Page 82 of Finn
But then there was Gabriel.
Fate, or whatever cruel twist of destiny had brought us back together, had led me to make the hardest and easiest choice of my life.
I looked down at the faint scar on my neck, Gabriel’s mark, and traced it absentmindedly with my fingers.
That mark was a constant reminder of the bond we shared. Permanent. Unbreakable.
I wasn’t naive. I knew what lay ahead wasn’t going to be smooth sailing—pun intended.
Beric’s nest wouldn’t let us go so easily, and the Guild wouldn’t forget about me.
But for now, at least for tonight, I allowed myself the fragile hope that we could find peace.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?”
I turned at the sound of Gabriel’s voice. He stepped onto the balcony, his silhouette outlined by the golden light from our cabin.
He was barefoot, his shirt unbuttoned at the collar, looking more at ease than I’d ever seen him.
“The stars,” he added, gesturing toward the clear night sky. “They’re all out tonight.”
I looked up. He was right. The sky was a canvas of pinpricks, a scattering of light that seemed to stretch forever.
It was the kind of view that made you feel small but also infinite, like anything was possible.
“They’re amazing,” I said, my voice soft.
Gabriel joined me at the railing, standing close enough that our shoulders brushed.
The warmth of him was comforting, grounding me in a way I couldn’t explain.
“You’re thinking about Asher,” he said, not a question but a quiet observation.
I nodded. “I can’t help it. I know he’ll be okay, but still… I hate leaving him behind like that,” I said.
Gabriel was silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the horizon.
“It’s not easy letting go of the past,” he said finally. “But sometimes, it’s the only way to move forward. And Finn, you deserve to move forward. To have a life that’s yours.”
His words hung in the air between us, heavy with meaning. I turned to look at him, and my breath caught.
There was something in his expression, something raw and unguarded that I wasn’t used to seeing.
“Do you really believe that?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“I do,” he said, his gaze locking with mine.
I felt my throat tighten. Without thinking, I reached out, my fingers brushing against his.
He didn’t hesitate, taking my hand in his and lacing our fingers together.
Gabriel smiled, a small, genuine curve of his lips that made my chest ache in the best way.
He lifted our joined hands to his lips, pressing a kiss to my knuckles that sent a shiver down my spine.
“We’ll make it work,” he said, his voice full of quiet determination. “I promise.”
The moment felt fragile, like glass, and I didn’t want to break it.
