Page 30 of Soren

“And you don’t think people will like the real version of you?” Soren asked.

Damn, always one to cut to the heart of things.

“Not really,” Gabe answered hesitantly.

Soren’s pale eyes narrowed. “And why don’t you think people will like the real Gabriel Kingman?”

Gabe cleared his throat, toying with the bottom of Soren’s shirt. “Um…because he’s a coward? He pretends to know what he’s doing, but he’s really just, like, terrified all the time?”

“What are you terrified of?”

“I don’t know. Just…everything. It always feels like something awful is about to happen at any moment. I’ve always struggled with it, but it’s gotten worse this past year.”

That put a strange expression on Soren’s face. “Why this past year?”

Gabe gave him an “are you kidding?” face. “Because something awfuldidhappen. I was attacked. Danny was kidnapped. He almostdied.He kind of did, in a way.”

Gabe could still remember the shock, the gut-wrenchingloss. Having to hear from Roman and Soren that Danny had been hurt beyond healing, turned into somethingother. That he and Gabe were somehow no longer the same species. That his little brother was forever changed.

Soren pushed Gabe lightly until he was sitting up, the vampire leaning back until they were face-to-face. “Danny’sfine,” he said firmly.

Gabe tried not to panic at the loss of Soren’s touch. “Danny’s not human anymore though.”

Soren glared at him. “I’mnot human.”

Gabe was putting his foot in his mouth in all sorts of ways. “That’s not— I’m not— It’s just a little freaky, okay?”

Soren arched a pale brow. “Why is it, as you say,freaky?”

Gabe ran a hand through his own curls roughly, frustrated with himself. “You know what makes me feel less scared? Knowing things. Knowing how thingswork. Knowing how bodies work is how I’m able to fix them. It’s how I make a living. Vampires were never part of that equation. I have no idea howyourbody works.”

Soren smirked at him. “You want to know how my body works, Highness?”

Gabe ignored the innuendo. “What if something happens to Danny? I won’t be able to fix it.”

Soren’s eyes softened in realization. “Danny is much,muchstronger now than when he was human, Highness. He’s not in any danger. There’s nothing for you to fix.”

Gabe had nothing to say to that.

Soren was right, even if Gabe didn’t like to admit it. Danny was going to live years—centuries—longer than Gabe could even dream of. His brother didn’t need his protection.

Not that Gabe had ever been good at protecting Danny anyway.

He sighed, grumbling to himself, but he leaned his head back onto Soren’s shoulder, pleased when Soren didn’t push him away. He grabbed at Soren’s hand and placed it back on his head, and Soren resumed his petting.

Gabe let out another deep breath, melting back into Soren’s touch. He felt…lighter somehow. Was this how everyone felt, opening up about their feelings all the time? It was kind of awesome.

Or maybe it was just Soren that made it that way.

They watched Soren’s stupid show for a while, Gabe only half-aware of what was on the television.

“What do you want out of life, Highness?” Soren asked out of nowhere.

“I don’t know. What everyone wants, I guess. To be happy. Just not sure I know how.” The truth of that slipped easily out of Gabe’s lips, in his relaxed state.

Soren hummed. “Maybe you should stop being such a stick in the mud all the time. Fun can make people happy.”

“Did it make you happy, all these years?”

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