Page 53 of Finn
“Gabriel,” he said smugly, eying me up and down. “You look terrible.”
I clenched my fists, forcing myself to calm down.
“Gael,” I said. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”
He let out a dark chuckle, stepping closer, his mocking gaze fixed on mine.
“Didn’t you? I admit, you and your human led me on a merry little chase,” Gael said.
A flash of anger burned through me, but I swallowed it down.
“If Beric sent you, you’re wasting your time. I’m not coming back,” I told him.
Gael laughed. “You really think you can walk away from us?”
He stepped in even closer, but I firmly stood my ground. Finn was still in the men’s room.
“We all belong to Beric, Gabriel. You should know that by now,” Gael reminded me.
I gritted my teeth. “Beric doesn’t own me. Walk away and pretend you didn’t see me.”
Gael scoffed. “And let go of an opportunity like this? If I drag you back to Craven Hill, I’ll be Beric’s favourite again. I can’t believe you’ll just throw everything away. And for what? Some human? Pathetic.”
Before I could even react, Gael lunged.
His hand shot out, lightning fast, and I barely dodged it in time, slamming into the rough concrete wall.
Pain jolted up my shoulder, but I pushed past it, twisting out of his grasp.
We grappled against the wall, each of us vying for the upper hand, our movements sharp and brutal in the dim light.
Gael’s hand found its way around my throat.
While I no longer needed to breathe, he could still break the fragile bones in my neck.
“I always knew you were weak,” he hissed, his grip unyielding. “Beric’s favorite assassin, yes, but weak at the core. And this only proves it.”
Bones creaked, but I fought against the panic. With a surge of strength, I raised my knee, slamming it into his side.
His hold faltered just enough for me to break free, and I staggered back, rubbing my neck, fighting to regain my breath.
“You don’t know anything about me,” I managed to spit out, my voice hoarse but filled with defiance.
“Oh, I know plenty.” Gael wiped a trickle of blood from his lip, his eyes darkening.
Gael continued, “I know a former hunter like you can never be trusted. I have to admit, you played the part of obedient killer well, but sooner or later, you were bound to blow your cover.”
“I did what I had to do to survive,” I told him. “But I’ve found something better now.
Gael sneered. “Better?”
He gestured in the direction Finn had gone, a glint of disgust in his eyes.
“This human? You think he’ll stay by your side once he finally realizes what you really are?” Gael asked.
Rage boiled inside me, raw and uncontrollable.
In Beric’s house, I’d always reeled in my temper, kept it tightly leashed, because one wrong step could mean the end. But here?
