Page 73 of Touched By Destiny

“Please,” Clark retorted. “My favorite thing is collecting information. Did you honestly think I would not find out?”

“He was terrible at acting surprised when I told him what you confided in me,” Rosalind added.

“We’ve had this argument before,” Clark told her. “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to worry.”

“More like you didn’t want me to interfere,” Rosalind corrected.

“You were already insisting they always sit together,” Clark countered.

“I’m so…I-I don’t…” Gabriel stammered. “Wait, you put me next to Eric because you were trying to get us together? I thought you were so worried about his safety that you always wanted me at his side.”

“While it’s true that no one guards him like you do, he hardly needs a bodyguard while he’s scarfing down mashed potatoes,” Rosalind replied.

“I was so convinced you’d hate me for this,” Gabriel said, still trying to process their reaction and pleased smiles.

“Oh, Gabriel, you’ve never understood how much we love you,” Rosalind responded, her gaze growing misty. “Samael broke a part of you, and he didn’t deserve you. But he doesn’t matter anymore. You’re a Marwood, and now we’ll have you for eternity. I just know…I feel it in my heart that you two are going to make each other happy. And we’re here for you for the tough times or even on a joyful day when everything is going right.”

Gabriel couldn’t have stopped his tears if he wanted to, and he didn’t bother to try. It was suddenly okay to be himself and to be with the man he loved without reservation. He found himself in a family hug with Eric, Rosalind, and Clark. Everything in his life finally made sense.

He was meant to be at Eric’s side, and he had never been more grateful for that truth. The second Clark and Rosalind released him, Gabriel scooped Eric into his arms and held him tenderly. It was, without a doubt, the best Christmas ever.

Chapter 30

Eric was almost positive his day wasn’t a dream, but a sense of the surreal made him question his faculties. Although he normally loved Christmas, nothing compared to this one. For the past few hours, his family had reveled in the surprise news Gabriel had shared.

The amount of shock lingering in Gabriel’s eyes hurt on some level. He hadn’t trusted that the Marwoods loved him unconditionally despite having spent over thirty years with them. It wasn’t because of anything Eric’s family had done either. Everything came down to Samael and Gabriel’s guilt that he hadn’t known about his necromancer’s hunt for the destiny-touched.

If Eric could have gone back in time, he would’ve killed Samael himself—for murdering people like himself and for the jagged scars he’d cut into Gabriel. Perhaps now that Gabriel had come clean about their relationship and was basking in the acceptance of everyone he loved, those old wounds would finally be able to heal.

For weeks Eric had despaired at the secrecy he’d agreed to, and he had to keep reminding himself that those days were finished. Although he was still adjusting to his new reality, ithadn’t stopped him from gluing himself to Gabriel’s side. After dinner, the entire family had returned to the living room to watch a movie.

With no hesitation, Eric had curled up next to Gabriel on the couch. The inspirit had only tensed for a second before wrapping an arm around Eric. Despite the images flowing across the television screen, no one was watching silently. Instead, they were reminiscing about holidays past, and Eric loved the way his mother kept grinning at him as she predicted even merrier memories in their future.

“Okay, the day is nearly wrapping up,” Maribeth said, lifting her wineglass. “Let’s have a toast for Gabriel and Eric.”

“Excellent idea,” Eric’s father replied. “Rosalind, did you want to give the toast?”

“And steal your stage?” his mother teased. “Go ahead, dear.”

“Then I’ll ask everyone to lift their glasses for the most revered gift in life—a soulmate. It takes hard work, dedication, and compromise to ensure a lasting connection, and I know Gabriel and Eric are up to the task. Let’s drink to love, longevity, and a family finally made whole.”

“To Gabriel and Eric,” his mother added as she leaned her head for a second on his father’s shoulder. “May the future bring you all the happiness in the world.”

Eric clinked his glass against Gabriel’s and stared into his gorgeous green eyes as he sipped the last of his wine. Moving slightly toward him for a kiss, Eric was delighted when Gabriel met him halfway and brushed their lips together tenderly. It was the first bit of affection Gabriel had initiated in front of their family, besides holding hands.

“I guess they aren’t going to bother sharing the toast with anyone else,” Richard said.

“Nope,” Eric replied.

“Leave them be,” his mother ordered. “You’ll be the same way after you meet your soulmate.”

“He doesn’t even want one,” Maribeth announced.

“I was convinced I didn’t want one either,” Eric’s father confided. “But I changed my mind quickly after meeting your mother.”

“I have a very fulfilling career, and that’s what I’m focused on right now,” Richard defended.

“Well, I want you to have more than just a career,” Maribeth retorted.

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