process, to come to terms with the monumental shift in his life. And if he was being honest with himself (a novel concept, that), he was scared. Terrified of fucking up this fragile new thing between them before it had a chance to really begin.

The knock on his front door came as Sean was contemplating a second cup of coffee. He froze, instantly on alert. Old habits died hard, and Sean found himself reaching for a weapon that wasn't there as he approached the door.

He peered through the peephole and felt his heart skip a beat. Gabe stood on the other side, looking like he'd just stepped off a runway. The trench coat he wore accentuated his broad shoulders, and the fitted button-up and jeans beneath it, well, Sean had to remind himself to breathe.

Shaking off his surprise, Sean opened the door. Gabe's smile, warm and slightly nervous, hit him like a punch to the gut.

"Well," Gabe said, a teasing lilt to his voice, "are you going to let me in, or should I leave?"

Sean realized he'd been staring, mouth slightly agape. Smooth, Drake. Real smooth. "Shit, sorry. Come in, come in."

As Gabe stepped inside, Sean became acutely aware of the state of his apartment. It wasn't a dump by any means, but it was spartans – functional rather than homey. He watched nervously as Gabe's eyes roamed the space, taking in the bare walls and minimal furniture.

"It's, uh, not much," Sean said, unable to keep the defensiveness from his voice. "I know it's not exactly-"

"It's cozy," Gabe cut him off, his tone gentle. "I like it. Very you."

Sean blinked, thrown by the simple acceptance. "Thanks. I guess." He cleared his throat, desperate to change the subject. "How did you even find me? I'm not exactly listed in the yellow pages."

Gabe's laugh, rich and warm, sent a shiver down Sean's spine. "Please. I work for a secret supernatural law enforcement agency, remember? Finding one ex-assassin's address is child's play."

There was a confidence to Gabe now, a self-assuredness that both attracted and intimidated Sean. This wasn't the same boy he'd left behind all those years ago. This Gabe knew exactly who he was and what he wanted. Sean wasn't sure how to handle that yet.

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