Page 12 of Soren

Was Gabe really expected to feel thankful for that?

And for that matter, Gabe wouldn’t even havebeenattacked if Roman and Soren hadn’t come to town and brought their vampire drama with them. He didn’t really owe the blond vampire anything.

Gabe pushed down the unpleasant memories of that brutal attack. Thinking about it wasn’t helping the anxious knot building in his stomach.

Before Gabe was anywhere near ready, they were pulling into a familiar parking lot. Here was the reason Soren had even met him after work at all, like they were some kind of pals.

The care home, with Gabe’s mother waiting inside. Well, notwaiting.The dementia kept her from knowing they were coming. But she was there.

Gabe could drive off right now and she would never know.

Gabewantedto drive off.

His fingers felt fat and clumsy as he unbuckled his seat belt, and his stomach twisted further into knots.

Fuck.

He knew what was coming. And sometimes it was like the knowingmadeit happen.

Like now.

Gabe’s chest started to feel tight, and his throat felt thick, like he couldn’t swallow properly or get enough air. Logically, he knew he was fine. His throat wasn’tactuallyclosing up. But that didn’t change the feeling that he couldn’t breathe.

His skin prickled as he broke out into a cold sweat.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Not here. Not in front ofhim.

A small hand landed on the back of Gabe’s neck. Delicate but strong. Firm. Immovable. “Breathe, Highness.” Soren’s voice, without its usual teasing notes, was sweet and smooth. Like cool water on a hot day.

“I.Can’t.” Gabe managed to grit out the words between gasps.

Soren used the thumb of his gripping hand to gently rub the side of Gabe’s neck. “You can. Tell me five things you see,” he ordered gently.

“Um.” Gabe searched his surroundings with frantic eyes. “Steering wheel. My jeans. Rearview mirror. Glove box.” He glanced to the right, unable to help himself. “Your eyes.”

Those eyes. Such a light, pale blue. With all their intensity now focused on Gabe.

Soren’s lips twitched. “Good. Four things you can feel.”

Gabe knew this exercise. They’d learned about in med school, during their psych classes. A tool to help cut through panic attacks. “My seat underneath me. My feet on the floor. The seatbelt. Your hand.”

“Three things you hear.”

Gabe’s breaths were starting to come a little easier as Soren’s voice and soft commands kept him grounded to the present moment. “My breathing. Voices outside. You talking to me.”

Soren gave his neck a light squeeze. “Good, Highness. Very good. Two things you can smell.”

Gabe spoke without thinking. “The ocean. Pine trees.”

Soren arched a brow at his words, but Gabe was too exhausted to be defensive.

“That’s what you smell like. Like if the sea met a pine forest. And, um…cold. I don’t know how a person can smellcold, but you do.”

Soren didn’t mock him, but those pale eyes lit with an internal fire. Gabe couldn’t tell if he was offended or pleased. The vampire continued the grounding exercise. “Something you can taste.”

But Gabe shook his head. “I’m fine now. Thank you. That helped.” He wasn’tfineexactly, but the panic had receded. In its wake was a shaky sort of weak feeling, the same one always left behind after any attack like that. Like Gabe could sleep for a week. Or burst into tears at any moment.

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