Touched by Destiny (Arcane Havoc

Book 1) MM Jessamyn Kingley

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 Copyright © 2024 Jessamyn Kingley

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 CONTENTS

Copyright
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
About the Author
Also by Jessamyn Kingley
CHAPTER 1

Thirty-three years ago

he breeze swept Gabriel Wolfebrier’s overly long blond hair from his face, but he barely noticed. Purposefully, he put
T one foot in front of the other. The stitches below his clavicle pinched, as did the ones stretched across his shoulder blade,
making him grimace. The bullet that had ripped through his flesh a few days ago would leave him with scars. It was a
small price to pay for trying to save a child. Gabriel wouldn’t have changed anything about his actions, even though he now
knew the boy had been dead before Gabriel was shot.
He was squeezing his eyes shut kept the tears at bay, but Gabriel would eventually have to deal with reality and the way
his life had changed. An unfamiliar sound reached his ears, followed by a string of curses. Several feet away, a cop was trying
to coax a cuffed man out from the back of his cruiser. It was a scenario that mirrored Gabriel’s own experience, as he’d
recently been arrested for murdering the man who’d given him life. That man had been his family and best friend for the past
fifteen years.
“Mr. Wolfebrier,” a stranger called out. His black hair shone in the bright sunlight, and his dark suit fit so perfectly it
had to be custom made. He stood in front of a gleaming stretch limousine, and it was clear this was the man who’d paid for his
bail.
Unlike the police officer carting his swearing companion into the police station, this man wasn’t human. Magic had a
rhythm, and there was more for Gabriel’s senses to latch onto. The sorcerer had a soulmate—one with a bond strong enough
that it wrapped his essence so tightly with another’s that any non-human could detect it.
“Who are you?” Gabriel asked gruffly once he was three feet from the exquisitely attired man. Although Gabriel was
dressed in a scratchy jumpsuit since they’d taken his own clothing as evidence, he refused to feel shabby. His former
benefactor had dressed impeccably, and it had effectively hidden the evil that resided in him. People saw a rich man with a
friendly smile and offered him their trust. Gabriel wished he hadn’t been one of the many tricked by the asshole.
“I’m Clark Marwood,” the sorcerer replied as if Gabriel should recognize the name. He did not. “If you will do me the
honor of stepping inside the car with me, I’ll gladly explain why I’m here.”
“And you paid to spring me out of jail, Mr. Marwood?”
“Exactly. Please call me Clark.”
“I didn’t ask for your help, and I refuse to dance to your tune just because you chose to throw your money around.”
“Consider it a loan. Once Samael Wolfebrier’s assets are distributed, you’ll be a very wealthy man. You can pay me
back if you wish, though it isn’t required.”
“How do you know about Samael’s will?”
Clark smiled wolfishly. “I make it my business to know a great many things. Please, we’ll talk more, but it’s probably
best if we have some privacy.”
“Fine, but I can’t pay you back. They aren’t going to give me Samael’s money. I’ll probably spend a couple of decades
behind bars for his murder.”
With nothing but an enigmatic smile, Clark motioned toward the open door next to him. Gabriel nearly shrugged, but
thankfully remembered the torn flesh and broken bones mending above his sling. As carefully as he could, Gabriel lowered his
six-foot-two-inch frame into the vehicle and found himself in the company of another stranger. Like Clark Marwood, she was a
sorcerer, dressed elegantly in dark clothing, and had a blue gaze ripe with intelligence.
“Hello, Gabriel, I’m Rosalind,” the blond woman said as Clark followed Gabriel into the limousine and took her hand.
They wore matching silver rings on their left hands. Marriages weren’t unusual among the few sorcerers Gabriel had met, and
it was the easiest way to explain a soulmate to a human.
“Gabe. Everyone calls me Gabe.”
“The archangel Gabriel was a protector and defender. I have a feeling you have much in common with him,” Rosalind
replied.
“I was unaware sorcerers believed in human religions.”
“I don’t,” Rosalind remarked as the car pulled away from the curb. “But I made a study of it some centuries ago, and I
learned a great deal. Religion aside, I like the sound of the name Gabriel. Do you mind if I call you that?”
There was kindness in her smile and in her soulmate’s, and even as Gabriel scolded himself for being stupid enough to
climb into a limousine with two complete strangers, he shook his head. Trusting the wrong person was the story of Gabriel’s
life now, and he was furious with himself for not questioning anything—he’d taken Samael’s word that the bodies they’d buried
in the dead of night were people threatening the existence of necromancers and the people they resurrected. Not once had it
occurred to Gabriel that those poor souls were innocents.
“Can I offer you some water?” Clark asked. “Or we could stop somewhere to get you some food. You must be hungry.”
“I’m fine,” Gabriel replied, steadfastly ignoring the rumble in his belly contradicting his words. “Tell me what you
want.”
“You’re an inspirit,” Rosalind said. “As necromancers, it’s our duty to care for inspirits. But I doubt that is enough
reason for you, and you’d be right. We have a proposition for you.”
“Inspirit. I haven’t heard that word in years,” Gabriel mused.
“Samael resurrected you, correct? What did he call you if not an inspirit?” Clark asked.
“We rarely spoke of my resurrection; it was fifteen years ago. Humans are everywhere. We can’t hide what we are if
we talk about it constantly, so neither Samael nor I gave it much thought.”
“And he provided you with documentation to convince any nosy humans you were his brother?”
“Yes, but you know I’m not. Samael gave me life, and I believed my purpose was to keep him safe. He convinced me
necromancers are in constant danger, and I believed him. I learned a few days ago that he left a great deal out of the story.”
Clark leaned forward, and his blue gaze locked on Gabriel’s face. “You understand now that Samael was a persecutor
and not the hunted?”
“I learned it by accident,” Gabriel confirmed, barely above a husky whisper. “That boy. The one who died. His parents
forced their way into the mansion. They begged me to listen. I didn’t want to. Their child is destiny-touched. Was destiny-
touched. Samael dedicated his life to hunting those granted special gifts and killing them. I thought he was protecting
necromancers, but I was wrong.”
“I can’t tell you how many necromancers live,” Clark remarked. “We purposely refrain from being organized. The last
thing we want is to bring attention to ourselves. We’ve thrived because humans believe we’re just like them. Little do they
know that sorcerers and inspirits live among them. Some necromancers are born with a skull mark on their left hand. They are
among the most gifted of us. My mother was one of the few. Rosalind’s father was another.”
“Unfortunately, few of them survive,” Rosalind added. “Our people fear them. Necromancers like Samael believe the
destiny-touched will reveal us to humans. Tales are told of us being used for science or murdered en masse. Samael and his ilk
will go to whatever lengths necessary to rid the world of the destiny-touched.”
“So, what? You’re pissed that I tried to save one? That my interference nearly allowed one to survive another day,
putting your precious existence and way of life in danger?”
Rosalind shook her head vigorously. “No, you misunderstand. We abhor people like Samael. Our parents are dead.
Both of us were raised by uninterested, distant family members because someone like Samael hunted the ones who gave us life.
It’s said that the destiny-touched occur more often in certain families.”
“Rosalind and I met a century ago, but we fear having children of our own. I couldn’t bear it if I were one of the lucky
parents to have a destiny-touched child and someone like Samael murdered them.”
“But you’re a protector, Gabriel,” Rosalind insisted. “We want your help. As an inspirit, you were granted life and
know what a gift it is. We have used our wealth and advantages to care for our inspirits, but what we need is a defender.
Someone we can count on to see to the security of our future children.”
“I’m going to jail,” Gabriel sputtered.
“I have a team of lawyers who will ensure that doesn’t happen,” Clark replied.
“The cops know I killed him.”
“You flung yourself in front of the child and took a bullet meant for him,” Rosalind said. Gabriel had no clue how these
Marwoods knew so much, but she was right.
“And I shot Samael.”
“In self-defense,” Clark asserted.
“The humans refuse to believe I acted alone.”
“Your bullet hit him directly in the heart, despite the fact that you were heading to the ground as you fired,” Clark
stated. “Did Samael give you that gift? To never miss?”
Gabriel nodded. “No matter what I do, my aim never falters. I didn’t even realize I was being groomed…slowly
programmed to do whatever Samael told me.”
“Samael Wolfebrier lived a long time and went through many aliases. He was a prolific necromancer, and many
inspirits died along the way. It was easy enough for him to sacrifice whoever he resurrected to protect his own hide. Samael
was a sniveling, horrible coward, and the world is better off without him.”
“Until a few days ago, I loved him as family,” Gabriel replied, his lips trembling as he fought off the desire to cry. For
all the evil Gabriel hadn’t understood lived in Samael’s dark heart, he’d been his closest friend and confidante.
“I’m sorry he deceived you,” Rosalind said quietly. “And I understand you mourn him. The man you thought you knew.”
Gabriel closed his eyes, and a parade of the dead he’d helped bury trampled through his mind. “How many destiny-
touched are dead because of him?”
“To know the number wouldn’t serve you now. He’s dead and no longer able to hunt.”
“Tell me how many he’s killed since my resurrection,” Gabriel insisted. Were there more than the ones Gabriel had
helped bury? How staggering was the number of people Samael had murdered in his lifetime? And the biggest question, how
would Gabriel ever set aside his own guilt about how he’d aided a serial killer?
“No,” Rosalind said. “You are innocent like they were. That is all you need to know. If you want to avenge the boy, I
beg of you to consider our offer. We will ensure you need for nothing and get whatever training you desire. Like Samael, we’d
love for you to be part of our family, to help protect us and aid us in whatever the future brings.”
“You’ve created this idea of me as a guardian of sorts. I don’t know if I can be that man.”
“Gabriel, you can be anything you want,” Rosalind countered. “You will carry the scars of that day both physically and
mentally for however long your lifespan lasts. It’s up to you to decide if you want to dwell on what Samael hid from you, or if
you want to stand in defiance of everything he stood for. There are destiny-touched necromancers still living and those not yet
born. What I’m asking is if you’ll protect them from the Samaels of the world.”
“You don’t fear them?” Gabriel asked belligerently. “Isn’t there a part of you that would sacrifice whatever necessary
to keep your existence hidden from humans? You’ve probably moved and changed your name countless times to keep everyone
from learning you’re immortal. After you’ve gone to such lengths to protect yourself, wouldn’t you, too, remove anything that
could rob you of everything you’ve worked for?”
Clark smiled. “I’m over a thousand years old. I’ve gone through so many aliases I’ve forgotten some along the way, and
yes, I move every couple of decades so no one figures out I’m not aging. Like many ancient necromancers, I’ve built wealth.
It’s easy to call myself something new and move to a different house. Rosalind and I love a good adventure, but our magic isn’t
vast. We don’t have any inspirits as strong as you. As for the destiny-touched, they offer us no danger. They are feared because
they’re different. Freaks. Outcasts. Misunderstood. From what little we’ve learned of them, they rarely make it to adulthood, so
we don’t even fully understand what they’re capable of. We want to know everything about them. They are part of our race, and
because we must hide, we lose so much to history. Like the inspirits granted life by necromancers, it’s our job to protect our
heritage—not destroy it.”
Gabriel wasn’t sure if it was the medications taking the edge off his pain or if he was losing his mind, but Clark and
Rosalind sounded sincere. And protecting the destiny-touched might somehow allow Gabriel to pay back the necromancers for
the fifteen years he’d blithely trusted Samael. Gabriel had had his head in the clouds while the murderous bastard had ended
the lives of countless necromancers because Samael was a scared, evil fuck. And Gabriel had been his goon—ready and
willing to help him hide his crimes. Clark and Rosalind wanted to believe Gabriel was virtuous, but nothing could be further
from the truth.
“Are you sure you can get me out of a prison sentence?”
“We’ll ensure that you’ve already spent your last night in a cell even if you refuse our offer,” Clark confirmed. “You’re
an inspirit and are already healing faster than a human. Your blood tests are also raising questions. I’ll hush them.”
“I want Samael’s money.”
“And you deserve it,” Rosalind said. “It’ll give you independence too. The last thing we want is for you to feel
beholden to us. Our lawyers will ensure Samael’s will is honored.”
Gabriel would be insanely wealthy, and he’d devote substantial funds to aid the destiny-touched. It was the least he
could do, and if Rosalind and Clark Marwood added one of the gifted to their own family, Gabriel would stop at nothing to
keep them safe. How else could he pay back the innocent for the crimes he’d helped hide? His resurrection had been carried
out so Samael could have the perfect guard—a broad-shouldered goon with flawless aim. It was time to use the few skills he’d
acquired in his life for good.
“I accept your offer,” Gabriel replied quietly.
Rosalind smiled brightly. “Welcome to our family, Gabriel. You won’t regret this. I promise.”
He wanted to believe her, so he smiled back even as a strange feeling crept up his neck. What the hell had he just gotten
himself into?
CHAPTER 2

Present day

he Marwoods hadn’t disappointed. Since the moment Gabriel had entered that limousine thirty-three years ago, they’d
T offered kindness and honesty, and tried to provide him with a family. And somehow Clark had ensured Gabriel controlled
all the assets Samael had left behind. His murder was settled as an act of self-defense, and Gabriel hadn’t spent another
night in jail. Although grateful to them, Gabriel was their employee and refused to pretend otherwise. At his own behest, he’d
spent several years in the military and gained more skills he thought were necessary to be a proper protector.
Upon his return, Gabriel had agreed to live on the Marwood family’s property but insisted on a separate residence.
They’d moved a few times in the ensuing years, and Gabriel hadn’t relented or given in to Rosalind’s pleading that he move
into their house.
Clark had a mixture of business ventures, but his favorite was casinos. Which was how the Marwoods had wound up at
their current address in Las Vegas.
Gabriel’s job was to keep the family safe, but he also oversaw security for Clark’s businesses. It was a fun and
rewarding existence, and the Marwood family was more than just the couple that had rescued Gabriel from jail after Samael’s
murder. The seven surviving members of the Marwood family were his entire world, but his most important task was guarding
the youngest of them.
With cornflower blue eyes and inky-black curls, Eric Marwood had had his entire family wrapped around his finger the
moment he was born twenty-five years ago. Eric was a destiny-touched necromancer, so he was feared by evil people
determined to end his life. Gabriel refused to allow anything to happen to him. As Clark and Rosalind had surmised, destiny-
touched necros were special and had abilities beyond those of their brethren.
Which was why Gabriel was standing outside a casino in the blistering heat of an August morning in Las Vegas,
wishing for a cool drink.
“I can open a way for you,” Eric whispered. His gaze was directed toward Gabriel, but even though they were the only
two people present, Eric wasn’t speaking to him. His entire focus was on the ghost only he could see. “I promise it’s safe.”
The mark on Eric’s skin—which had started as a skull but now had roses and bones traveling up his fingers and over
his wrist—turned silver.
“No need to thank me,” Eric continued in that same soft tone as magic drifted through the air. “You’ve lingered here far
too long, and I’m happy to help. Be well.”
Eric blew out a breath, and a small smile crossed his nearly pouty lips as his blue eyes finally met Gabriel’s.
“I take it she’s gone?” Gabriel asked. The spirits Eric conversed with were of utmost importance to the necromancer,
and Gabriel loved hearing about Eric’s gifts.
“Yes, but I wasn’t sure I could convince her to go today. She kept talking about her husband. He died a decade before
her. I thought she wanted to be with him, but the way she kept procrastinating about allowing her spirit to cross…I nearly asked
her if she really wanted a reunion.”
Gabriel chuckled. “And everyone thinks being a medium is so glamorous.”
“There’s nothing glamorous about the way my balls are sweating,” Eric retorted. “But there’s nowhere else I’d rather
be today. I’m so happy she’s no longer lingering here.”
“Me too, you did a great job. The car’s waiting out front; did you want to get out of the heat and head home?”
“Yes, please.”
It was second nature for Gabriel to constantly scan his surroundings for any hint of danger as he followed Eric around
the expansive property to where the limousine waited for the youngest Marwood. Since Gabriel considered himself a strict
professional, it annoyed him that he noticed Eric’s rounded ass in his floral shorts. Gabriel didn’t know what the hell it was
about Eric that routinely had him noting things he shouldn’t.
Irritated with himself and wondering if he’d wind up having another sweaty jerk-off session later with Eric’s name
falling from his lips, Gabriel didn’t speak a word as he pulled open the car door for Eric. The necromancer gracefully slid his
five-foot-nine-inch frame into the limousine, and Gabriel was grateful for the heavily tinted windows blocking out the sun as he
joined him inside.
“I’m already sensing another spirit. I’ll need to find them,” Eric murmured. It was Eric’s habit to mutter to himself, so
Gabriel offered no comment as the sorcerer dug a tablet out of his dark satchel and used the stylus to scribble his notes. To the
human world, he was a medium—albeit a poor one.
 He couldn’t control which spirits spoke to him, and his gifts allowed him to aid those lost on this plane to step across
to wherever their ghosts were meant to travel. Eric didn’t try to find their living relatives or impart messages. Many of the
spirits didn’t have enough consciousness left to bother with the living anyway. They were stuck, and Eric was the only one who
could offer them a portal home.
Eric was the most powerful necromancer Gabriel had met, and he constantly focused on how to expand his gifts. His
goal was to aid as many spirits as possible, and only Eric knew how many lingered. No one else could see them, let alone
communicate with them. When he wasn’t helping ghosts, Eric was poring through books and trying to increase his knowledge
about his people. It was difficult.
Necromancers wrote little down, and much of what humans speculated at, they got wrong. Through the years, Eric had
also gifted inspirits with life, and they were strong men and women—one of them even had the gift of invisibility, though it did
not last more than an hour at a time. Gabriel respected Eric’s dedication and was endlessly fascinated by everything he learned
from Eric.
On the thirty-minute drive from the heart of Vegas to the custom-built mansion Clark and Rosalind owned, Gabriel
gratefully allowed the cool air of the car’s air conditioning to lower his body temperature and dry his clothes, which were
dampened with sweat. A few feet away, Eric sat with his brow furrowed and alternated between grumbling and biting his lip in
a way that had Gabriel’s blood heating. It was an enormous relief when Gabriel spotted the house, because it meant he could
get away from Eric.
As soon as the car pulled to a stop, Gabriel hopped out and waited for Eric to emerge.
“Good luck with your new spirit. Can you let Rosalind know I’ll be home for dinner?” Gabriel asked. While Rosalind
allowed Gabriel to live separately, she insisted he attend family meals whenever his schedule permitted it.
“Dinner?” Eric repeated as he stood there, staring up at Gabriel. His face was exquisite. The proportions were perfect,
and his dark eyebrows arched elegantly above his expressive eyes. His pale skin was unmarred by the sun despite the
unrelenting sunshine, and the gentleness of his features made him appear delicate.
The often-dreamy look in those bright blue irises helped. But Eric was no pushover and easily asserted himself as
necessary. That combination of strength and beauty was irresistible. At least to an idiot like Gabriel. He couldn’t have him, and
the last thing he should’ve been doing was thinking about Eric unless it had to do with how best to keep him safe.
“Yeah. Dinner. I have a few meetings, but I should be on time,” Gabriel said, grasping at the thread of their
conversation.
“Oh, is Rhonda going with me tonight?”
Gabriel scowled. Rhonda was an inspirit resurrected by Eric, and in five short years, she’d risen through the ranks of
Gabriel’s security team. Intelligent, strong, and with a giant heart, Rhonda had been granted the gift of rapid healing. Cuts or
wounds lasted only seconds on her lovely dark skin. There was no one he trusted more, but Eric’s safety was Gabriel’s domain
alone.
“Where are you going?” Gabriel demanded.
Eric’s older brother, Richard Marwood, had insisted a special room be built as part of the nightclub in the hotel where
he worked. This allowed him and his family to party with guests approved by Gabriel. But Richard hadn’t arranged for
anything that night, and Eric had only ventured out to the nightclub once in the four years since they’d moved to the vibrant,
light-filled city.
Eric sighed heavily. “I have a date.”
“With whom, and why are you just telling me now?”
“I don’t remember his name,” Eric argued. “I’m sure Richard told me, but I forgot. I thought he’d already mentioned it
to you.”
Richard rivaled Gabriel in his over-protectiveness of the lone destiny-touched necromancer in the family. Now twenty-
nine, the meticulous Richard co-directed conference services at Clark’s largest casino alongside an inspirit he’d given life to
when he was barely more than a teenager. The resurrected man had chosen the name Douglas and was as adept as Richard in
his chosen career.
“Well, he didn’t,” Gabriel retorted. He hated Eric’s dates. If Eric had been content with staying home and single,
Gabriel might not have ever noticed that Clark and Rosalind’s youngest child had grown up. But Eric had, and Gabriel didn’t
know why the thought of him with another man was so fucking irritating, but he hated every pretty boy Richard set him up with.
As vigilant as Richard was about where Eric went, it made no sense to Gabriel that this date hadn’t been brought to his
attention earlier.
Eric beamed a smile at Gabriel that made his belly ache. “Okay, I’ll tell Richard I have to cancel.”
“Why do you keep letting Richard set you up if you don’t even want to go on the dates?”
“Because I don’t want to die a virgin, Gabriel.”
“You’re immortal, and you’re going to live forever,” Gabriel argued, bristling at the idea that he’d fail and Eric would
die. It helped distract him from thinking about Eric naked with his long limbs spread across a bed. “Go in the house and get
ready for your damn date; I’ll talk to Richard and find out where you’re going and who the lucky guy is.”
“Why would I start getting ready at ten in the morning?” Eric groused as he trudged toward the front door of the modern
house. His shoulders were hunched, and his shoes clomped heavily against the brown bricks of the walkway. It was a far cry
from the lightness of Eric’s usually graceful stride. Once Eric was inside and safe, Gabriel climbed back into the car and let
out a string of curses.
The last thing he wanted to do at the end of his day was provide protection for Eric as some human wined and dined
him. Although the Marwoods were aware of a few other necromancer families, they refused to allow any of them near Eric.
They were too afraid some relative in those family trees would learn about their destiny-touched son and want to harm him.
And it wasn’t unusual for necromancers to find soulmates among the human population.
Unlike the Marwoods, many necromancer families—at least the ones Gabriel had encountered, including the
Wolfebriers—weren’t full-blood sorcerers. Their bloodlines were diluted thanks to human partners or soulmates. Perhaps that
was something Rosalind and Clark wanted for Eric. A human soulmate.
The problem was that the only way to find your soulmate was to have sex. And the thought of Eric sliding between the
sheets with any man made Gabriel want to punch someone. Usually, it was himself he wanted to sock for having such potent
feelings for someone he was supposed to be guarding and not fantasizing about, but he also wanted to crush the faceless man
who’d one day have Eric’s long limbs wrapped around him as they fucked.
With a growl, Gabriel forced himself to focus. He yanked out his cellphone and, with more force than necessary,
stabbed at the screen until he had Richard on the phone. Whether Gabriel liked it or not, Eric had a date that night and he
needed to be prepared. Eric must stay safe. And, in the end, it didn’t matter who took Eric’s virginity or who his soulmate was.
It for damn sure was not Gabriel, and in no universe was he good enough for the Marwoods’ youngest son.
CHAPTER 3

s soon as Eric shut the door behind him, he twisted and, when that didn’t work, grabbed at the back of his pants.
A “What are you doing?” Richard asked as he stalked toward where Eric was trying desperately to find some
comfort in his confining clothing.
“It’s too fucking hot to wear a thong,” Eric retorted.
“Your pants are too tight to wear boxers. Plus, they aren’t sexy.”
“I think a man in boxers is sexy.”
Richard pursed his lips. Since he hadn’t gone out, his handsome face was scrubbed clean of cosmetics, and even though
he was wearing sweats, they were matched precisely. No matter what Richard wore, he looked fashionable and immaculate. It
was something Eric envied since he was lucky if he achieved passable—and that was saying a lot since Richard and their
cousin, Maribeth, picked out every article of clothing he owned.
“Well, you’re not wrong, but we can’t afford to be subtle if we want to find your soulmate. How did things go?”
“Like they always do,” Eric replied and offered no resistance as Richard pulled him into a hug.
“I’ll mix you a drink; come into the kitchen. I want to know everything.”
“Where’s Maribeth?”
“At home,” Richard said, looping his arm through Eric’s and guiding him through the foyer and into the kitchen his
mother and David—the inspirit she’d resurrected long before either he or Richard were born—had designed. The white,
lightly veined marble countertops were a beautiful complement to the stone-gray cabinets, and Eric loved the opulent
chandelier gleaming above them. “She found a new book, and I was annoying her with too many questions.”
“You use up all your patience at work.”
“It can hardly be helped. I demand perfection, and my clients appreciate my attention to detail. Thankfully, Douglas and
I are masters at what we do. But none of that matters right now. Tell me about the date. Was he nice to you?”
“He was probably the prettiest guy you’ve set me up with.”
“Right? That face. I’d love to have hair like his.”
“Yeah, it’s too bad I could actually hear the thoughts rattling around in his empty head.”
Richard opened a cabinet and threw his head back as he laughed. “You’re horrible. I didn’t set you up with him for his
stunning repartee.”
“I doubt he could even spell repartee.”
“Now, now, Eric, be nice,” Richard tutted as he pulled out two martini glasses. “You have yet to give me any details.”
“Okay, you made me wear pants way too tight and hot for a Nevada summer so I could spend two hours listening to…
shit. I forgot his name.”
Cocking his head, Richard’s blue gaze narrowed. “Bradford? No…um…Beaumont. How could I forget that?”
“Right. Beaumont. Don’t call me Beau. He spent two hours talking about himself. My steak was good though.”
“Of course it was. You were in a Marwood casino. At the newest and hottest restaurant in Vegas. Henry Duren is an
incredible chef. It was quite a coup to have him open his first restaurant on the West Coast in our humble little establishment.”
Eric still wanted to yank the thong out of his ass, but he planted himself on a barstool and took a dirty martini from his
brother. “I ordered a second helping of potatoes.”
“Those are meant to be shared,” Richard replied with a chuckle.
“Beaumont doesn’t eat carbs. They’re bad for you.”
“We’re necromancers, baby, we can eat whatever we want.”
“I probably could have told him that. He wasn’t listening to a damn word I said. So, I stopped talking after the salads.”
“Okay, well, you weren’t there for him,” Richard said. “Can we get to the important part now? What did Gabriel do
while you dined with the irritating-but-beautiful Beaumont?”
“Glowered at me from six feet away.”
“Glowered like he was jealous you were with another man?”
“I’m pretty sure he was pissed that he had ten hours’ notice I was going on a date in the first place.”
“Trust me, I know,” Richard mused, propping a hip against the counter. “I swear he spent half our conversation this
morning talking through his teeth.”
“What was the point of arranging all of it at the last minute and springing it on Gabriel like that in the first place?”
Richard set his glass down with a sharp click and threw his hands up in the air as he paced. “Because the man is
irritating. How long have we been sending you out on these little dates? Years. And Gabriel is as elusive as ever. You’re my
brother, and I want you to be happy. We’ve waited forever to discover if he’s your soulmate.”
“I know,” Eric replied glumly. He drank the rest of his martini without tasting it and set it on the counter. “Maybe it’s
time to admit this entire idea is stupid and I’ll never get Gabriel’s attention.”
“Absolutely not. You’ve been in love with Gabriel Wolfebrier since you were twelve. Not that you mentioned anything
to your only brother about it until five years ago.”
“Because it’s stupid. Clearly he’s not interested.”
“This defeatist attitude isn’t like you, and I don’t like it,” Richard chided. “Listen. He’s worked for Mom and Dad
longer than we’ve been alive. We had to give him time to stop seeing you as Rosalind and Clark’s little boy. I’d say we’ve
achieved that.”
“Pants like these certainly do.”
“I think we need another night in the club at the casino.”
Eric shook his head as the memories of the uncomfortable night filled his mind. “No. Last time I was too embarrassed
to even dance.”
“I don’t know why; you’re a great dancer. I tried to get you to loosen up with a few cocktails, but you refused.”
“Yeah, I thought the alcohol would make me awkward and ungraceful.”
“You don’t have an inelegant bone in your body,” Richard insisted. “We should do you up this time. Makeup. Hair. The
tightest outfit I can find.”
“You were the one who wanted me to appear as close to my normal self as possible.”
“Well, now let’s knock his fucking socks off.”
“I’ll think about it, okay?”
Richard smiled. “Good. I think you and Gabriel would be incredible together. And I’ll be insanely jealous the whole
time because he’s hot as fuck.”
“I know,” Eric replied. With his ripped body, grass green eyes, and shiny blond locks, Gabriel was mouthwatering.
Eric wasn’t sure when he first figured out how deep his feelings for Gabriel were. For his entire life, Gabriel had been there.
As puberty struck and Eric figured out he was attracted to men, he’d been drawn to the man responsible for his safety. It wasn’t
because Eric wanted to fulfill some fantasy of having his cherry popped by his bodyguard.
Gabriel was kind and intelligent, and his smile made Eric weak in the knees. No matter how hot the weather or
irritating the ghost, Gabriel was there, tugging Eric out of a bad mood or shoring up his confidence. He was there when Eric
first realized he was seeing spirits, and had cheered along with the Marwoods as Eric discovered his ability to open a gateway
for ghosts to wander through.
It was because of Gabriel and the other beloved inspirits that Eric had made it his mission to find a way to offer
resurrected men and women immortality. Necromancers had it but had yet to figure out how to offer that gift to their inspirits.
Instead, they played the waiting game along with the inspirits. No one knew the lifespan of an inspirit until their form started to
grow skeletal.
To prevent humans from learning of their existence, aging inspirits became recluses, and families like the Marwoods
ensured they had everything they needed as they awaited death. It was unacceptable, and Eric vowed someday he’d change the
world. But it was difficult. There was little information available, but that didn’t stop Eric from experimenting. Some inspirits
—like Gabriel—had gifts, while others didn’t.
It was the strength of the sorcerer that determined the intensity of the spell. That much Eric had figured out, and he
enjoyed thinking about what gifts were possible and completing resurrections of inspirits with unique talents. But he was far
from unraveling the secrets of his own people. Or finding out whether it was necromancers alone who routinely hid themselves
among humans. Eric doubted it. His abilities were beyond his family’s, and he could sense magic from far distances. There
were differences in some rhythms he felt, but he was isolated for his protection. He couldn’t wander up to strangers unless they
were ghosts. Everyone else had to pass muster and gain Gabriel’s approval.
Since their move to Las Vegas, Eric had a bit more freedom. His father had put as many conveniences as possible into
his largest casino to allow Eric, Richard, and Maribeth to venture out for simple things like haircuts for the first time in their
lives. Even the overly self-absorbed Beaumont had been vetted with background checks in the ten hours Gabriel had had
before Eric’s dinner reservations. Unfortunately, Gabriel had had no arguments. Not about Beaumont or Eric dating anyone.
Which was the real problem.
Eric didn’t want to waste evenings eating admittedly divine food with vapid strangers. What he wanted was to march
up the little house on his parents’ property and demand Gabriel do something about his virginity. Although Eric had shared a
few chaste kisses with Richard’s awful date selections, he refused to go further.
And honestly, he wasn’t sure how to sneak off for an assignation anyway. The rule that had been drilled into Eric’s head
since he was a baby was that he went nowhere alone. So, how would he climb into bed with someone? He shuddered as his
imagination conjured up him frolicking on the bed with some faceless stranger while Gabriel glowered a few feet away.
“Earth to Eric,” Richard called out. “Are you listening to anything I’m saying?”
 “Um, no. Sorry.”
“I love what a dreamer you are, but pay attention. We’re trying to plan how to snare Gabriel.”
“I don’t think anyone can snare Gabriel.”
“Okay, so hop on his dick a few times until you get him out of your system,” Richard teased with a twinkle in his blue
eyes.
Eric’s mouth twisted. What he wanted was for Gabriel to make thorough love to him and—as they both climaxed—for
them to discover that they were soulmates. It was a foolish fantasy for a grown man and better suited to the teenage Eric who’d
first started dreaming about Gabriel over a decade ago. But he couldn’t help it. Or maybe he didn’t want to.
“He’s got that whole predator thing going on in his eyes,” Richard went on. “I bet he’s an animal in bed.”
“And how would you know? The only experience you’ve had is with a few pretty humans you let take you to bed
because the only thing you like about them is their bodies.”
“Sometimes having besties who know you too well is annoying.”
“You manage people, Richard. You’re an expert at it. Someday you’re going to lose your heart to someone, and it’s
probably going to fuck you up.”
“Not if I can help it.”
“I know I’m the reason you refuse to get close to anyone,” Eric said, his gaze dropping to the mark he’d had on his hand
since birth.
Richard’s eyes landed on his own tattooed hands. At eighteen, Richard had added a skull to confuse anyone looking for
his destiny-touched brother. Without ever asking, Eric knew Richard would willingly sacrifice himself if someone managed to
get past Gabriel and the other security measures. When Eric had become an adult, he’d added artwork to his right hand to help
his own mark stand out less.
As a necromancer, Eric was fond of the macabre, so he’d stuck with the skull and floral theme, and his tattoo trailed up
nearly to his elbow. Richard had followed suit, though he’d made it uniquely his by including a few dragonflies. They’d
learned as children that in the Japanese culture of Maribeth’s mother, dragonflies symbolized strength, courage, and happiness.
It was Eric and Richard’s mother who’d taught them everything she could about Japanese culture to honor Nariko. The brave
woman had lost a hard-fought battle with cancer the same year Eric was born. Maribeth’s father, Alden, still hadn’t recovered
from the loss of the human woman he loved.
While Maribeth had strayed toward actual dragons as her preferred symbol and had a stunning sleeve tattooed down
her left arm and hand, Richard had announced as a kid that he was a dragonfly. It was just like Richard to be sure of himself,
and Eric loved how his brother tackled challenges. But he’d be damned if he would ever allow his brother to court danger on
his behalf.
That was one reason Eric never complained about the isolation of being destiny-touched or the strict safety measures
his parents had built around him. Of course, safety also meant Gabriel, and Eric had been drawn to him like a lodestone for
over a dozen years.
“You are a gift, Eric,” Richard stated quietly. “Not to just our family, but to the world. It’s our duty to ensure nothing
ever happens to you. Think of everything we’ve learned about necros because of how long you’ve already survived.”
“I don’t think about it like that. I just do my best to use my gifts.”
“It’s why you’re you, baby,” Richard replied, flashing him a sassy smile. “You keep pushing yourself and discovering
new stuff. And someday I expect you to report to me exactly how good it is to get fucked by an inspirit.”
Eric laughed. “I hope the weather cools off before I have to put on a thong again.”
“Let’s check the weather forecast and make some plans. We certainly don’t want to overlook a single detail as we try to
discover if Gabriel is your soulmate.”
Torn between amusement and the love that always filled his heart when he was with his best friend and brother, Eric
nodded. “Okay.”
CHAPTER 4

abriel wasn’t in a pleasant mood, and Clark Marwood’s bemused smile wasn’t helping matters. What Clark found
G comical was a mystery, and one Gabriel couldn’t be bothered to unravel.
“Ten hours,” Gabriel stated. “I had ten hours to put together a safety plan for Eric’s date last night.”
“Dinner in a posh restaurant, and you know every employee,” Rhonda Donovan pointed out as she swept a few stray
box braids from her shoulder. She’d once told Gabriel it took hours to create the hairstyle, and while he couldn’t imagine
sitting still for so long, it was a stunning look on her.
“Rhonda, you’re exactly right,” Clark said. “I don’t see what the big deal is. Yes, I’d prefer you were adequately
notified of changes to Eric’s schedule, and I’ve already spoken to my sons about that, but everything was fine.”
“Before yesterday, I didn’t even know anything about this Beaumont person,” Gabriel retorted.
“Richard met him here at the casino,” Clark replied. “My son is like you and doesn’t trust easily, but he’s willing to
give these young men a chance so his brother can find happiness. As diligently as Richard pays attention to things, he wouldn’t
have suggested Eric date him if he had any fears that Beaumont wouldn’t pass your security checks.”
“I’m sure Eric would love to find his soulmate,” Rhonda added, her dark gaze a mixture of glee and something else
Gabriel couldn’t interpret. “I know it’s something I’m eager to have too.”
“Eric barely spoke to the guy,” Gabriel cried out with an exasperated wave of his arms as he paced across the thick
carpet in Clark’s spacious office. “After the first course, Eric gave his entire attention to his plate. He went through two family-
size helpings of mashed potatoes while this Beaumont person held a monologue across the table from him for hours.”
“Are you mad Eric had a date with what you consider inadequate notice or angry that they didn’t hit it off?” Rhonda
asked.
“Richard says Beaumont has an interest in ghosts,” Clark supplied. “That’s why he thought they’d have a pleasant meal,
then Eric could find out if they were soulmates before he invested his heart.”
Gabriel growled. Right there in his boss’s office. It ripped through the air, and Gabriel wondered what had happened to
his vaunted self-control. Something had torn it away from him, and he refused to admit it was his insane jealousy at the thought
of Eric climbing into bed with Beaumont to find out if they were destined to share their lives.
“Something wrong?” Clark asked innocently. It was such a sweetly asked question that Gabriel narrowed his gaze at the
man. Clark wasn’t fanciful, and he didn’t do subtle well. Beyond the love and indulgence he frequently bestowed on his family,
Clark was ruthless and cunning. At some point, Gabriel had stopped pacing, and it was frightening that he hadn’t even noted
how his feet had come to a halt on the plush black-and-white rug Rosalind had selected for her soulmate’s office.
“What’s going on with you?” Gabriel asked suspiciously.
“Nothing at all, but you’re strangely combative this morning,” Clark replied, the same amusement in Rhonda’s gaze
filling the necromancer’s blue eyes.
“Why aren’t you ghost-hunting with Eric?” Rhonda asked.
“Eric preferred to stay at home,” Gabriel responded. By the time Gabriel had presented himself at the mansion for
breakfast, Eric had already eaten and planted himself on his piano bench in the great room. He’d plunked the notes to a melodic
tune with a scowl on his handsome face and barely noted a world outside his playing existed. Gabriel had had no choice but to
stand and listen for a few minutes. The piece had been ethereal—as delicate, otherworldly, and untouchable as the man moving
his fingers over the piano keys with such exquisite care.
“I barely got a grunt goodbye on my way out,” Clark mused. “I’m so glad Rosalind insisted on giving the children piano
lessons. Eric has such a passion for it, and he’s so gifted at music.”
Rhonda smiled. “Your son is gifted in many ways, as my existence and rapid ability to heal can attest to.”
“And it does wonders for my heart that the man I picked to oversee his safety gets so bent out of shape at the mere
thought of him tripping into danger on a date,” Clark said. “I’m not sure why you’re concerned though, Gabriel. Are you
suddenly feeling ill-prepared to ensure nothing happens to Eric?”
“Of course not. But if you want him to stay safe, I can’t be informed of changes to his schedule with only ten hours’
notice,” Gabriel stated.
“Gabe, what would be a decent amount of notice for Eric to give you when he has a date?” Rhonda asked, mischief ripe
in her tone as she grinned impishly at him.
Ignoring her and not bothering to question her on why she was pulling his chain, Gabriel focused on Clark. “Why did
you want to speak to Rhonda and me this morning?”
Clark leaned back in his chair and grinned. “You mean besides listening to you complain about my youngest child’s
love life? What makes you think that’s not the sole reason I scheduled this meeting yesterday afternoon?”
“I don’t know what’s going with you two, but I’d really like to focus on something besides Beaumont and his failed
attempt to woo Eric,” Gabriel said despite the fact that he’d been the one insisting they discuss it in the first place.
“Of course,” Clark replied, and he lost his smile. “Yesterday I received an invitation. One that immediately caught my
attention. It’s from the Arwynn family. They claim to have enticed several other prominent-but-reclusive necromancer families
like us for a meeting. I think they want an alliance. That’s what the last Arwynn wanted from me anyway. They have someone
new at the head of their family. Even with my contacts, I can’t tell you what happened to this young man’s father. Rumors
suggest it’s the Arwynns who’ve closed ranks and kept it a mystery. I’m considering going and at least listening to what they
have to say.”
Gabriel’s mouth twisted, and he took a seat near Rhonda. “If nothing else, you might learn a few things you don’t
already know about the Arwynns and whatever other families are present.”
“And I must consider what’s best for the Marwoods and how to ensure we keep Eric’s abilities concealed,” Clark said.
“In the past I’ve learned about vague threats against the destiny-touched, but I have yet to hear any whispers about any
Marwoods being born with gifts. I’d like to keep it that way. If that means agreeing to an alliance with other families to learn
what they know, then I’ll do it.”
Throughout the past three decades, Clark had often come into information which he’d shared with Gabriel, but he’d
kept his sources and how he’d learned about rumors or threats to himself.
“When are we going?” Gabriel asked.
“It’s in a couple of months. I want you both there. I don’t know if they’ll let you in the meeting room, but I’ll damn well
include you if I can. Some families have wonderful attitudes about inspirits, while others treat them like indulged children. The
Arwynns are nearly as secretive as we are, so I don’t know where they stand.”
“I can’t imagine another family as good to inspirits as yours,” Rhonda remarked. The Marwoods were generous, kind,
and did whatever they could to offer every inspirit a wonderful life. Since most inspirits were like Gabriel and preferred
independence, Clark built luxurious condo buildings for them and charged them a nominal fee to live there.
They were paired with jobs that suited them and granted generous salaries. Every inspirit was treated like family, and
they celebrated the dates of their resurrections like birthdays with gifts and cake. And it wasn’t only the inspirits granted life by
the Marwoods themselves; they routinely picked up stray inspirits left behind or estranged from other necromancers.
“It’s our pleasure to help you find your happiness,” Clark said. “And it benefits me too. I’m surrounded by people I
trust. I’m not sure what I’d do without all of you. Especially now that my brother is so lost in grief he has essentially retired
from the company. Without such talented people who I can count on, we would’ve had to downsize after Nariko’s death.”
“Such a shame about Nariko,” Rhonda remarked with a shake of her head. “I wish I’d had the chance to meet her.”
“She was a lovely woman, and Maribeth looks like her,” Gabriel said. “Has a lot of her personality too.”
Clark’s smile was wistful. “Sometimes Maribeth will hold her head in a way that instantly reminds me of Nariko, and it
takes me a minute to recall I’m looking at her daughter instead. Those moments are bittersweet, but I’m so grateful she lives on
in Maribeth.”
“I thought Alden was showing interest in the company again,” Gabriel commented. Although Alden technically lived
next door to Rosalind and Clark, he was rarely there. Nariko hadn’t been his soulmate, but he’d loved her as fiercely as if she
were his other half. Her death had turned Alden into a stranger. “He’s in his office nearly every day.”
“I have no clue what my brother’s doing in there, but if he’s working on anything related to the Marwood properties
scattered across the world, he hasn’t let me in on his plans,” Clark said. “In the first couple of years, he was dedicated to
raising awareness and money for cancer research. Then he took off traveling. Since his return, he refuses to confide in anyone.
Whatever he’s involved in, I hope it brings him some measure of happiness. He deserves it. Watching Nariko suffer for so long
was hard on him. Maribeth was five when her mom died, and her memories of her are scant. It’s such a shame. I know she’s
thrilled to have her father at home again.”
“Are you going to invite him to the meeting with the Arwynns?” Gabriel asked.
“Rosalind suggested it, but I don’t think I will,” Clark said. While Clark was the reclusive and now sole owner of the
Marwood properties, he did little without Rosalind. She preferred her home and refused to keep an official office, but many of
their most successful ventures were her ideas. Like her children and soulmate, she was intelligent, spoke three languages
fluently, and liked to push her limits on her own terms. “Alden was always the first to suggest I place no trust in anyone outside
our relatives. I’m not sure he’d approve, and the last thing I want is to put more distance between us. On the off chance I find a
reason to consider an alliance, I’ll bring it to his attention and get his input. For a fact-finding trip, I’d prefer to keep it between
the three of us and Rosalind.”
“Where is the meeting?” Gabriel asked.
“Interestingly enough, it’s here in Vegas,” Clark replied. “Last I heard, the Arwynns were based out of Washington, DC,
but maybe they’ve moved. Or they think that showing up on my doorstep will sweeten my mood toward the idea. They picked a
rival hotel chain, of course, but I would do the same. They’ll likely record every word we say despite their rules, and we don’t
know if they have anything nefarious planned. But we can all pretend it’s a neutral location if that’s what they want.”
“Any idea who the other families are that they’ve convinced to attend?” Rhonda asked.
“Not yet, but I hope to learn more before we go,” Clark said. “I put feelers out through my sources this morning. They
may or may not be on the short list of prominent families I know about. A couple of those live far from the US. If they’re
willing to fly here, it says a lot about what they think of the Arwynns’ idea, or maybe they’re curious like me. It should be
interesting to see who shows up, if nothing else.”
“We have to assume they know you’ll bring some security with you,” Gabriel remarked. “I think we keep the rest of the
Marwoods at home while we’re at this gathering, and have plenty of guards there just in case this is an attempt to lure you and
your security away from the mansion.”
“Exactly,” Clark replied. “The vault perhaps?”
Gabriel sighed. The house had a special room built in the center with Eric’s safety in mind. It was more impenetrable
than a bank vault, hence the name they’d given it, but could grant Eric access to fresh air, food, and every other essential for
roughly a month if necessary. Eric thought it was claustrophobic and balked at any suggestion that he hunker in there until a
threat passed.
“I’d like to know that we have something to be concerned about before we suggest Eric spend the day in there,” Gabriel
said.
“Because you don’t think it’s necessary or you don’t want to listen to Eric bitch about it for the next few weeks?”
Rhonda asked with a chuckle.
“If we decide Eric’s safer in there, we’re telling him two minutes before we leave,” Gabriel retorted.
Clark laughed. “Oh, indeed. While Eric’s quieter than Richard when faced with discomfort, both my boys are champion
bitchers.”
“Rosalind claims they inherited that trait directly from you,” Gabriel said.
“And if I argue with that statement, I only get myself in trouble, so I’m going to shoo you both out of my office so I can
get to my next meeting,” Clark replied.
“Smart man,” Rhonda commented as she stood. Like Gabriel, she was tall and wore a dark suit with a white shirt. It
wasn’t a uniform. Clark didn’t require them to wear anything in particular. In Rhonda’s case, she showed up in a crisp suit one
day and a flowing dress showing off her muscular legs the next. As for Gabriel, he lacked imagination, and the only thing he
required of his wardrobe was that it was comfortable and kept his gun concealed.
“I’ll check in with you both later,” Clark said as Gabriel rose and headed to the door on Rhonda’s heels. “And
Gabriel?”
“Yeah?”
“Richard mentioned planning another night at his club soon,” Clark remarked, then grinned. “And he’s convinced Eric
to go so he can meet more young men like the pretty Beaumont.”
Since Gabriel refused to growl again, he frowned and, without a word, marched out of Clark’s office. If Gabriel were
lucky, Eric would stick to nursing a drink at the bar again as the revelers danced around him. The thought of Eric in another
tight pair of pants showcasing his long limbs perfectly and moving expertly to the beat while beautiful young men writhed
against him put Gabriel in a foul mood. Amending his evening plans, Gabriel set aside the idea of squeezing in some work so
he could indulge in a long workout.
In the military, he’d had his first taste of rigorous exercise, and he’d learned it added mass to his frame—something he
hadn’t expected as a resurrected person—and allowed him to vent his frustrations. It was unfortunate that the object of his
constant irritation was also the person he was supposed to keep safe, otherwise Gabriel would put some distance between
himself and Eric. If for no other reason than to spare his sanity and somehow rid himself of his prurient thoughts about an
unobtainable man who’d haunted him for years.
CHAPTER 5

hen his alarm went off, Gabriel didn’t bound out of bed as was his habit. He lay there staring up at the ceiling he could
W barely see in the dark and frowned. Ahead of him was a long day of work, then he had to escort the three youngest
Marwoods to the club Clark had built for Richard and Maribeth. Richard had cheekily requested Gabriel add it to his
schedule four weeks ago and had sweetly inquired if that was adequate notice.
Gabriel had ignored Richard’s weird gleefulness and had privately admitted that no amount of warning was enough to
prepare him for a night of Eric in tight clothes surrounded by undeserving men who’d have a shot at enticing the gorgeous
necromancer into bed. After nearly forty-eight years of surviving following his resurrection, Gabriel was embarrassed that he
had some kind of silly crush on a man completely out of his league—and one he was paid to keep safe.
Not that Gabriel spent more than necessary on himself. His money was funneled back to Clark to aid inspirits and their
constant-but-dissatisfying hunt for other destiny-touched. Usually, by the time they were made aware of the birth of another, it
was already too late.
Since lying there chastising himself for not getting over his unwanted feelings for Eric wasn’t helping matters, Gabriel
reached over and snapped on the light. He tossed the covers off and sat up. And that was when his day plummeted fully into
nightmare territory. His feet hit the floor, and Gabriel stared stupidly at them. There, at the tips of his big toes, was the one
thing every resurrected person feared.
Gabriel squeezed his eyes shut but forced them open again a second later. Nothing about the view had changed. His toes
were transforming. Bone had replaced everything above the knuckle. He was dying. He wanted to scream, rage, and cry, but it
wouldn’t help. Death had no cure, and although it would take years, Gabriel’s days were numbered. His first thought was of
Eric. Who could be trusted to care for him when Gabriel was gone?
Yes, there were plenty of inspirits, including the incomparable Rhonda who’d shown promise from the start. But no one
would put Eric first the way Gabriel did. As odd as it sounded, Gabriel loved their jaunts to find ghosts and listening to Eric
mutter as he came up with another magical theory he wanted to test. They were mundane moments, but special to him because it
was Eric. Would Eric remember him? As his life stretched on for endless centuries, would he recall the guard of his youth?
Standing up, Gabriel forced himself to stave off his maudlin thoughts and fears so he could prepare for his day. He had
no time for grief or lamenting his choices. His death was inevitable, but it wouldn’t happen quickly. There was no way to know
exactly how long he had left. It was terrifying.
Plans could be made, and he’d ensure the Marwoods were prepared for life without him. Clark would have to be
informed immediately, but Gabriel wanted it kept secret from everyone else as long as possible. He didn’t want to feel their
pity or be surrounded by people counting down the hours until he had to seclude himself and await his last breaths.
Since Gabriel already knew Clark’s calendar was packed for the day, and it was the end of the week, his unfortunate
and devastating announcement would have to wait until after the weekend. But Gabriel would get a meeting scheduled so he
wouldn’t put off that conversation for any longer than necessary. Gabriel wished he’d set his alarm clock for an hour earlier so
he could get in a run.
If he shuffled a few things, Gabriel could squeeze in a jog before he left with the youngest Marwoods for Richard’s big
club night. Hopefully the exercise would help him clear his head of the dread and fear rapidly building in his mind so he could
focus on his duties. Satisfied with that thought, he quickly went through the motions of getting clean and dressed. Gabriel did it
with as little attention to his changing feet as possible—as if avoiding his toes could somehow rid his mind of his imminent
demise. Once those tasks were complete, he slid the gun he’d cleaned the previous night into the holster on his hip and stalked
out to have breakfast.
With a remote, Gabriel disengaged the alarm on the mansion and walked into the great room through a set of nine-foot-
tall glass doors.
“Good morning, Gabriel, do you have your party dress all pressed for tonight?” Richard called out when he spotted
him.
“The fucking cleaners lost it. I guess I’m wearing a boring suit,” Gabriel replied as he headed straight for the
coffeemaker. His plan was to do everything he could to keep his day as normal as possible and try not to think about the abrupt
way his life had changed that morning.
“Personally, I love a man in a sharp suit,” David remarked, handing Gabriel a clean mug. Taking the cup from David,
Gabriel thanked him and filled it with the dark brew as the scent of coffee pleasantly teased his rattled senses.
“Same, but Gabriel’s always exercising,” Richard said, dropping into a seat at the round table in the kitchen the
Marwoods used for breakfast. “He has killer calves and could really rock a dress.”
 “I remember when Maribeth insisted I try on a skirt,” Eric commented as he strolled in wearing a loose button-down
and faded jeans ripped at the knees. “It was terrible. I have stick legs.”
“You do not,” Richard retorted sharply. “You have stunning legs, and the only reason she didn’t put the thing in your
closet was because you weren’t comfortable in it. I don’t want you to feel anything less than completely confident in everything
you do and wear.”
“If everyone is so concerned with my comfort, why do I have a drawer nearly full of thongs?” Eric muttered.
Gabriel immediately choked on his coffee, and Rosalind helpfully slapped his back as he tried desperately to get air in
his lungs. The image of Eric in a thong was entirely too much for his beleaguered brain, and he was pretty sure the short circuit
caused by those beguiling thoughts was permanent. The image of Eric’s lithe frame in nothing but a scrap of black fabric was
quickly replaced by the dour thought that permanency was no longer something Gabriel had, and all he could see were his
skeletal toes.
“Are you okay?” Rosalind asked.
“Fine, thanks,” Gabriel lied. “Must’ve swallowed too fast.”
“Go have a seat at the table next to Eric, and I’ll get you a plate,” Rosalind coaxed.
Gabriel wasn’t sure why everyone insisted he sit next to Eric at meals. It was highly unlikely that an assassin would
jump out from behind the long drapes to stab the man while he ate eggs and bacon, but he couldn’t fault the Marwoods for
trying to keep their son safe at every opportunity.
As Gabriel filled his belly with the delicious food David and Rosalind had prepared, Maribeth shuffled in bleary-eyed
and chugged an entire cup of coffee next to the pot before joining them for breakfast. Clark was the last to arrive, but his stride
was crisp, and he’d probably already spent a couple of hours working. The man was addicted to his job, and Gabriel had
easily adapted his sense of duty to his own career.
It was a far cry from the lazy schedule he’d once kept while employed by Samael Wolfebrier. But Gabriel had been
kept like a pet. Samael had insisted he pamper himself with spa visits and spray tanning, and spend hours working on his golf
game or whatever sport or activity caught his interest. The only time Gabriel had worked was when Samael wanted to
intimidate someone with his resurrected goon or there was a body that needed to be buried in an unmarked grave far from any
hint of civilization. As usual whenever he thought of those dark days, a parade of the dead flowed through his mind.
Forcing himself to remain focused on the here and now, Gabriel caught Clark’s eye. “I need five minutes on your
schedule on Monday.”
“For you, I have five minutes anytime,” Clark replied. “Are you too busy to meet with me today?”
“There’s no rush, it can wait until Monday,” Gabriel replied. Perhaps by then Gabriel would be able to get the words
out without bawling and would’ve accepted that his death was inevitable. There were plans that had to be made, and Gabriel
couldn’t afford the luxury of feeling sorry for himself or being frightened of slowly dying alone. Or so he told himself as a
wave of terror slid icily down his spine.
“If you’re sure, we’ll talk first thing on Monday.”
Gabriel stood and grabbed his plate. “Great, I’ve got a few things to take care of. Eric, I’ll meet you outside in thirty?”
Those dreamy blue eyes met Gabriel’s, and he allowed himself to wonder about the lucky man who’d spend eternity
with Eric. Whoever the bastard was, he’d never be good enough for him.
“Um, yeah, thirty minutes is good.”
“Gabriel, you didn’t even finish your breakfast,” Rosalind protested.
Refusing to admit that the turbulence in his head and heart had killed his appetite, Gabriel said nothing as he guiltily
dumped the remains of his meal into the trash and plunked his plate into the dishwasher cleverly disguised as a drawer. Gabriel
headed back to his little house and slumped against the wall. The tears slipped down his cheeks as his ass hit the floor. He
didn’t want to die. And he was terrified. It was a hell of a way to start a fucking day.

✽ ✽ ✽

Eric wiggled into the snug pants his brother had picked out and pulled a matching black tank top over his head. The final piece
of his outfit was a dark shirt so sheer Eric feared ripping the damn thing as he slipped it on and carefully buttoned it. Glancing
in the mirror, Eric wondered what he’d gotten himself into. His curls were shiny and perfectly placed, and his eyes were
enhanced with smoky liner and several coats of mascara to make his lashes appear thicker and exaggerate their length.
His face was contoured with powders and liquids he couldn’t hope to name, and his slightly too-plump lips were
poutier than ever thanks to the pink gloss gleaming in the lights.
What the fuck was he doing?
Some makeup and another tight outfit weren’t going to grab Gabriel’s attention. If the man were attracted to Eric, he
would’ve done something about it by now. Gabriel was direct and honest and was more likely to quit his job than climb into
bed with Eric.
 Idly wondering how big a fit his brother would throw if he stayed home, Eric yelped when someone knocked loudly on
the bathroom door.
“Eric, get out here so we can see,” Richard ordered.
With a sigh, Eric pulled the door open.
“Do a twirl,” Richard insisted after fussing with Eric’s shirt so it lay perfectly. Like Eric, Richard’s face was expertly
painted. Richard had opted for a more dramatic look and had paired his dark eyeliner with glittery silver eyeshadow. He’d
painted his mouth a slick red, and his pants were black leather. The sculpted muscles of his chest and belly peeked through a
snug T-shirt of matte and sheer fabrics. Although Richard was a few inches shorter than Eric, they stood nearly the same height
thanks to a pair of heeled boots.
“Gabriel’s going to swallow his tongue,” Maribeth predicted. Her black hair hung in gorgeous waves, and the almond-
shaped eyes she’d inherited from her mother twinkled with excitement. She wore a scrap of a dress in the same metallic gray
as Richard’s eyeshadow. It bared her long legs and exceptional tattoo sleeve, and it accentuated her curves beautifully. If Eric
hadn’t already seen her do it before, he would’ve doubted it was possible to dance in the tall, skinny sandals she’d picked.
“You’ll do,” was Richard’s final verdict, reaching out to tug on Eric’s shirt again. No detail was ever left unnoticed by
Richard, and he’d continue to fuss until he was satisfied that they all looked perfect.
“What does that mean?” Eric asked.
“Well, if I dressed you the way I originally planned, you probably wouldn’t have agreed to even put the outfit on,”
Richard mused. “But I bought it anyway. We’ll consider it an emergency ensemble for the future. Now, I’ve poured a few shots
for you. Put your shoes on. Drink the vodka. Then we’ll go downstairs.”
“I don’t want to get drunk,” Eric replied, but he sat and tugged on the pair of soft leather boots his brother handed him.
“Please. Our gorgeous bodies metabolize too fast. You’ll get a nice little buzz that’ll get you on the dance floor, and it’ll
wear off before the first song ends.”
“Fine,” Eric said, grabbing the shot glasses and downing their contents quickly. A slight burn slid down his esophagus
but only lasted for a few seconds.
Maribeth slid her arm through Eric’s and steered him toward the door. “Now, relax. We’re going out to have some fun.
We’ll dance. Flirt. Tease a few boys and girls. Then we’ll head home and sleep. I don’t want you to feel any pressure or focus
on anything besides how best to move to the music, okay?”
“Mari’s right,” Richard said, leading them into the hallway. “But I did arrange for keys to rooms for all three of us, so if
we wanna get lucky, we’re all set.”
Eric laughed. “Mari’s the only one who will use her key.”
“Which is why I’m so much more pleasant than Richard,” Maribeth teased. “I didn’t spend hours dolling myself up so I
could go to bed without stripping this dress off for someone at least once tonight. It’s impossible for me to find my soulmate if I
keep myself closed off like Richard, and I want to find the person meant for me.”
“I’ve had sex before,” Richard argued. “I’m just very picky.”
The alcohol was swimming beautifully through his system as Eric wove his way toward the front door, and he chuckled
again. “Three times, Richard, and you’re almost thirty.”
“Says the virginal boy,” Richard retorted saucily. “You’re a few years behind me. Try catching up.”
Eric made it to the foyer, and Gabriel was standing near the door, waiting for them. He didn’t say a word as the three
Marwoods headed in his direction, but there was a furrow between Gabriel’s light brown brows. Something about the
fierceness of his expression on that handsome face had Eric’s belly flopping in arousal. He licked his lips, which filled his
mouth with the taste of strawberry gloss. Eric’s brain happily supplied a plethora of images featuring him and Gabriel in a
variety of positions. If it were up to Eric, he’d eagerly cast off his virginity, but only Gabriel would do.
“I’m sure as fuck going to try to catch up,” Eric murmured as he continued to stare at Gabriel.
“That’s exactly the attitude I’m looking for,” Richard said. “Time to forget about our troubles and get our dance on.”
“And get our clothes hopelessly wrinkled,” Maribeth chirped as Gabriel held the front door open. “Maybe locate a
soulmate or two.”
“By dancing or throwing them on the floor of a hotel room so we can have sex?” Eric asked.
Gabriel made a strange sound in his throat as Eric passed by him.
“Do whatever makes you happy,” Maribeth insisted.
“Hmm,” Eric said, still staring at Gabriel. His deep green eyes shielded his thoughts, and his mouth was a tight line, but
Eric smiled guilelessly up at the man of his dreams. “Then I definitely want to strip before I go home tonight.”
CHAPTER 6

ightclubs were now synonymous with torture for Gabriel. Across the room on a raised dais, Eric grinded his lithe form
N to the rhythmic pounding beat of the music, and Gabriel discovered true suffering. His frown was so severe none of the
other guards posted around the perimeter of the space would speak to him. Which was fine with Gabriel. He was
standing there half-hard and didn’t bother allowing his embarrassment to flourish.
The only saving grace in the entire situation was that Richard shooed away any man who too enthusiastically swept
closer to his beloved brother. Douglas had met them at the club, and he was dancing right along with the youngest Marwoods.
Something about his expression briefly caught Gabriel’s eye, and he wondered if Richard knew his inspirit and co-director had
more-than-friendly feelings for him.
There was nothing to suggest Richard returned those yearnings. He was smiling, but his attention was almost
exclusively centered on either Eric or Maribeth. Which was why Gabriel wasn’t surprised to find the misery on Douglas’s face
warring with his enthrallment. It was a horrible mixture of emotions Gabriel could sympathize with. He hated admitting how
bad he had it for Eric, but Gabriel was ready to face facts.
Untouchable and unattainable, Eric was also the man he wanted. Death now loomed over Gabriel, and he hadn’t had
nearly enough hours to adjust to his new reality. He couldn’t pretend his feelings about the future were the same as they had
been the day before. Someday Eric would find the man of his dreams, and they’d share an eternity together. Gabriel bared his
teeth at the thought and was glad he’d be too dead to watch the pair kiss, cuddle, and love. They would adore each other. It was
impossible to believe otherwise. Anyone lucky enough to be with Eric wouldn’t be able to help falling for him.
Love was an elusive concept for Gabriel, and he’d never know the care of a partner. And it fucking pissed him off.
Maybe Eric would meet him tonight. His soulmate. Gabriel could hardly forget Eric’s words from when they were leaving the
house a couple of hours ago. Some lucky guy in this very room would strip Eric and hold that perfect body close as they
fucked. Gabriel’s fingers flexed as he envisioned wrapping them around the throat of Eric’s imaginary lover.
As if he was already preparing for his night ahead, Eric peeled off his sheer button-down and turned to face Gabriel as
he undulated to the thumping beat of the music. Behind him, Richard slid the skimpy garment Eric had removed through his
brother’s belt and whispered something in his ear.
Eric nodded, and his eyes locked with Gabriel’s. There was too much distance between them to gauge the
necromancer’s thoughts. That full mouth painted a glossy pink curved, and something inside of Gabriel snapped. Gone was the
cautious voice demanding he steer clear of his lust and adoration of the man sinuously walking toward him. His blood
thundered in his ears as he grew harder. His thoughts grew reckless, and he wondered—envisaged—what it would be like to
take Eric.
What did he have left to lose? Would Gabriel go to the grave without one taste of him?
“Gabriel,” Eric said as he stopped in front of him with mere inches separating them.
Too consumed with lust to even find his tongue to speak, Gabriel gave a brief nod of his head to let Eric know he’d
heard him. Those dreamy blue eyes were dark with need, and Gabriel’s cock jerked in response.
“Can I speak with you privately?” Eric asked, his voice no more than a raspy whisper.
It was an invitation. Gabriel was under no illusion about Eric’s intent. He’d declared it a night to toss away his
inhibitions, and for some reason, he’d chosen Gabriel as the target of his desires. He knew he shouldn’t accept. If he were
smart, Gabriel would insist Eric return to the dance floor. But Gabriel was apparently short on intelligence because he held out
his hand instead. The other guards would figure out where they were going and likely why, but they were paid to be discreet.
As soon as Eric slid his warm palm into Gabriel’s, they left the private club at a fast clip. There were plenty of other
inspirits around to ensure Richard and Maribeth were protected, so Gabriel didn’t worry about the other young Marwoods. His
sole focus was on Eric and how fabulously his lanky frame was showcased in his tank and those pants highlighting the
delicious curve of his pert ass.
“Where are we going?” Gabriel asked huskily.
Eric tugged a hotel key out of his pocket and handed it to him. A quick glance told Gabriel it was for a room on the first
floor. They wouldn’t have to find an elevator, and Gabriel refused to pause to contemplate the stupid decision he was making.
But as he unlocked the door and shut himself and Eric into the quiet space, he acknowledged that he’d been waiting years for
this moment.
Gabriel reached for him, and suddenly there was a horny necromancer plastered to his front. Their mouths met, and
Eric’s kiss was charmingly clumsy. He tasted of strawberries. Gabriel mused that those pretty boys he’d dated hadn’t had a
clue how to please him. With a little gentle coaxing of his tongue, Eric relaxed, and their embrace grew languid and impossibly
hot.
Clutching Eric’s round ass, Gabriel intended to give him an experience the necromancer would never forget. Long after
Gabriel was dead and buried, he wanted Eric to recall his first night of passion. Gabriel shifted so his dick rubbed against
Eric’s length. Eric groaned and tore his lips free to gasp loudly.
Taking advantage of his exposed neck, Gabriel sucked at Eric’s tender skin. His thoughts grew darker as he worked a
hand between them to find Eric’s zipper, and he hoped none of Eric’s future trysts would compare to the passion exploding
between them. No one had ever pushed Gabriel so close to the edge with such little effort.
A few sexy kisses, a couple of moans, and Gabriel’s balls were ready to empty. The last thing he wanted was to give
either of them any time to think or put any space between them, but Gabriel shoved Eric away long enough to rip the tank top
over his head. The smooth skin of his hairless chest was damp with sweat from dancing and the desire building between them.
Gabriel trailed his fingers down between Eric’s pectorals, and the muscles of his belly jumped as Gabriel moved
lower. Shoving Eric’s pants over his hips revealed a small scrap of black that served as his underwear. The tip of his ruddy
cock had defied the waistband, and Gabriel’s mouth watered with anticipation of his taste.
Landing on his knees, Gabriel eased the silly thong out of the way and wrapped his lips around Eric’s weeping cock.
Eric’s legs wobbled, so Gabriel clutched his hips to keep him upright as he hollowed his cheeks. He swallowed once Eric’s
length hit the back of his throat. Eric let out a keening wail and grabbed fistfuls of Gabriel's short blond locks.
It was rough and frenzied and lacked any of the romance Gabriel believed Eric deserved, but he couldn’t stop himself.
The musky scent of him, the salty tang of his skin and pre-come, and the sexy sounds spilling from him were Gabriel’s undoing.
Perhaps that had been what he most feared about giving in to his feeling for Eric. There was power here. Of being dominated
by the desire not of their bodies but of their hearts.
Such fanciful thinking was foreign to Gabriel, but he couldn’t stop himself. And it helped slightly to pull away from the
edge. To give himself some precious moments to savor Eric, and to set aside his own need to rut against like him an animal.
Gabriel’s hands flexed, and his fingers dug into Eric’s plump ass as he sucked him. Eric’s cock hardened further against
Gabriel’s tongue, and it warned him he wasn’t the only one being teased by the promise of a blistering orgasm.
Mustering the few wits he had left, Gabriel let Eric’s dick slip from his mouth. Their gazes clashed, and Gabriel took
immense pride in the way Eric’s pupils were blown so wide they’d eaten up the bright blue of his eyes.
“What…?”
Before Eric could finish his question, Gabriel stood and dragged his own zipper down. Gabriel freed his own length
from behind the shield of his boxers, then carefully steered Eric a few steps away so they were close to the wall—mindful that
his legs were still trapped in his clothing.
As Gabriel pressed close to Eric, their cocks touched, and Gabriel hissed out a breath. Taking Eric’s lips in a searing
kiss, Gabriel wrapped his big hand around their dicks and tugged. Eric’s tongue grew more aggressive, delighting Gabriel, and
his fingers were once again buried in Gabriel’s hair.
A tingle slid along Gabriel’s spine but was soon overwhelmed by a sensation so unexpected he nearly froze. Something
deep inside him reached for Eric. A whiteness glowing brightly in his mind. The response was immediate. Silver filled his
thoughts. The same radiance that shined from Eric’s hand whenever he used magic touched the snowy shine sprouting directly
from Gabriel’s soul.
There was a blaze in Gabriel’s head—it started with a spark but grew into a shower of silver-and-white fireworks. Of
two souls destined for each other, finally meeting their match. Overwhelmed, Gabriel nearly sobbed as it slowly disappeared
and the demands of his body robbed him of that wondrous sight. But his desire wouldn’t be ignored.
His fist tightened as it moved ever faster over their stiff cocks. There was enough pre-come between them to keep the
friction from growing uncomfortable, and Eric’s hands moved lower. He clutched Gabriel’s shoulders as his back arched and
Eric came on a strangled groan. With Eric’s name on his lips, Gabriel’s hips surged forward, and he erupted. Spunk splashed
on his fingers as his orgasm burned through him with unparalleled force.
Lost in desire and wonder, Gabriel continued to jerk them until Eric whimpered a protest. Gabriel stilled, and there
was nothing in that hotel room but two men trying to catch their breath. Their raspy attempts were drowned out when the air
conditioning kicked on, and goosebumps broke out over Eric’s nearly naked body. Later, Gabriel would reflect that it was that
moment when reality first settled in and he realized with horror what they’d just done. Or, more accurately, what Gabriel had
allowed to occur.
The man Gabriel had been assigned to keep safe was standing with his boots still on and his pants hovering somewhere
below his knees. His now-flaccid cock was trapped in Gabriel’s fist, and Gabriel wasn’t sure where he’d flung Eric’s tank top.
What the fuck had he been thinking?
Looming death sentence or not, there was no excuse for bringing Eric to a hotel room and divesting him of his virginal
status. And how the hell was he supposed to handle the way their souls had touched? Gabriel knew what it meant, but they
couldn’t be soulmates. It was impossible. Eric was destined to change the world, to offer countless souls solace, and to
someday prove how far necromancers could push their magic.
 And Gabriel? He’d be dead in a few years. All he’d leave behind was a framework for how to keep Eric safe. It
wouldn’t last. Technology was ever-changing, and the Marwoods would adapt with it. All Gabriel could hope for was to be a
glimmer of a memory for the immortal sorcerers who’d taken him in and given him a taste of genuine family and friendship.
How had he paid the Marwoods back?
Gabriel lurched away from Eric almost drunkenly and stared at his hand. The one sticky with the remnants of his
passion…and of Eric’s.
“Gabriel?” Eric asked.
“For fuck’s sake, get dressed,” Gabriel barked as his gaze raked over Eric’s beautiful body, and his dick twitched with
anticipation of repeating what they’d just done.
There was hurt in Eric’s eyes, but he bent to comply as Gabriel raced to the bathroom. Yanking a washcloth off a towel
rack, Gabriel wet it thoroughly, then returned to the spot where he’d left Eric and shoved it at him. Once Eric took it, Gabriel
returned to the restroom and washed up. He glanced in the mirror and found a terrified man with thoroughly mussed hair staring
back at him. Refusing to think about how wonderful it’d felt to have Eric’s hands raking through his locks, Gabriel smoothed
the errant strands and closed his eyes.
Having sex with Eric was without a doubt the most monumentally stupid thing he’d ever done. Not even the death
awaiting him was reason enough to cast side his scruples and give in to his baser instincts. He placed none of the blame on
Eric’s shoulders. What had tempted him to share those frenzied moments with Gabriel was a mystery, but Eric was entitled to
his secrets.
The most important thing was for them not to repeat the mistake. Regret and guilt soured Gabriel’s mood, and his
glower was dark as he reentered the room. Thankfully, Eric had tugged his clothes on, and he stood there with his chin raised.
His eyes were both stalwart and nervous. At least he wasn’t crying or chastising himself for fucking his security guard.
“We should talk,” Eric said softly.
“It’s probably better if we don’t,” Gabriel replied, keeping his tone neutral and flat. “We’re both unattached adults, and
we were horny. We should get back to the club.”
“It wasn’t just sex.”
Gabriel’s expression was impassive, and he refused to think about those sacred moments when their souls had touched.
“Sure it was.”
“Are you going to pretend there’s nothing between us? I saw our souls. It was the first step of a binding.”
“Regret, Eric,” Gabriel said sharply. Then lied through his teeth. “Regret is the only thing I have in my soul right now.”
Eric stared at him, his gaze darkened with emotions Gabriel couldn’t interpret. For countless moments they stood there,
until Gabriel had no choice but to look away…no longer able to pretend he was unaffected. He focused on a spot above Eric’s
shoulder and pretended he wasn’t a coward.
“Then you’re right,” Eric eventually said. Like Gabriel, his tone lacked inflection. “We have nothing to discuss, and we
should get back.”
With a brisk nod, Gabriel walked quickly past Eric and tried not to notice the musky and enticing scent of him as he
whipped open the door. Fully composed and back ramrod straight, Eric elegantly left the hotel room. It couldn’t have been easy
for Eric to deal with his rejection, but Gabriel was proud of him for taking it in stride. He fell a little harder for the beautiful,
confident, and alluring man he couldn’t have.
CHAPTER 7

ric hustled toward the club with his dignity in tatters. In the dozen years since he’d first understood that his feelings for
E Gabriel went beyond friendship, he’d imagined a million different scenarios. But none of them had included an indifferent
Gabriel insisting they weren’t soulmates and that regret was the only thing they had in common.
His knees were still wobbly after his blistering orgasm, but Eric wasn’t thinking about the passionate way Gabriel had
kissed him or how his firm grip and hot mouth had coaxed an incomparable orgasm from his too-willing body. The loud music
assaulted his ears the moment Eric opened the door, and although it’d been schooled into him to never enter a room before
Gabriel signaled him to, he sauntered through it without looking back.
Ironically, the lone danger Eric had encountered that night had come in the form of Gabriel. With no expression beyond
boredom, Gabriel had unequivocally insisted that powerful merging of silver and white was nothing more than Eric’s
imagination. Was it possible? Had Eric wanted so badly to have Gabriel as his soulmate that he’d manifested it in his mind as
he had sex for the first time?
Confused, hurt, and wishing he had the comfort of solitude his bedroom at home offered, Eric was less than three feet
into the room when Gabriel called his name. Eric ignored him and searched for his brother. Richard was still gyrating on the
dais with Maribeth and Douglas. If Eric hadn’t given in to his stupid impulses, he’d be up there with them…without his every
fanciful dream shattered.
Richard glanced his way, and his eyes narrowed. Shoving aside anyone in his way, Richard marched up to Eric and
grabbed his arm.
“What the fuck happened?” Richard hissed near his ear. “Do I need to kill him?”
Unable to speak, Eric shook his head.
“Damn it, Eric, where the fuck are you going?” Gabriel shouted as Richard hauled Eric toward the back of the club.
“We’re going to take a piss,” Richard shouted behind them. “So, unless you intend to watch, which I hardly think is part
of your job description, I suggest you back off.”
Richard yanked the door open and bared his teeth at the two inspirits from Maribeth’s office they’d invited to their night
of revelry.
“Get out,” Richard ordered in such a sharp tone that neither man argued, and they hustled out.
After snapping the lock closed, Richard turned Eric around to face him and cupped his cheek. “What happened,
sweetie? Did he hurt you physically? Because I swear I will fucking leave him in a ditch somewhere so the vultures can peck
away at his decaying flesh if he did.”
Blinking at his brother’s vivid imagery, Eric bit his lip and didn’t even try holding in his tears. “No.”
There was a harsh pounding on the door, and Richard glared as he roared, “What?”
“Open this fucking door, Richard,” Maribeth demanded.
With a roll of his eyes, Richard turned on his heel and let Maribeth in, then slammed and locked the door again.
“Where’s Douglas?” Richard asked.
“Getting drinks. I thought we might need some fortification. Now, tell me if that fucker pacing outside the bathroom
needs to die for hurting you,” Maribeth ordered.
“We had sex,” Eric said. His breath hitched, and a tear slid over his lip. “My soul touched his. I know it did. I thought
for a second I made it up, but I didn’t. I know what I saw. He’s my soulmate. But…he didn’t see it. He was so cold. Regret. He
said…he said that was…that was it. All we shared.”
Richard pulled Eric into his arms, and Maribeth comforted him with a soothing hand on his back.
“Bullshit,” Richard commented. “Bullshit, you saw it and he didn’t. I don’t know what his fucking deal is, but I refuse
to believe meeting your soulmate can be one-sided. That’s not how it works. He can be scared, mad, or whatever the fuck he is,
but he’s lying.”
“Has to be,” Maribeth agreed immediately. “No doubt. My parents loved each other, and even with those strong
feelings, they couldn’t pretend they had that connection. It’s too powerful to miss. That’s what we’ve been told our whole lives.
Be sad that he’s a lying asshole, but don’t worry that he isn’t your soulmate. Because he fucking is.”
“Which means I can’t kill him even though I really want to right now,” Richard muttered.
Everything had happened so fast that Eric’s mind was still trying to catch up with the events of the evening. His
emotions were all over the place, but deep in his heart, he knew Richard and Maribeth were right. Gabriel was his soulmate—
whether the inspirit liked it or not.
“Inspirit souls are said to be white; is that what you saw?” Maribeth asked.
 “Yes,” Eric said, sniffing and trying to stem the tide of his weeping. “It glowed so bright it…it was blinding. Stunning.
It looked so pretty against the silver of mine.”
“Silver?” Richard echoed. “Eric, baby, our souls are black. Necros have black souls.”
“Mine was silver. Like the mark on my hand gets when I cast,” Eric argued as Richard’s blue gaze bore into his.
Richard pressed a kiss to his forehead. “I guess we didn’t think about all the differences between necros and our
destiny-touched.”
Shoving Richard out of the way, Maribeth slapped her purse on the counter. She dug around in the small clutch. “Good
thing I brought a few essentials since you just put a big-ass red mouth print on your brother’s forehead,” Maribeth chided
Richard.
With a click of his tongue, Richard slapped a hand on his hip. “Fucking cosmetic companies. Doesn’t transfer or smear
my ass. Eric, tell me what we can do to help you right now.”
“I don’t know,” Eric said, reaching up to rub the snot from his face, but Maribeth slapped his hand away and handed
him a tissue. “I don’t know what to do.”
“We’re going to figure it out, okay?” Maribeth assured him.
“Yes,” Richard agreed, pressing his palm to Eric’s. “Maribeth’s going to fix your face. Then, we’re going back out on
the dance floor for exactly one hour. You’ll have a few drinks and be just as aloof as him.”
“And when we get home, we’ll take off these fucking uncomfortable shoes,” Maribeth added. “We’ll put on our favorite
sweats, make about a dozen martinis, and get drunk.”
“And trash his ass for being a dick,” Richard said. “After that, we can strategize. We’ll make meticulous plans. Analyze
every detail to ensure we’ve constructed the best tactic to win Gabriel’s heart. Now, tell me, did he at least fuck you
properly?”
Eric closed his eyes as those moments of fiery passion filled his mind.
“It was so good,” Eric murmured. Not wanting to ruin Maribeth’s handiwork, he got ahold of himself by promising his
heart he’d cry it all out later. When he could do it without Gabriel seeing how badly he was hurting. “It didn’t go wrong until
after we came. He threw a rag at me and basically told me it was a mistake. And I was mistaken for thinking we were
soulmates.”
“Soulmates are forever, and he’s not going anywhere,” Richard insisted. “We’re going to fix this, and he’s going to
apologize for being a dick.”
“Did you guys at least have a good time too?” Eric asked.
“I should’ve invited more interesting men,” Richard lamented. “But Maribeth was hard flirting with a beautiful girl in a
smoking-hot red dress.”
“I’m such a sucker for ebony skin and a killer fashion sense,” Maribeth mused. “Hopefully she’ll be here next time so I
can find out if she’s my soulmate. As for Richard, he spent the entire time you were gone talking business with Douglas.”
“Use your key, Mari,” Eric said. “If we’re staying an hour, promise you’ll use your key and enjoy yourself. You can’t
miss out on the chance to possibly find out if your soulmate is here tonight.”
Maribeth shared a glance with Richard, who rolled his eyes.
“Come on, Mari, seduce the girl,” Richard coaxed.
After sliding some fresh gloss on Eric’s lips—still swollen from Gabriel’s voracious kisses—Maribeth popped the
tube into her purse and grinned. “Okay, no need to pester me. I’ll go make a move and see if she’s interested.”
Satisfied that at least one of them would have an evening that didn’t end in tears—and might get laid—Eric hugged his
brother and allowed himself to be led out of the bathroom. Head held high, he met Gabriel’s glower the minute he stepped into
the hallway and schooled himself to show nothing but indifference.
“Problem, Gabriel?” Richard asked tartly.
“Do you think Douglas is done getting our drinks?” Eric asked without giving Gabriel a chance to respond.
“I hope so,” Maribeth replied. “Let’s go find him.”
“Then get back on the dance floor,” Eric insisted.
“Well done,” Richard whispered close to his ear as they marched ahead of a glowering Gabriel.
Heart heavy and spirits low, Eric led the charge to the bar but wished he were anywhere other than the club. Or maybe
it was just Gabriel’s presence he wished to escape. Eric hoped he could hold himself together for the next hour. Then he’d
mourn losing his dream of having Gabriel as a soulmate mere seconds after discovering they were destined for each other.
Douglas awaited them at the bar and handed Eric his preferred drink—a dirty martini. Taking it, Eric barely had it to
his lips when Richard grabbed the attention of the bartender and ordered two rounds of shots for everyone but Maribeth.
Richard snagged the glass out of her hand and handed it to Eric.
“Go buy your girl a drink, and if you’re not back in an hour, I want all the details tomorrow,” Richard ordered. “Sooner
if she’s your soulmate.”
Maribeth kissed Eric’s cheek. “I’ll be back.”
 The three men watched her leave, then Richard polished off his own martini. “She’s such a liar. We won’t see that girl
until morning.”
Although Eric would’ve preferred to moon at the bar and wash away his memories with more alcohol, he wasn’t given
a choice. Richard insisted he finish two martinis and a couple of shots, then dragged him toward the dance floor. Eric’s vision
was a bit blurry, but his magic never allowed him to enjoy a buzz or being drunk long. By the time sixty minutes had passed, his
head was nearly clear, and his entire body was tensing at the thought of spending the next half hour in a car with Gabriel.
As Richard had predicted, Maribeth was nowhere to be found, and Eric silently applauded her for enjoying her night.
Eric hated the way he was hurting, but he didn’t regret losing his virginity or that he’d given it to Gabriel—despite the distance
in his green gaze afterward. They walked outside and hugged Douglas goodnight, then Gabriel hauled the car door open.
Richard climbed in first, and Eric followed him. The order in which they entered the car had been drummed into his
head for so long, Eric had already known he’d be in the middle. Normally, sitting between Richard and Gabriel wasn’t an
issue, and Eric even enjoyed the closeness of his best friend and the man he’d lost his heart to, but tonight was different.
“I’ll be up front,” Gabriel said, shutting the door after Eric forcefully.
Richard’s mouth fell open. “He what?”
“I guess he’s going to sit up front,” Eric replied with a shrug.
“B-but he…what the…this man hardly lets you piss without an audience when we’re in public, and now he’s sitting up
front?” Richard sputtered.
Gabriel slid into the car and hit a button so a divider slid up between the front of the limousine and the back.
Next to Eric, Richard slouched against the smooth leather cushions and let out a smoky chuckle. “Darling brother, do
you still think Gabriel is indifferent to you?”
“No, I think he’s pretty disgusted by what happened and now he can’t stand the sight of me,” Eric muttered, his
shoulders slumping.
Richard patted Eric’s leg. “Not a chance in hell, baby. That is a man with all kinds of emotions he’s not sure how to
handle. You’re dangerous, and he’s finally realized it. He’s lucky too. If he weren’t confused and overwhelmed, I’d be more
inclined to make his life a living hell. As it is, I’ll only make him suffer mildly for hurting you.”
A spark of hope bloomed in the darkness that had spread across Eric’s chest in the aftermath of his hot coupling with
Gabriel. “Do you really think he’s freaking out?”
“You’ve been dreaming of being his soulmate since you were twelve. He’s had an hour to get used to it. But don’t be
nice to him. He was careless with your feelings. Until he’s apologized and resolved to treat as you deserve, be aloof but not
cruel, okay?”
“I hated the way he looked at me. And his voice was so flat.”
“Good, find your anger. He deserves it. And remember, we have plans to make. We won’t accept defeat; your happiness
is too important.”
As Eric relived those awful moments, he nursed his fury. Richard was right. If Gabriel’s head was spinning, he
could’ve just told Eric that. They were friends, or so had Eric thought. He would’ve understood. Instead of hurt,
disappointment, and a deep sense of loneliness, Eric could be sitting in the car with his soulmate, trying to figure out how to
navigate their future.
Lost in his thoughts, Eric leaned his head on Richard’s shoulder as the tires ate up the miles between the Vegas strip and
their beautiful home. Long before Eric was ready, the car stopped, and Gabriel was there, pulling the door open for him.
“Can I have a moment to speak with you before you go inside?” Gabriel asked once Eric stepped out, his face still a
blank mask.
“About what?” Richard asked.
“I need to speak to Eric alone,” Gabriel replied, a bite in his tone.
“We have plans,” Richard replied. “A little post-dancing drinking and gossiping to do. Your name will probably be
featured prominently.”
“It’s okay, Richard,” Eric said, giving his brother’s hand an affectionate squeeze. “I’ll be right in.”
“I’ll start mixing drinks,” Richard promised. Eric wasn’t yet ready to face Gabriel again, so he watched his brother
stalk to the massive black front door of their mansion at a fast clip. With a quick backward glance and a jaunty wave, Richard
disappeared into the house.
Pushing off the inevitable held no interest, so Eric gave Gabriel his full, undivided attention. He did his best to keep his
expression neutral but doubted he was as proficient as Gabriel at disguising his emotions.
“What do you want to discuss?” Eric asked, proud that his tone was level.
Gabriel reached up and scratched his head with uncharacteristic jerkiness. “I may have been too hasty in dismissing
everything about tonight.”
“What does that mean?”
“Did you tell Richard and Maribeth that you saw our souls touch?”
 Irritated that Gabriel’s first concern was whether he’d spoken to the people closest to him, Eric cocked his head to the
right. “Yes, I did. I told my brother and cousin that you’re my soulmate. But don’t worry, I have no intention of sharing my
delusion with anyone else.”
Closing his eyes and swallowing audibly, Gabriel breathed out heavily as some of the tension left his large frame. “I’d
just prefer if we figured out everything between ourselves before we announce our connection to anyone else.”
“I’m not in the habit of sharing my regrets with anyone but Richard and Maribeth.”
It delighted Eric that Gabriel’s face darkened in the soft glow of the many outdoor lights gleaming from the front of the
stucco house. “I don’t know how to be someone’s soulmate, and it’s going to take me some time to wrap my head around what
this even means.”
“Don’t worry, I don’t want to be with someone solely because destiny or whoever is in charge of these things chose to
have our souls touch. And I certainly don’t want to add to your regret. Or my own. Goodnight, Gabriel.”
Eric wanted to run as far from Gabriel as possible but forced himself to sedately walk away. Although he’d spoken as
nonchalantly as he could, inside, Eric felt a strange mixture of hurt and excitement. Gabriel knew they were soulmates. Yes, his
initial reaction had sucked, and Eric could vividly recall the way he was dismissed. But that didn’t mean they wouldn’t
someday figure out how to honor the bond they’d been given.
Gabriel wanted space and time to deal with it, and Eric was willing to be patient. At least for now. After slipping
inside, Eric leaned against the door and grinned. As messy as the night had been, he’d gotten what he wanted. He’d lost his
virginity to the man of his dreams, and destiny had given them forever. Eric still wanted to have a good cry, but there’d be as
much joy as pain in it.
CHAPTER 8

he weekend had dragged on forever, and Gabriel had spent entirely too much of it thinking. Eric had maintained that he
T wasn’t ghost-hunting and had done nothing else outside of the mansion. He’d kept to his room, and Gabriel had barely
seen him. After the shoddy way Gabriel had treated him, he wasn’t surprised Eric preferred distance.
It hadn’t taken long for Gabriel to experience genuine regret, and it had nothing to do with the way his soul had touched
Eric’s or their decision to have sex. Gabriel hated that he’d panicked and been cruel. He wished he could say that his fear of
the future had lessened or that he had any clue what to do about being a soulmate, but Gabriel was lost in a sea of confusion.
As if the world was sealing the idea of soulbinding firmly in Gabriel’s mind and stealing any further opportunity for
him to deny it, he’d woken on Saturday morning with less bone showing. Now it was Monday, and his toes were normal again.
That moment of impending death remained in his memory, but it was no longer a valid concern. His lifeline had been extended
almost immediately to match Eric’s.
Was it because they’d been friends for Eric’s entire life, making their bond stronger right away, or did it work that way
for every couple? Since Gabriel doubted many inspirits were already turning skeletal when they found their mates, he had no
one to ask. Any knowledge related to necromancy or the resurrected was fiercely guarded and rarely shared. It was too
dangerous, and no one wanted to be exposed to the human population.
All the terror he’d dealt with that day over his imminent demise had been erased. Knowing he was already immortal
only made Gabriel feel worse about his reaction on Friday night. Instead of being grateful for their bond, Gabriel had lashed
out at Eric in the hotel room immediately following those intense moments of incomparable satisfaction. And he was still
afraid—frightened of Eric and the new reality that had been sprung on them. Despite having had a few days to ponder it,
Gabriel was no closer to finding a resolution.
Nothing about their situation had changed. Gabriel remained out of Eric’s league and in the employ of the Marwoods. It
was his duty to ensure Eric was safe, not to sneak into hotel rooms with him or negotiate a soulbinding. Confused,
embarrassed, and convinced his connection to Eric was a horrible mistake, Gabriel forced himself to roll out of bed. His alarm
had yet to go off, but it didn’t matter. Sleep was elusive, and the extra hours of thinking weren’t helping.
If anything, Gabriel needed an escape from the unbearable loop of troublesome thoughts plaguing him. Instead of
providing solutions, all his brain and heart did was panic and spiral through the reasons it was impossible to honor his soul.
With none of his usual enthusiasm, Gabriel dragged himself up to tackle his day.
Mechanically, he went through his normal routine of bathing and dressing. As he disengaged the house alarm, he
recalled he had a meeting with Clark that morning to announce he was dying. Except thanks to Eric, it was no longer true. Not
that Gabriel could confess that to Clark. He couldn’t imagine Clark would take learning that Gabriel had had sex with his
youngest son well. And Clark would probably lose his mind if he knew they were soulmates.
The walk to the mansion purposely took longer than necessary, but Gabriel found himself pulling open the glass door
that led into the great room far too quickly. A haunting piece by Beethoven met his ears, and Eric’s head was bent over the
piano as he played. Sunlight from the windows gleamed off his dark hair, and Gabriel had a sudden urge to brush the stray curl
from his forehead.
Ignoring the strange impulse and chastising himself for yet again thinking inappropriately about Eric, Gabriel forced
himself to head to the kitchen. An unfamiliar voice in his head taunted him for his thoughts. Eric was his soulmate. Why was it
inappropriate to feel tenderly about him? Was it truly wrong to want to offer him affection or be close to him? Irritated, and
wondering which part of himself to trust, Gabriel barely grunted a hello as he snagged a plate and filled it.
David insisted on pouring him a cup of coffee, so Gabriel shuffled to the table and sat. Glancing up from his food,
Gabriel had the misfortune of catching Richard’s eye, and the expression on the necromancer’s face was chilly. Richard hadn’t
taken the news that Gabriel and Eric were soulmates well. And why should he?
Plus, Richard had heard about every rotten thing Gabriel had said to Eric on Friday. It was a wonder Richard hadn’t
convinced his parents to ban Gabriel from the house or have him fired. He likely deserved both and more.
“Everything okay, Gabriel?” Rosalind asked.
“Yeah,” Gabriel lied. “Restless night. I’m tired but otherwise fine.”
“I thought we could have our meeting this morning at the house,” Clark offered.
“Great,” Gabriel replied. That meant he didn’t have the thirty-minute drive to the casino to come up with something to
speak to his boss about.
How the fuck had his life grown so complicated?
That was actually the easiest question to answer. It had happened when Gabriel had stopped thinking and allowed his
dick to make his decisions. Now, his soulmate was in the next room filling the entire first floor of the house with beautiful
melodies, and Gabriel didn’t have any clue how to handle their relationship anymore.
Long before Gabriel was ready, he’d cleared his plate and finished nursing two cups of coffee. Clark had already left
the kitchen, so Gabriel couldn’t procrastinate much longer. He hoped inspiration would strike on his way over to Clark’s home
office, but Gabriel was still desperate for ideas as he stepped into the modern room done like much of the house in dramatic
black and white.
“Have a seat,” Clark said. “I need to finish up this email, then we can talk.”
“Take your time,” Gabriel encouraged as he lowered himself into a plush armchair done in dark velvet.
The only sound in the room was the efficient clack of keys, then Clark’s blue gaze met Gabriel’s, and he smiled.
“Okay, that’s done, now tell me what’s on your mind,” Clark insisted.
Gabriel opened his mouth, but he was at a loss for words. He was given a momentary respite in the form of a yawn.
“Sorry, little tired this morning.”
“I wondered if that was why you wanted to talk to me.”
“Because I’m tired?” Gabriel ventured.
“Yes, I admire how dedicated you are to this family and Eric in particular, but in thirty-three years, you haven’t taken a
day off.”
“I love my job,” Gabriel protested.
“I’m glad to hear it because I can’t imagine our lives without you, but in the past few years you’ve taken less and less
time for yourself,” Clark said. “At the very least, you used to have a social life. You’re an inspirit, and I’d like you to have a
soulmate. You’ll never meet him if all you do is work.”
Guilt rendered Gabriel mute.
“I’m sorry if I’m touching on your personal life, but you know that you’re far more than an employee to this family.
While you still carry Samael’s name, you’re a Marwood, and it’s essential that you take care of yourself.”
Swallowing away the lump in his throat, Gabriel let his gaze hit the plush carpet his chair rested on.
“You haven’t offended me, if that’s your concern,” Gabriel replied gruffly.
“Rosalind has insisted for months that I order you to take a vacation, but that’s never been how our relationship has
worked.”
It was true. Clark didn’t issue orders to Gabriel. He asked for his advice, and together, they implemented plans for
safety at the casinos and at home. Their work relationship was a product of the Marwoods’ desire to include Gabriel in their
family. But they were constantly taking in strays, and he didn’t want to be connected to any family in that way again.
Samael Wolfebrier had betrayed him and eradicated Gabriel’s trust in people. Gabriel worked because Clark had aided
him in building a position that fulfilled him, and he was dedicated to ensuring Eric survived. Being employed wasn’t a
necessity for Gabriel—Samael had left him a very rich man—but Gabriel needed purpose. He’d gone far too long without it
and found having people depending on him addictive.
“Wait,” Gabriel said as he forced himself to stay focused on the subject at hand. “I’ve taken vacations. We go to the
beach at least once a year.”
Those trips had grown into torture for Gabriel. While he loved soaking in the sun, the feel of the sand on his feet, and
swimming in the ocean, a wet Eric frolicking in a small pair of swim trunks meant Gabriel spent the trip trying to conceal the
rise of his dick.
“Except you don’t allow yourself to relax,” Clark chided. “You spend hours working and don’t go a single day without
checking in with the casinos.”
Work was the excuse Gabriel used to escape Eric. Why hadn’t Gabriel understood that until now? He didn’t want to
spend his vacation worrying about duties the inspirits who worked for him were perfectly capable of handling. But the moment
his hormones spiraled out of control, Gabriel would seek the safety of the home office Clark kept in their beach house on the
coast of Marin County, California.
“It’s okay to admit you’re burned out,” Clark said softly. “The last couple of days you’ve hardly been yourself. You
were quiet and withdrawn on Friday, which was why I hoped you’d discuss it with me then. The last thing we want is for you
to feel you need to quit because you’re overburdened.”
“I’m not quitting,” Gabriel vowed, though he wondered if he should. It likely wouldn’t be possible to hide his
connection to Eric forever. Once the truth came out, Gabriel wouldn’t have to worry about his job. He’d be fired on the spot
and probably kicked off the Marwood estate. Would Eric be relieved? On Friday night he’d been the one to bring up their
connection, but now that the surprise had faded, what was in his head? Gabriel imagined Eric was furious that his soulmate
was nothing more than a hired goon whose only talent was his impossibly straight shot.
“Good, I’d like to keep it that way,” Clark replied. “I’m not going to order you to take a vacation, but consider this a
strong urging.”
“I guess I could plan something in a few months,” Gabriel said, hoping by then Clark would’ve given up the idea.
Gabriel didn’t need a social life. In a stupid cloud of lust, he’d already found his soulmate. Unattainable though Eric was, there
was no replacing him. Soulmates were forever. Or so he’d been told.
Although their souls had barely touched, Gabriel refused to consider adding to his woes by fucking anyone else. He
wasn’t even sure if it was possible. Soulmates couldn’t cheat once fully bound, but when in the process did they lose the ability
to respond to others? Gabriel had no fucking clue, and he wasn’t about to ask Clark for his input.
“Gabriel, there’s no reason to put it off,” Clark reasoned. “The house in California is empty. You can stay there if you’d
like. We can have a jet on the tarmac ready to whisk you off for a week or two of relaxation in a couple of hours. Food and
whatever other essentials you need can be delivered, but you should go out and meet people too.”
“You want me to go today?” Gabriel asked incredulously.
“Rhonda can go ghost-hunting with Eric while you’re gone,” Clark said. “He rarely leaves the house except for that,
and usually only at Richard’s urging. It shouldn’t be an issue to keep any nights out at the club or dinner dates off the schedule
until after you return. I don’t want to overwhelm Rhonda; she’s not used to giving up her evenings or weekends. And if we need
to alter things so you don’t have to do that any longer, let me know. We can rearrange duties, resurrect new inspirits to
hopefully add to our team, or do whatever else it takes.”
Clark’s kindness made Gabriel feel even worse about the secret he was keeping, and he wished he could tell him that
Eric was his soulmate. Instead, he was allowing himself to be talked into a vacation he didn’t want, and being handed nearly
everything else he could’ve desired on a platter. Since Gabriel was tired of lying to himself and could no longer stifle the
feelings he’d pretended weren’t there for the past five years, he privately admitted that in a perfect world, he’d tackle his fear.
He’d move past his terror and try to navigate the road at the side of his soulmate.
But life was messy, complicated, and far from perfect. Gabriel and Eric’s soulbinding was impossible, and that thought
depressed the fuck out of him. And left him wondering yet again what the hell he was supposed to do about any of it. Would
distance eventually disconnect their souls? Was that a possibility? Could Gabriel make the ultimate sacrifice and allow Eric to
be with someone else?
“I guess I could go,” Gabriel murmured. He didn’t want a vacation, but he needed some space to think. Being a state
away would hardly be enough distance to run from his problems. However, it would give Gabriel a break from the mixture of
yearning and lust that now overwhelmed him whenever he saw Eric.
“Good, we’ll both pretend I didn’t talk you into it,” Clark replied with a chuckle. “Go get packed. Rosalind and I will
arrange everything.”
As he’d been doing for the past few days, Gabriel woodenly accepted his fate, and he wandered out without a word.
Nothing in his life made sense, and he feared confusion would now plague him for eternity. Gabriel shook his head at the
thought. Being immortal wasn’t something Gabriel could fathom, and he’d certainly never imagined it for himself. But he
couldn’t waste brain power trying to discern what it meant.
He was far too busy trying to figure out what the fuck to do about Eric. His soulmate. The man he’d already seduced
and treated shabbily before their bodies had even cooled. The last thing Gabriel deserved was an unending lifespan or a man
as wonderful, gifted, and beautiful as Eric.
CHAPTER 9

“W hat do you mean, Gabriel went on vacation?” Eric asked incredulously. After eating breakfast and trying to lose himself
in music, Eric had grabbed his things to go ghost-hunting only to find out the inspirit who’d been protecting him from
birth was already on his way to the airport.
“He’s tired and needs a break,” his mother stated unequivocally. “Gabriel hasn’t been himself lately, and your father
and I felt he deserved some time alone. And an opportunity to attend to his own life. He’s never going to meet his soulmate if
he’s working constantly. Rhonda’s on her way over, and she’ll go ghost-hunting with you this week.”
“The vacation was your idea?” Eric asked while trying his best not to think about Gabriel going out and testing whether
sex with someone else was possible.
“Of course it was. Honestly, do you think Gabriel would drop everything for a trip for himself? Never in a million
years. Your father basically shooed him out the door. Hopefully, when Gabriel gets back, he’ll be more himself. He needs some
rest and to worry about nothing but himself for the next week.”
Despite the muddle of his current relationship with Gabriel, the idea of not seeing him for a week was disappointing.
But Eric had no choice but to suck it up and carry on as normal. His parents didn’t know that he and Gabriel were soulmates,
and Eric had no intention of telling them. Not only did Eric refuse to share the news without Gabriel’s consent, but it was also
horribly embarrassing to be dumped by the person meant for him.
Richard stalked into the kitchen in a slick, dark suit and another pair of heeled boots. After one look at Eric’s face,
Richard swung an arm around his shoulders.
“Do you want me to call Douglas? He can handle my appointments today, and I’ll go ghost-hunting with you?” Richard
asked softly.
Eric shook his head. “Of course not, go to work.”
“I know you’ll miss Gabriel, but he’ll only be gone for a week,” their mother said with an indulgent smile. “Both of you
go on with your normal routines, and we’ll have our Gabriel back soon enough.”
Richard kissed Eric’s cheek and hugged their mom, then stalked out.
“Oh,” his mother remarked with a snap of her fingers. “I need to go remind David to add condoms to the supplies he’s
arranging to be delivered to the house for Gabriel. That man is even worse than Gabriel at taking care of his needs, and human
men rightly demand protection.”
Trying not to vomit at the idea of Gabriel using the condoms, Eric watched her leave the kitchen without comment. Eric
had imagined many scenarios in the many years he’d fantasized about being Gabriel’s soulmate, but reality was turning out to
be far darker and sadder than any of his daydreams.
Blowing out a breath, Eric trudged toward the front of the house and dropped onto a padded bench as he waited for
Rhonda to arrive. Staying positive was innate to Eric, so he hoped some time and distance would aid Gabriel. If the inspirit
could step back from the situation and realize how profound of a connection they’d been granted, maybe Gabriel would
discover it wasn’t so bad to be paired with Eric.
Gabriel was at least attracted enough to him to have sex, and they were friends. It wasn’t the worst way to start a
relationship. From what Eric had been told, most soulmates didn’t start off with much more than sexual desire. They had to
learn how to combine their lives. That wasn’t a problem for Eric and Gabriel. Eric wished he could point out some of these
things to Gabriel, but he didn’t want to sound desperate or plead with Gabriel to give them a shot. If he said no again, Eric
wasn’t sure how he would face the man.
Thankfully, before Eric’s brain could take him down that nightmare scenario, Rhonda arrived.
“Ready to find some ghosts?” Rhonda asked, leading him toward the car in a pretty mint green summer dress.
“Yesterday I felt a spirit, but it’s not a strong one,” Eric replied. “A fragment of a soul perhaps, or he or she isn’t
sticking to the same area.”
“All right, where do you want to start your hunt?” Rhonda asked as the car rolled away from the curb.
“Tropicana Avenue.”
Rhonda lifted a dark brow. “Darling, that’s a big street. I don’t suppose your spirit wants to give us a specific address.”
Tropicana Avenue was a major thoroughfare running perpendicular to the famed Las Vegas strip and went beyond the
bright lights of the city proper, but Eric had to start somewhere. He’d learned to trust his instincts many years ago, and although
he might not locate this spirit today, he’d get closer to tracking it.
A grin tugged at Eric’s mouth.
“They usually aren’t that cooperative. I promise to do much of the walking,” Eric said, lifting a hand and crafting a thin
silver crystal. “You can wait by the car, and I’ll teleport back to you once I’m sure the spirit isn’t around.”
Teleportation was an ability Eric loved to experiment with, but he rarely had the chance. He wasn’t even sure how far
of a distance from the homing crystal he could go, but with Gabriel gone, Eric could work on some skills. Since necromancers
couldn’t startle humans by using the crystals to travel often, it was another avenue Eric knew little about. His family used cars
and planes to travel.
The only time he could recall anyone teleporting was when he’d kept a crystal in Richard’s room as a child. If he was
frightened of a bad dream filled with scary ghosts, he could pop in and climb into his brother’s bed. It was Richard who’d
taught Eric how to create the crystal and use it to jump from one spot to another.
“Are you sure? If there’s people around, they may see you disappear,” Rhonda replied.
“If I see anyone, I’ll walk back.”
“And you teleport with Gabe around?” Rhonda asked. “He doesn’t stay at your side through the entire ghost-hunt?”
Without answering her question, since he refused to lie to her, Eric shifted his satchel and scooted toward the door.
They’d already left behind the cluster of mansions on the edge of the city with their opulent views of the mountains, and they
were approaching the first vestiges of civilization. In the distance, Eric could see the plethora of casinos gleaming under the
sun, but his gut told him his current spirit wasn’t that close to the hustle and bustle of Vegas.
“Can we stop here?” Eric asked, handing Rhonda the crystal.
“You’re the boss,” Rhonda remarked. “But you didn’t answer my question.”
“Don’t worry, I never go out of Gabriel’s sight. I won’t wander too far away.”
“Promise me you won’t do anything reckless.”
Eric laughed, but it was a hollow sound. “When have you known me to ever do anything reckless?”
He’d done that the other night by running off to a hotel room with Gabriel, and he’d spent the past few days miserable.
The last thing Eric wanted to do was throw caution to the wind again.
“Eric, you’ve spent your entire life doing exactly what we’ve asked of you,” Rhonda said softly. “Without complaint,
you comply with rules. You’ve never been alone. Not once. You have no privacy and rarely leave the house except for your
ghost-hunts. As much I as approve of your dutifulness and caution, I worry that someday you’ll understand all you’ve sacrificed
in the name of safety. Bend the rules sometimes so you don’t go nuts. I don’t want you to snap and run from this sheltered life
because you can’t stand it any longer. Do the things you can. Get drunk. Have wild sex. Learn new things, and seek adventures
with your guards nearby so we don’t lose you.”
Nearly brought to tears by the compassion and worry in her voice, Eric stepped forward to hug her, and she embraced
him tightly. “You’re right, Rhonda. Thank you. I’ll think about what you said and plan something adventurous.”
“Within reason,” she stated emphatically with her lovely smile.
“Within reason,” Eric promised. “I might even see if Richard wants to have a few martinis with me tonight.”
“Have a little adventure. Wait until your parents are asleep, and get drunk. Strip naked and skinny-dip in that pool of
yours.”
Eric laughed, and this time it was robust and cleansing. “I’m so glad you came ghost-hunting with me today.”
“Me too, now let’s find your spirit.”

✽ ✽ ✽

By Friday night, Eric was no closer to finding his ghost, but he’d laughed merrily with Richard and Maribeth as they frolicked
in the pool without a stitch of clothing. Richard had grandly declared he’d never don a bathing suit again, while Maribeth had
promptly fallen asleep on a massive rainbow pool float. It was silly and wonderful and had helped lift Eric’s spirits—at least
momentarily.
But now it was nearly nine in the evening, and Eric was alone. Which gave him time to think, and that was the last thing
he wanted. It was impossible to stay focused on lost spirits when his brain kept straying to that night with Gabriel. And those
horrid moments after they’d had sex. Did Gabriel still regret it? Would Gabriel ever feel anything but remorse? The phone
rang, interrupting Eric’s stubbornly cyclical thoughts, and a glance at the screen had Eric biting his lip.
It was Gabriel, so what else could he do but answer it? Bracing for whatever was about to be discussed with fear in his
gut, Eric tapped the screen to accept the call.
“Hello,” Eric said.
“Hey,” Gabriel replied. The husky tenor of his voice sent a shiver of pleasure down Eric’s spine. “I wasn’t sure if
you’d answer.”
Eric refused to explain that his relentless crush on Gabriel would hardly allow him to ignore his soulmate, so he
changed the subject. “I’m surprised to hear from you.”
“I didn’t expect to find myself on vacation this week, but I think it’s been a good thing.”
His mind immediately went to the condoms his mother had wanted Gabriel to have, and Eric’s tone was sharp as he
asked, “Enjoying yourself?”
“I can’t complain about spending my days lounging out on a beautiful beach.”
“How’s your tan?”
Gabriel chuckled. “Did I suddenly turn human? I can’t get one of those any more than you can.”
“What else have you been up to?” Eric asked and scrunched up his face as he waited anxiously for the response.
“Thinking. I’ve done a lot of thinking.”
“I thought you’d be going out for fancy dinners. Maybe hit a club. It’s not like you have anyone to guard.”
“Eric, I was just in a club, and my reckless behavior has given me way too much to think about. The last thing I intend
to do is add to my woes. And for the time being, I have a soulmate; I can’t dishonor that.”
“For the time being?” Eric asked. Part of him rejoiced because Gabriel hadn’t met anyone else on his vacation. The rest
of him was completely confused and worried.
“We don’t know enough about soulmates to understand every facet of the relationship. If two people allow distance
between them, can their souls eventually grow apart?”
Eric scowled. It was impossible to believe two souls could disconnect, no matter how long the people involved stayed
apart. The connection between soulmates was too strong, and the gift too remarkable to unravel one day. And it fucking
irritated Eric that Gabriel would consider that an option.
“I don’t think that’s how it works,” Eric retorted. “Two souls meant for each other are now one. I don’t think it ever
fades. That’s ridiculous.”
“I’m sorry, I’m not trying to make you angry. All I’ve done is think, and Eric, I’m not the right man for you. I can’t be
your soulmate. If we push ourselves into honoring this thing because we’ve been told there are no alternatives, we’ll wind up
miserable. There are so many people around us who’d be hurt and disappointed, and I don’t know how we’d fix the mess we’d
make.”
Brushing away a tear, Eric hung his head. Rejection had been hard enough the first time, and now Eric was being tossed
aside again. It hurt. Eric was heartbroken and also furious. As usual, he had no say in his future. Gabriel had decided they
wouldn’t be together without even discussing it with him. It was over before it even began, and somehow Eric’s feelings
weren’t important enough to be considered.
Eric wanted to scream, shout, or sob violently. But he did none of those things. He quietly wept while Gabriel shattered
him with his thoughtless words because, try as he might, he couldn’t hold his tears at bay.
“Are you still there?” Gabriel asked softly.
Lifting his chin, Eric swallowed thickly.
“Yes,” he replied shakily. He took a moment to gather himself. The last thing he wanted was for Gabriel to know how
badly he was hurt. So, he waited until he was sure his voice wouldn’t waver. He’d weep, but he’d do it alone. “I have no
choice but to respect that you don’t want to honor our matebond. Hopefully, you’re right and someday my soul will be free to
find someone worthy of it. Goodnight, Gabriel.”
Without waiting for a response, Eric ended the call with a tap on his screen. He tossed the phone aside and vowed he
wouldn’t even speak to Gabriel unless it was necessary. Since his childhood, Gabriel and his father had planned his life and
safety without his input.
Now, Eric was expected to act like a good little destiny-touched necromancer and accept that Gabriel had made his
decision. So be it. But Eric didn’t have to like it, and he was ready to be a little wild—without ever compromising his own
desire to survive. And he could do that without Gabriel.
CHAPTER 10

abriel was home, but his little house no longer offered him solace. The mansion dominating the views on the left side of
G his home was a daunting shadow now. Inside was the man Gabriel had rejected. His soulmate. It was the toughest
decision Gabriel had ever made, and he hated it. But he had to think of Eric first. And Eric deserved better than him.
Alongside his guilt was fear. Terror had forced Gabriel to make that call on Friday night. To end any chance of romance
with Eric long before any tender feelings emerged between them. Or at least in Eric’s case. Gabriel couldn’t pretend any
longer—he cared for Eric far more than any bodyguard should.
So, here Gabriel sat on a Monday morning, wishing he didn’t have to go up to that big house and sit alongside Eric
while they ate breakfast. And pretend that destiny or whoever oversaw soulbindings hadn’t already made their choice for them.
In time, it had to fade. That tentative touch of two shiny souls reaching for each other would become a forgotten memory. It had
to happen that way.
Eric needed someone who’d put him first. To love him unconditionally and be his best friend. A man braver than
Gabriel. Someone who hadn’t spent fifteen years being manipulated by an asshole while countless destiny-touched
necromancers like Eric died. A man who hadn’t hauled murdered bodies to their final resting places.
Eric deserved a soulmate who believed in forever. Someone who’d worship Eric without end. They’d have everything
in common, and they would fill their days with laughter, kindness, and passion.
And Gabriel would watch them. He’d guard them while envy drove him mad, until he once again grew skeletal and
slowly faded away. It was asking too much now for Eric to recall him fondly, but maybe someday he’d put flowers on
Gabriel’s grave and forgive him for his rejection.
Since Gabriel wanted nothing more than to sob like a baby or rail at whatever forces had put his soul so close to Eric’s
in the first place, he had to force himself to stand up and pull on his suit jacket. Until he was dead and forgotten, he had a job to
do. Gabriel would not fail Eric. He could not fail him.
With a heavy sigh, Gabriel disengaged the house alarm and tramped up the walk between his cozy villa to the
Marwoods’ spacious home. He slid open the tall glass door at the back of the house, and no notes from the piano met his ears.
Instead, he heard Clark shouting after his youngest son.
“Eric, this conversation isn’t finished,” Clark insisted loudly.
Those words did nothing to slow Eric down as he retreated toward the open staircase in a pair of cotton shorts
exquisitely highlighting the perfect curve of his ass. It was a shock to Gabriel’s system to see Eric again after a week. They’d
never been apart, and Gabriel had missed him. Far more than he could even put into words.
It went beyond an initial rush of desire. In a perfect world, he’d run to him and scoop him into his arms. Gabriel closed
his eyes for a moment and cursed the stupid part of him desperate for Eric’s company. His heart was absurd, and Gabriel had to
be brave enough to let Eric go.
“You aren’t listening to me,” Eric retorted sharply without glancing behind him. “So, I’m through discussing it.”
“Eric,” Clark yelled, but Eric’s retreat wasn’t slow, and he disappeared out of sight. Gabriel waited for a slammed
door, but it never happened. It shouldn’t have surprised Gabriel. Eric was rarely given to dramatics, nor did he often argue
with his family.
“Clark, it’s not the end of the world,” Rosalind said. “Sit down and eat your breakfast.”
“Why does he need to learn how to drive?” Clark asked, but he sat and picked up his fork.
“He’s twenty-five; he should’ve had his license years ago,” Richard remarked. “I have mine.”
“And you never use it because I refuse to allow either of you or Maribeth to gallivant around the city without guards,”
Clark groused. “It’s not safe, and I refuse to lose any of you.”
“Dad, he’s not going to do anything reckless,” Richard insisted, his gaze sliding over to Gabriel and narrowing slightly
in disapproval. “Making rash decisions leads to mistakes. And they can hurt.”
Gabriel knew Eric had confided everything about their phone call to Richard. Considering how Gabriel had rejected
Eric, it honestly surprised him Richard wasn’t picking up his knife and stabbing him with it. Few were as protective of Eric as
Richard.
“Gabriel, I’m sorry you’ve come home from a relaxing vacation to immediately deal with family woes,” Rosalind
offered apologetically. “There’s plenty of food on the island; make up your plate and come sit down.”
With a nod, Gabriel did as he was told, but his appetite had fled a week ago, and everything tasted like dust. Since he
had basic needs if he wanted to survive comfortably, he continued to fuel his body with food and exercise. As a resurrected
man, going without eating wouldn’t kill him, but he imagined relentless hunger wasn’t painless. Attending to necessities and
thinking were all he’d done for the past week. It had been the longest seven days of his life.
“If it was just driving, I wouldn’t have gotten so upset with him,” Clark said as Gabriel grabbed a seat next to the chair
Eric had vacated before his arrival.
“What else happened?” Maribeth asked.
Clark shook his head and glanced at Gabriel apologetically. “Eric enjoyed his week with Rhonda and asked me to
consider reassigning her as his permanent guard.”
“He did?” Richard asked incredulously. Gabriel was more stunned Richard had been left in the dark than he was at
hearing about Eric’s wish to be rid of him. If he were in Eric’s position, he wasn’t sure he’d want to spend so many hours of
the day with the man who’d rejected him either.
“Yes,” Clark replied. “Rhonda’s lovely to be with and a trusted member of our security team. But she’s only five years
out from her resurrection. I’m sure even if I asked her to take over the duty, she’d decline. Rhonda’s focused on learning
everything she can about not just personal security, but how the casinos function. She’s very happy with her current role. It’s
wonderful we have someone Eric trusts so you can have breaks, Gabriel, but I’m sure you agree things should remain as they
are.”
“Perhaps we should spend more resources on preparing Rhonda for the future,” Gabriel commented without looking
away from the cut fruit he was pushing around his plate. “I won’t be around forever, and someone will have to replace me.”
“Won’t you?” Richard asked sharply.
“Dear, you know that as painful as it is, inspirits aren’t immortal,” Rosalind replied. “But I hope we have you, Gabriel,
for a very long time. I don’t know what I’ll do without you. My heart breaks to think about it.” She patted David’s hand. “This
family won’t be the same without our inspirits.”
“David, you need a necromancer soulmate,” Richard insisted.
David’s mouth twisted, but he didn’t say a word as he stared at his plate. The shy inspirit went nowhere without
Rosalind, and his forays were limited to an occasional trip to get groceries. Even amongst his family members, David was
quiet and preferred to observe rather than speak.
“Yes, he does,” Rosalind said. “So does Gabriel. And neither of you are going to find your soulmates if you’re always
hanging around the house. I’d love the both of you to show more interest in your futures and your happiness.”
“Mom, totally agree that David needs his soulmate,” Richard said with another pointed glance in Gabriel’s direction.
“But I don’t think everyone needs a soulmate to be happy.”
Rosalind chuckled. “Oh, Richard, I almost feel sorry for the poor man who has to convince you to take a chance on your
heart. I hope he’s up to the task, or you’re going to drive him out of his mind.”
“On that note, I’m going to work,” Richard replied and rose with his plate in hand.
“I’m ready to go too,” Clark said. “Gabriel, Eric wants to ghost-hunt this morning. I’ll meet with you first thing after
lunch to catch you up on everything you missed while you were on vacation. And I want all the details about your trip too.”
“We didn’t even get the chance to talk about it,” Rosalind bemoaned. “I have questions. I’ll save them for dinner. Call if
you’re going to miss it.”
“Of course,” Gabriel said, though he doubted she’d want to hear he’d spent his time trying desperately not to imagine a
world where he was worthy of her youngest son.

✽ ✽ ✽

Eric remained on the same disappointing ghost-hunt he’d started a week ago. Whatever was left of the soul, it was a faint echo
of who they’d been in life. And they were wandering. Eric would get close, only to find the fluttering inside telling him a spirit
was nearby had disappeared. Hours later, he’d feel it again and hope the ghost could wait until morning.
Keeping his schedule rigid hadn’t bothered Eric until his soulmate had dumped him and he’d realized he didn’t even
have a say in how he spent his days. Gabriel and his father had always designed everything without complaint from Eric. Too
lost in the clouds mooning over the impossibly beautiful man hovering a few feet away, Eric had allowed his life to spiral out
of his control.
Now, he was stuck spending his mornings with Gabriel, and his attempt to have Rhonda at his side instead had been
instantly slapped down by his father. On some level, Eric couldn’t blame him. It wasn’t as if Eric could explain why he didn’t
want Gabriel around. So, he’d had to lean heavily on how wonderful Rhonda was and pretend there wasn’t anything else
motivating his sudden desire for change. His father had been unmoved and uninterested in the idea of reassignment.
So, Eric was stuck with Gabriel. They stood out in the scorching sun, and Eric took some perverse pleasure because he
was dressed for the weather in a T-shirt and thin shorts, while Gabriel had on his customary suit sans tie. Eric wasn’t one to
wish suffering on another, but he hoped Gabriel’s balls were dripping with sweat in his perfectly pressed slacks.
“Have you found your spirit yet?” Gabriel asked softly.
They were standing in a parking lot on Tropicana Avenue, to the east of the strip near a long string of shops with faded
terracotta tile roofs. Thankfully, there weren’t many people around so early in the morning because the custom-built stretch
sedan they’d emerged from was conspicuous among the compact cars and minivans around them.
“No,” Eric replied.
“How long have you been searching for this one?”
Eric forced himself to meet Gabriel’s grass green eyes. He could read little of the inspirit’s thoughts, and he cursed his
foolish imagination. How had he ever thought he’d catch the interest of such a reserved and enigmatic man? He’d known
Gabriel his entire life but had no clue how his mind worked or why he bothered to feign interest in the things Eric did. Lust had
allowed Eric to have Gabriel alone long enough to make memories that still made his heart race, but it had faded fast. At least
for Gabriel.
“Why do you want to know?” Eric asked belligerently.
“I was just curious.”
“We don’t have to pretend to be friends, Gabriel.”
“We are friends.”
Eric snorted, though he was far from amused. “Please don’t humor me.”
“Look, I know this whole situation is fucked up. But we did nothing wrong. We gave in to an impulse, and we’re
unattached adults. We couldn’t have known about this whole other business.”
“I should’ve just gotten drunk and skinny-dipped in a pool instead,” Eric muttered, trying not to let his hurt show as
Gabriel cut fresh wounds into him.
Gabriel smiled. “Maybe you should do that. Have a little fun.”
“I already did. Last week. Rhonda told me to enjoy myself and explore new things. So, that’s what I’m doing.”
“Please tell me you skinny-dipped at home,” Gabriel growled.
The expression on Gabriel’s face at learning about his naked escapade made Eric’s belly flop, and he had at least one
question in his mind answered. There was genuine attraction there. Gabriel hadn’t slept with him out of pity or because he
hadn’t wanted to reject the boss’s son. That spark was real, and although their relationship was a disaster now, it soothed Eric
to know nothing about their raw coupling had been feigned. Unfortunately, desire was the only thing they had in common
besides two souls that had reached for each other. And those souls would now go without their other half thanks to Gabriel’s
decision to end things.
“I did this time,” Eric replied. “I enjoyed it, and I plan to do it again.”
“Is that why you want to learn to drive? So you can find places to skinny-dip?”
Eric rolled his eyes. “No, I’m an adult and I want to learn. It shouldn’t be up for debate, and if you have any arguments
against it, keep them to yourself.”
“I don’t have any problem with you learning to drive. But I hope you’ll remember that you have security for a reason.
I’d hate for you to gamble with your life. Bring a guard with you. Promise me, Eric, that no matter where you go, you’ll be
safe.”
The last thing Eric wanted to do was promise Gabriel anything, but he said, “I don’t want to die, and with a few distinct
exceptions like bringing you to a hotel room, I’m not in the habit of doing stupid things.”
Gabriel took the insult in stride and bobbed his head in agreement. Even in the bright glare of the sun with sweat
glistening on his forehead, Eric knew he’d make the same foolish decision of having sex with him again. Irritated with himself
and Gabriel, he focused again on the elusive spirit sporadically tugging at his soul.
Helping the spirit find peace would do little to level out the cascade of rioting emotions inside Eric, but his ghost-hunts
were never about him. Eric wanted no soul to suffer and had long ago made it his mission to fight for those without a voice.
And he couldn’t do that if he spent every hour of his day focused on the gorgeous blond who’d broken his heart.
CHAPTER 11

week after Gabriel returned to work, he trudged into Clark’s office and reminded himself to stand up straight. He was
A tired of evading questions about what was bothering him, and the people around him were far too perceptive. The
Marwoods and the employees Gabriel oversaw knew him too well not to recognize that he wasn’t his usual self.
If only Gabriel could tell someone about his unruly emotions. Or how he’d pushed away his soulmate. He had to stop
thinking about that moment in the hotel room when his soul had touched Eric’s. That was what he told himself each morning
after he spent hours dreaming of him and an impossible future where they were together.
It was a mantra he repeated as each hour of his day passed. The days remained long despite the fall equinox being
nearly upon them, but as soon as the sun started to fade behind the horizon, Gabriel crawled into bed.
He escaped from the ache in his heart, his steadily growing guilt, and his surety that he was the worst thing to ever
happen to Eric. This allowed his unconscious mind to weave lovely dreams of another life. One where he and Eric embraced
their connection. In his mind, they were a spectacular match. They talked, laughed, and loved.
Then Gabriel’s alarm went off, and he returned to being the stupid failure who had turned a blind eye to Samael
Wolfebrier’s depravity and aided him in hiding his horrid misdeeds. Even as a little boy’s parents had begged him to help, he’d
believed in Samael right until the second the necromancer had pumped a bullet into the child’s chest.
Without Eric’s parents, Gabriel would be in jail. Gabriel wasn’t sad Samael was dead, and he deserved some
punishment for what had happened for fifteen years while he’d indulged in whatever whim hit him. He’d fucked his way
through pretty boys, spent hours idling on the beach and hired stylists to ensure he was fashionable. With a gun on his hip,
Gabriel had convinced himself he was the good guy even as he’d searched for remote places to bury the nameless dead. He’d
been arrogant enough to believe he was helping necromancers everywhere by being a Wolfebrier.
Before Gabriel’s feet hit the floor each morning, he forced himself to touch the scar below his collarbone and
remember how another bullet had ripped through him. The bullet meant for a child gifted as Eric was. A little boy who’d died
because Gabriel had stood in a cool mansion dismissing his parents’ concerns. And Gabriel hadn’t been smart enough to
comprehend the true ramifications of the things he had done in the service of Samael. So grateful for Samael’s gift of life, he’d
questioned nothing. He’d lived with every comfort money could buy. While the destiny-touched had died.
How different would the world have been if some of those people had lived? What knowledge was lost? How many
spirits wandered still because of the lack of destiny-touched out there creating portals for them?
Those questions couldn’t be answered, and Gabriel had to pay a price for his blind trust and indolence. Unfortunately,
Gabriel couldn’t have known the cost would be his own soul. He kept telling himself that soon whatever force had paired him
with Eric would recognize the futility of the situation and free them. Eric deserved happiness. A soulmate worthy of him. And
Gabriel had to believe he’d get that someday.
Even though the last thing Gabriel wanted was to watch Eric fall in love with someone else. Thoughts like that were
selfish and made Gabriel hate himself that much more for being a dickhead. He also despised his pitiful heart, aching
mercilessly for the man he couldn’t have—for the necromancer whose blue eyes were far from dreamy these days. And it was
Gabriel’s fault for rejecting him.
“Gabriel, are you all right?” Clark asked from behind his desk.
Humiliated that he’d walked into his boss’s office, then stood like a dolt in front of him, Gabriel colored. “Yeah, sorry.
Blanked out or something.”
Clark’s gaze was filled with empathy. “Are you sure you don’t need more time off? I know you don’t want to talk about
what’s bothering you, but everyone who cares about you can tell that you’re not your usual self.”
The last thing Gabriel wanted was more time to think about what he’d done and the aftermath of recklessly giving in to
his desire for Eric.
“I’m fine,” Gabriel lied. “And I don’t need another vacation, I just had one.”
The frown on Clark’s face told Gabriel he wasn’t fooling him. “I promise to stop badgering you about this, since you
don’t want to discuss it, but that’s an open offer. You have a stressful job with a lot of responsibility on your shoulders. It’s
understandable that it grows tiring or overwhelming sometimes. I think we should agree that you take at least one vacation a
year for yourself and your sanity.”
“Sure, we can agree on a trip. But I just had one, so let’s focus on the present. I love my job, and it’s not stressing me
out.” That much was true. It was his personal life tearing him apart.
“And you’re ready to focus on business,” Clark stated with a small smile.
“I am.”
 “Next month is our visit with the Arwynns. No matter how many feelers I put out there, I can’t figure out who else is
going. I’ve learned some guests have offered to attend virtually. Whether Arwynn has agreed to that yet remains unclear. The
level of secrecy is expected, but disappointing too. I prefer to walk into a meeting at least knowing who I’m meeting with.”
“Are you second-guessing your decision to go?”
“Yes, I’m not sure I’m gaining anything by accepting Arwynn’s invitation, and there is a lot at stake. I may have to send
my regrets. I’m giving my sources another week, then I’ll let you know if there’s been a change to my schedule.”
“I’m sure there are plenty of people who’ll be pleased to learn that you suddenly have an open day on your calendar.”
Clark chuckled. “No question. My assistant will have those blocked-off hours filled within minutes if we don’t visit the
Arwynns.”
“What about attending virtually?”
“It’s an option, I suppose, but one I rarely use.”
“I know, but you could learn about Arwynn and his guests without compromising your safety.”
“Good point, I’ll mention it to Rosalind and get her input,” Clark said. “I hope she’s right about letting Eric learn to
drive. The thought of him driving off into danger is giving me nightmares.”
“I found an instructor for him, and I’ll be in the car for his lessons.”
“The fact that you’ll be at his side is the only reason I gave in to the request. As well as you’ve trained your team, no
one is more dedicated to keeping Eric safe than you. We’re lucky to have you.”
Gabriel swallowed guiltily and wondered if Clark would be feeling so grateful if he knew Eric had shivered in his
arms as he came.
“Should we move on to reviewing the list of incidences and concerns from guests we’ve acquired this week?” Gabriel
asked, trying desperately not to discuss Eric with the man’s father for another second.
Since nothing was more vital to Clark than safety, he discussed every aspect with Gabriel frequently, so it was an easy
topic to distract him. Monday or Tuesday afternoons always began with a similar discussion about the previous week, and new
procedures or schedule adjustments were made as necessary. Pushing their conversation toward business kept Gabriel from
falling further into the well of hopelessness and remorse plaguing him.
No matter the consequences, Gabriel couldn’t regret that night in the hotel. As quick as his release had come, those
moments with Eric were sacred memories. Hot, sexy ones constantly slipping into his happy dreams of them together. And
Gabriel foolishly wished for a second chance to hold Eric close.
It would never happen again. Eric had barely spoken to him since the night he’d called to tell him their relationship was
impossible. Gone was the easy friendship they’d shared, and in its place was a constant, haunting silence. But that didn’t stop
Gabriel from yearning to be at his side. Which just proved what a fool he was.

✽ ✽ ✽

“I snuck some chips out of the kitchen,” Richard said, pulling the glass door shut behind him as he handed a bag and bowl to
Eric. It was below triple digits for the first time in a couple of months, but not by much. Eric sat outside on the balcony that led
into his bedroom. “I left your door open. Mari says she’ll come up once we’re done gawking.”
Eric set the bowl on the table between the two chaises and emptied the bag of chips into it as his brother flopped onto
the seat on the other side of their snack. They were both barefoot and dressed casually in fashionable shorts.
“He just got there; we may be here for a while,” Eric remarked.
“Right? We’re appreciating the male form, and we will not be rushed,” Richard replied, helping himself to some chips.
“If it were some gorgeous woman wearing boxing gloves, Mari would drag us out here to watch.”
“Next time Gabriel works out on his deck, we should convince him to invite Rhonda.”
“Last year, Mari’s crush on Rhonda was almost as bad as mine on Gabriel. Mari’s smart,” Eric said, bitterness making
his voice sharp. “She got over it and went back to meeting beautiful women.”
“Somewhere in your soul, maybe you recognized him as being part of you,” Richard responded softly. “Don’t be hard
on yourself because it hasn’t worked out yet. It’s not a silly crush. He’s your friend. One of the people closest to you. No one
probably knows more about the spirits you communicate with than Gabriel. You miss that, don’t you?”
Closing his eyes and breathing in slowly, Eric reflected on the past three weeks. He’d somehow enticed Gabriel into a
hotel room and had the most incredible moments of his life. Then he’d been dumped. Twice. It was difficult not to feel stupid.
And cheated. He’d been handed his soulmate. Only Gabriel—who was currently stripped down to nothing but a pair of loose
shorts, pummeling a punching bag on the wide deck of his home—wanted nothing to do with Eric.
The distance separating them didn’t allow Eric to see any emotion on that handsome face. Which was nothing new.
Since Gabriel returned from his vacation, he’d kept his expressions carefully neutral. Eric hoped he was as successful in his
bid to do the same. He’d been smart enough to keep conversation to a minimum in order to keep the anger and embarrassment
from showing, and Richard was right. He missed him.
 “Yeah,” Eric replied. “Not once in all the years since I first learned I could hear spirits has Gabriel ever complained
about me standing outside talking to things only I can see. It doesn’t matter how many days or weeks it takes until the spirit is
ready to be coaxed into a portal; Gabriel is curious about their lives, and I truly believe he wants them to find happiness like I
do. It’s been hard to keep that bottled up and force myself not to spill everything to him about the spirits I’ve aided since that
night at the club.”
He yearned to see Gabriel’s mouth curled in amusement when Eric had a funny detail about a ghost to share, or to hear
the husky laugh that never failed to cause a lovely shiver to rush through him. And Eric was annoyed that he was searching for
Gabriel’s happiness when the man had stolen it from him.
“Because long before you finally got him into a hotel room, he was your friend,” Richard replied. “How many necros
are lucky enough to find their soulmate after they’ve built a bond like you have with Gabriel? We’re taught to seek out our other
half, but at the same time we don’t want to build a strong relationship with someone only to learn they aren’t the person
destined for us. It’s a minefield, Eric.”
Eric was unsure how to respond to his brother, so the sound of the door opening again behind them was a welcome
intrusion. But when he glanced back, it was his mother stepping outside instead of Maribeth.
“You’re having dinner in less than ninety minutes; why are you out here eating chips?” his mother asked as she
contradicted her words by snagging a couple of the salty treats for herself.
“I was taught to appreciate the finer things in life,” Richard replied with a grin that didn’t quite reach his blue eyes.
“So, Eric and I are out here watching a gorgeous man sweat very sexily and celebrating with excellent fare.”
“Our Gabriel is beautiful,” their mother agreed, resting her weight against Eric’s chaise. “And it’s positively sinful the
way those muscles bunch as he works out.”
“I slept with him,” Eric offered conversationally.
“Did you?” his mother asked, lifting her brows in surprise. A few seconds later, her lips curved. “Lucky boy.”
Eric fortified himself with chips and enjoyed the view of his soulmate, landing punch after punch in the bag bolted onto
the roof of his deck. He still wanted him. Nothing about that would ever change, and it was both thrilling and maddening. “I’m
thinking about doing it again.”
“Are you?” Richard asked, his voice rising with shock and concern.
“You’re young and unattached. Have fun but remember…Gabriel will always be a part of this family,” his mother
warned. “Don’t do anything to make it weird. Seduce him if you like, but don’t get tangled up in anything that breaks either of
your hearts. You’re adults; you can have sex without strings. And remember, taking chances with sex is the only way either of
you will ever find your soulmate.”
“Trust me, I don’t want to get involved with Gabriel,” Eric said. Although his heart and soul ached for the man, Eric
had already learned how dangerous it was to have feelings for Gabriel. “I’d just like to enjoy his body.”
“It’s quite a body,” his mother responded. “Don’t fill up on chips; we’re going to have a nice dinner. Alden is coming,
and it’s been so long since we’ve had the whole family together.”
Rosalind disappeared into the house, and Eric wondered how she’d convinced his uncle to finally join them at the table
again. Although both his parents spoke of their closeness with Alden, that had ended when Eric was still a child. There were
photos of Alden throughout the house wearing a bright smile, but Eric rarely saw any joy on his often-absent uncle’s face.
Perhaps he was finally turning a corner and was finding some happiness again.
“It’ll be good to see Uncle Alden,” Eric remarked.
Richard waved an agitated hand in the air. “Yes. Yes, of course. Can’t wait. Eric. What the fuck? You want to sleep
with Gabriel again? Are you sure?”
“I think I do,” Eric replied, then shook his head. “I know I do.”
“Baby, he’s already rejected you twice. Why are you suddenly throwing caution to the wind?”
“Because he’s my soulmate. I know he doesn’t want to be, and I respect that. Okay, that’s a lie. I’ve accepted that. But
why should I have to go without sex until he decides he’s ready to face what’s between us?” Eric demanded.
“I’m not saying you shouldn’t. But I’m scared it’s never going to be that easy. You have feelings for him, and he can hurt
you again. We were just talking about how much you miss his friendship. What if having sex again pulls you even further
apart?”
“If I go into this knowing it’s just sex, it’ll be fine.”
Eric turned to meet Richard’s gaze and found concern darkening his brother’s blue eyes. “You’re an adult, and I have to
trust you when you say you know what you’re doing. But I’m also terrified.”
“I think we should do another club night.”
“Can I at least put you in the emergency outfit and have him swallow his tongue when he gets a look at you?”
“Yes. In fact, I want you to make me as sexy as possible,” Eric said, privately wondering if he could even convince
Gabriel to sleep with him again.
Richard rubbed his hands together. “Thankfully, I have the perfect canvas to work with. We’re going to blow him away.
A week’s notice should be enough for our stalwart security supervisor.”
“A week is good.”
“Promise me you won’t even talk to the man afterward,” Richard said. “Don’t give him any chance to say something
about regret or any of that other bullshit. Stalk out of that room with your head held high, okay? Enjoying yourself right now is
fine, but someday we have to fix your matebond.”
The memory of Gabriel tossing that washcloth at him, then breaking his heart, stole through his wounded soul, and he
wondered if he was making another colossal mistake.
“I will be careful. It’s just sex right now,” Eric stated, though the words were more for himself than for Richard. “I’m
just going to be fucked by a beautiful man, then walk out.”
“And if he hurts you again, I get to kick him in the balls.”
“Deal.”
CHAPTER 12

xercise used to be therapeutic for Gabriel, but today’s hour with his punching bag had just made him tired. As much as he
E wanted a nap, he was expected for dinner, so he took a quick shower and pulled on chinos and a polo. Since Rosalind
was buzzing with excitement over having Alden at the table, Gabriel wasn’t anticipating a quick meal. Which meant he’d
spend at least the next hour or two with Eric.
Pleasure and pain wound through him as he shoved his feet into shoes and braced himself for socializing. Once he was
sure he’d tamped down his emotions, Gabriel left his house and walked up to the mansion at nearly his usual speed. He was
hungry, and he enjoyed the company of the Marwoods, but being around Eric caused a sticky mess of emotions Gabriel could
barely negotiate.
It brought him joy to gaze at Eric’s beautiful face. Until he saw the look in Eric’s bright blue eyes. Gone was the dreamy
man lost in whatever thoughts brought him happiness. Instead, Eric’s anger and disappointment were impossible to miss. And it
made Gabriel feel like a complete shit. He’d callously rejected him, and Gabriel swore his soul ached with the thought.
As hard as Gabriel tried, he couldn’t stop revisiting the moment their lives had irrevocably changed. New questions
had popped into his head that morning. Instead of waiting for a day when their souls would part, Gabriel was wondering how
long he could keep pretending his feelings for Eric were mundane.
With a shake of his head at his own stupidity, Gabriel pulled open the door of the mansion and immediately heard the
Marwoods chatting happily.
“Gabriel,” Clark called out, spotting him. “Come on over and say hello to Alden. Can I grab you a drink?”
“It’s great to see you,” Gabriel told Alden as they shook hands. Like his brother, Alden had dark hair and blue eyes. But
Alden’s gaze remained clouded with sadness.
“Always a pleasure to see you too, Gabriel. How are you?” Alden asked. “How is ghost-hunting going with Eric?”
“Eric’s a master with his ghosts. He gets more to cross into his portals with each passing year. I’m well, how are you?”
“I’m doing great. I was intending to spend the weekend in LA, but Rosalind cornered me at the house, and here I am,”
Alden remarked.
“I’m so happy you’re here, Dad,” Maribeth enthused, winding her arm through her father’s.
“Gabriel, you don’t have a drink yet,” Rosalind chastised with a smile. “Let’s head into the dining room. David has
outdone himself with tonight’s menu.”
The quiet inspirit blushed as he ducked his head and rushed into the kitchen with barely a sound. Gabriel followed him
to grab a beer and refused to glance in Eric’s direction. It was cowardly, but Gabriel was running out of methods to handle the
tangled situation.
With his drink in hand, Gabriel followed the happily chatting Marwoods into the dining room, trying not to feel like an
interloper. They’d treated him like family from the first day Clark and Rosalind had inexplicably bailed him out and handed
him everything. Suddenly he’d had a job with purpose and Samael’s estate to ensure he never went without, and he had built
genuine confidence in himself.
Then their youngest son had gone on his first date, and Gabriel had slowly unraveled. Almost five years later, Gabriel
had finally admitted to himself how deep he’d fallen for Eric. It hadn’t been a pleasant realization since he wasn’t good enough
for him, and today he continued to deny his soul its mate. It was ripping Gabriel apart one piece at a time.
Gabriel grabbed a chair and wasn’t sure if he wanted to sigh with relief or cry at the friendship he’d lost when Eric
chose a seat on the other side of the table. Being torn between two opposing emotions was a feeling he was growing far too
accustomed to lately.
“Don’t you think so, Gabriel?” Rosalind’s voice cut through the haze in Gabriel’s mind, and he was embarrassed that
once again he’d spaced out. It had been happening with increasing frequency ever since that sexy-but-frightening night at the
hotel with Eric.
“I’m sorry, I was lost in thought, I missed what we were talking about,” Gabriel said, his cheeks pinkening.
Rosalind’s smile dimmed, and her blue gaze was fraught with concern. “I was just telling Alden about Eric’s driving
lessons and how wonderful I think it is that he’s trying something new.”
“Yes,” Gabriel replied. “Eric had his first lesson this week, and the instructor seemed pleased.”
“I drove in a parking lot,” Eric remarked. “It wasn’t that difficult.”
“Gabriel has always been Eric’s biggest supporter,” Clark bragged.
Alden glanced at Gabriel. “Yes, I understand from the inspirits at the casinos that Gabriel is devoted to ensuring Eric
has everything he wants.”
 Gabriel barely masked his frown as his mind raced. Had someone told Alden about the night he’d been with Eric? He
waited with bated breath for Alden to reveal everything to Clark and Rosalind, but Alden’s attention returned to his meal, and
Gabriel was left wondering if his guilt had forced him to perceive things that didn’t exist.
“Speaking of what Eric wants, we’re planning another night at the club next weekend,” Richard said.
“Why am I just learning about this?” Maribeth asked.
“Because you weren’t upstairs with us when we decided it would be fun,” Richard replied.
Maribeth pursed her lips. “And you know why I wasn’t upstairs, but I’m totally in for a night out.”
“Me too,” Eric commented. He turned to Gabriel with his chin lifted and challenge blazing in his eyes. “I plan to have
an even more exciting night than I did last time. Is a week enough notice for you to arrange security, Gabriel?”
Gabriel’s shoulders slumped, and he shook his head. It made sense Eric wanted to move on. Gabriel should’ve
expected it. He was the one who’d rejected Eric, and now he’d be forced to watch him march off with someone new. Although
he wanted to beg Eric not to allow another man to touch him, Gabriel had no right to plead for anything. His soul ached, and his
heart hurt. He’d lost the stupid thing to the beautiful necromancer staring at him defiantly.
“A week is fine,” Gabriel mumbled, dropping his attention to his plate. Maybe if he sat there quietly enough, everyone
would forget he was there. He wasn’t up to conversation or eating. His appetite had fled, and he wanted to go home to be
alone. Preoccupied with the maelstrom of his troubling thoughts and emotions, Gabriel no longer understood what was right or
wrong. If shoving Eric away was the best thing to do, why the fuck was it so painful?

✽ ✽ ✽

Scratching his head, Eric stared at the outfit Richard had refused to show him until now. There was far less material on the
hangers than he would’ve expected, and Richard wasn’t one to cover his assets. His brother’s closet was filled with plenty of
sexy clothes, but Eric preferred the understated.
His mouth twisted. Ahead of him was a daunting challenge. Somehow, Eric had to convince Gabriel to forget they were
soulmates. They were barely friends any longer. Thanks to Eric’s discomfort when hiding his emotions, normal conversations
with Gabriel were impossible. They’d become nothing more than bodyguard and destiny-touched necromancer.
It was awkward—at least for Eric. Gabriel’s thoughts were impossible to decipher. And he’d become withdrawn from
the entire family. Both of Eric’s parents were worried, but it wasn’t as if he could explain anything. Gabriel wanted no one to
know, and he ensured ample distance remained between them.
Eric hated it. Beyond his heartbreak, there was also guilt. Gabriel was their family, and he was isolating himself
because of Eric. The Marwoods were buzzing with excitement about Alden agreeing to more meals with them, and Maribeth
was overjoyed her father was making time for her. But under that delight was the growing concern for Gabriel.
With each passing day, Gabriel grew more remote. Eric’s desire to entice him into repeating the spicy-but-shattering
night in the hotel was probably stupid. But he couldn’t help his need to be close to him, even if it was just sex. With Gabriel so
aloof, the difficulty of Eric’s quest to seduce him had increased.
So, Eric had to set aside his misgivings and put on the outfit Richard had chosen. Showing off the body his magic kept
toned was a necessary weapon in the battle to win Gabriel. It was reckless, and Eric was setting himself up for more hurt, but
he wanted his soulmate. Thankfully, Eric had an eternity to somehow convince Gabriel to give them a chance. He’d need it. But
tonight wasn’t about trying to capture Gabriel’s heart.
Gabriel wasn’t ready for that, and Eric didn’t want to be rejected again. And there was the possibility Gabriel couldn’t
even be convinced to indulge in desire. But without risk, there was no reward. It was a cliché, but it was also Eric’s mantra for
the night.
A knock on the door made Eric jump, and he nearly shrieked.
“You’re freaking out, aren’t you?” Richard asked.
“I’m not sure this outfit is legal,” Eric muttered.
Richard cackled. “Trust me, you’ll be dangerous as fuck in it. Hurry and get dressed so we can do hair and makeup.”
“Fine.”
“You have five more minutes to freak out in there,” Richard said. “The rest of your meltdown will have to happen
while I’m working on your face.”
“Okay.”
Eric didn’t bother arguing with his brother that he needed more time. Whether he took five minutes or twenty, Richard
wouldn’t chastise him. His brother was the best. And clearly thought Eric wouldn’t look like an idiot in the scraps of clothing
he’d picked out for him.
With a heavy exhale that fluttered the curls resting on his forehead, Eric pulled off his shorts and T-shirt. He switched
from boxers into a wisp of material that served as his underwear. Then he shimmied into the tightest pair of pants he’d ever
worn. They had a slight sheen and a ghostly skull stamped on the right leg. As for the other side, it was nearly criminal.
 Half of it was nothing but stretchy lacing that settled comfortably over the muscles of his thigh. Eric gave himself no
time to consider balking and carefully tugged the shirt over his head. Like the pants, it was tight and revealing. A mixture of
fine mesh, lace, and supple matte cloth, the top ended in a ragged, uneven hem. Despite how little it covered, Eric stared in the
mirror and was happy with his reflection. He felt sexy. Empowered.
Whipping open the door, Eric stalked out in his bare feet, and Richard shrieked.
“Yes,” his brother screamed. “I knew it was perfect for you. You look gorgeous, baby.”
“And most importantly, he loves it,” Maribeth crowed, high-fiving a glowing Richard.
“Sit, sit, sit,” Richard insisted, patting the upholstered chair he’d pulled from Eric’s desk.
“I don’t want you to hold back because you think I won’t like it,” Eric said as he sat. “I want to blow his fucking mind.”
“Oh, a challenge,” Richard sang, grabbing a small tub of moisturizer and dabbing it on Eric’s skin. “What if we did
something daring?”
“We could straighten his curls. Make him look totally different,” Maribeth suggested. “And I have some of those wax
things to put color in. It’ll wash right out, so no commitment. How about pink?”
“Blue,” Richard replied. “It’ll bring out his eyes.”
Maribeth clapped. “I’ll go grab it from my room.”
“Are you okay with losing the curls for a night?” Richard asked. “Because I’m not sure I am. I love your hair.”
Eric smiled. “They’ll be back as soon as my hair gets wet. And I’ve never done that before. I’m into trying new things
these days.”
“Okay, then let me go in with the blow dryer first, then we’ll switch to the straightener if we can’t get it perfect,”
Richard said. “I’m going to need products. Be right back.”
His brother rushed out, and Eric sighed. Was he out of his mind for thinking a little makeup and a different hairstyle
would do anything to move Gabriel? Eric closed his eyes and promised himself if Gabriel turned him down, he’d be okay. And
that if Gabriel did venture into a hotel room with him, Eric wouldn’t expect anything more than sex. This night was solely for
desire. It wasn’t about two soulmates. All Eric wanted was to get off and hopefully please Gabriel too.
His heart still stung from Gabriel’s rejection, and Eric’s decision to go out was probably foolish. But he wanted to feel
that rush again. To be held in Gabriel’s grasp or sucked into his mouth as he came. And if Eric pretended in those heated
moments they had forever, he’d keep it to himself.
CHAPTER 13

here were stages to hell. Gabriel made that unwelcome discovery as he slouched against a wall in the club and never took
T his eyes off Eric. He barely resembled the man Gabriel had dined with earlier that night. His incredible body was
showcased beautifully in an outfit revealing more than it concealed. All that uncovered skin reminded Gabriel of those
erotic moments when he’d stripped Eric and made him come.
Although Gabriel preferred Eric’s soft curls, the way his straightened hair was brushed away from his face brought
more attention to his bright blue eyes, which were highlighted with liner and shadow. Gabriel knew nothing about cosmetics,
but whatever they’d done to Eric’s face, it had made him go from delicate to dangerous. And that lush mouth was painted
several shades darker than normal—Eric looked well-kissed, and Gabriel longed to taste him again.
As if the clothes and makeup weren’t enough to torture the stupid man who’d rejected Eric, the necromancer moved
sensuously to the beat of the loud music. Gabriel wanted to rush forward and crush Eric against him. To strip him naked, to fuck
and suck him until they were both sated.
Since that was out of the question, Gabriel gave up any pretense of being nice to anyone. Morosely, he stood at the edge
of the room with his dick hard and his mood sour. He ached with need. And he couldn’t stop thinking about the last time he’d
had the duty of guarding Eric at the club. His damn brain had latched onto those moments when their souls had touched, and
Gabriel couldn’t stop the endless loop tormenting him.
He wanted to cry and scream with fury at his own idiocy. A month had passed since that night, and he was barely
holding on to his sanity. Nothing had changed. Despite the ugly distance between them now, Gabriel remained stubbornly
immortal. His toes hadn’t reverted to bone, no matter how often he checked. Although he’d believed once that someday they’d
be free to pursue new soulmates, he now knew he’d been wrong.
But what the fuck could he do about it? He was the hired bodyguard who’d made unforgivable mistakes in the first
fifteen years of his life. While he cared deeply for the Marwoods—especially Eric—Gabriel also insisted on keeping distance
between himself and others. He was undeserving of their love and friendship.
No matter how he assessed the situation, Gabriel couldn’t convince himself it was fair to leave Samael Wolfebrier in
his past. If he let his guard down, he feared he’d trust the wrong person again. Gabriel could do stupid things again. People
could be hurt. And the last thing Gabriel wanted was for Eric to be in danger.
Before their souls had connected on a fundamental and irrevocable level, Gabriel had wanted to shield Eric from any
kind of pain. Then he’d rejected him. Hurt had been stamped on Eric’s face, and Gabriel had sunk into a deep melancholy. He
hated himself for it. But it had been the right thing to do. Or had it?
Gabriel had no fucking clue anymore.
Across the room, Eric threw his head back as he laughed at something his brother said. There was too much noise and
distance between them to hear it, but Gabriel had memorized the sound of his chuckles long ago. Despondently, Gabriel
wondered when he’d fallen so hard for Eric. Years ago. Why it’d taken him so long to realize he was infatuated with the man
didn’t matter.
He knew the truth now and wondered yet again how to handle it. Shifting to find some comfort for his aching dick,
Gabriel allowed his gaze to track Eric as he moved to the bar to have a couple of shots with his brother. Douglas hung behind
Richard and nursed a beer as he flashed his smile at whatever the siblings were discussing.
As for Maribeth, she was on the other side of the room, sandwiched between two statuesque women in little black
dresses. They were dancing, kissing, and enjoying themselves. If Gabriel were a betting man, he’d lay odds on another five or
ten minutes before the trio ventured out of the club for some privacy. If Maribeth were lucky, tonight she’d find her perfect
match and her soul wouldn’t be matched with someone unworthy of her.
Gabriel wondered how much longer he’d have to wait until Eric selected some man in the room to favor with
exceptional sex. Hands curling into tight fists, he ground his teeth as his imagination conjured images of Eric and some faceless
asshole fucking him. If Gabriel could trust anyone else to guard Eric, he would’ve stayed home.
But no.
Gabriel’s sense of duty had brought him to the club, and he wondered if he could escape sliding into madness as Eric
gave his body to someone else. Perhaps this was his punishment. Thirty-three years after Samael’s death, Gabriel was finally
facing the consequences.
Whatever force decided who would be soulmates had given Gabriel a man he was unworthy of, so he’d pushed him
away. He’d cast Eric aside and hurt him. The beautiful friendship between them, which had once lit up Gabriel’s life, was
already gone. But it wasn’t fate or destiny who’d fucked up. It was Gabriel. He’d been granted a soulmate and had rejected
him. All his pain and misery were his own damn fault.
Eric glanced his way, and Gabriel stared at him with a mixture of lust, yearning, and guilt. Without breaking eye
contact, Eric said something to his brother and moved away from the bar. Gabriel didn’t move a muscle as he eagerly watched
that lithe form evade dancers. The room was filled with inspirits, other Marwood employees like the loyal Douglas, and the
few casual friends Maribeth and Richard had asked to be included.
It was a safe crowd, and background checks had been conducted on everyone. None of them knew that their lives had
been examined under a microscope before they were allowed to share a space with the man destiny had touched. Eric stopped
to talk to none of them and—as if Gabriel had summoned him—soon stood a foot from Gabriel.
His painted mouth curved in a smile, and Gabriel was so delighted to be close to him he nearly returned his grin. Eric
pulled a card from the back pocket of his enticing pants and wiggled it between his fingers.
“Can I speak with you privately?”
It was the same question Eric had asked a month ago, and Gabriel gave himself no time to consider the consequences.
He wanted him. And he was desperate to please him.
Gabriel plucked the hotel key from Eric’s grasp and held out his hand.
“Let’s go,” Gabriel said. All he cared about in that moment was Eric’s pleasure, and he gave no thought to the
consequences. It was reckless. It was stupid. But it was as fucking necessary to Gabriel as the air he breathed.
Eric’s palm met Gabriel’s, and a frisson of excitement and delight surged through him. It awakened his desolate soul,
which was aching for its mate. Gabriel charged out of the club, pretending the only thing that mattered was their connection—
the first tentative touch of two soulmates promised eternity and the unparalleled passion crackling between them.

✽ ✽ ✽

It took a couple of hours and a few shots for Eric to build enough confidence to approach Gabriel. As he’d danced and ignored
Richard’s incessant need to discuss business with Douglas over the loud music, Eric had marshaled arguments to convince
Gabriel to sneak off with him again. But Eric had finally decided keeping it simple was best. He wasn’t sure how, but it’d
worked. The happy clatter of the casino filled his ears as he stretched his legs to match Gabriel’s long strides.
Whatever was going on in Gabriel’s mind, he was wasting no time getting them to the hotel room. Like everyone in
Eric’s life, Richard considered safety first, which was why they were once again stopped in front of a door on the first floor. If
they needed to escape for whatever reason, there’d be no stairs or elevators to slow them down. And security was focused on
the main level of the hotel to ensure no one was cheating the casino.
However, Eric wasn’t concerned with rogue assassins killing him because his existence supposedly put every
necromancer in danger. All he cared about was the sexy, broad-shouldered blond pulling him into an empty hotel room. Eric
didn’t say a word. The last thing he wanted was conversation.
Once the door shut behind them, Gabriel dropped Eric’s hand and tugged off his suit jacket. He flung it onto a nearby
chair without looking. Then Gabriel strode forward, grabbed Eric’s right ass cheek in his warm palm, and captured his mouth
as his fingers slid over the short hairs at Eric’s nape.
Gabriel’s tongue was wicked as they kissed, and Eric went pliant. The rush of desire was intoxicating, and his heart
was pumping so hard his blood thundered in his ears. His soulmate’s taste was addictive, and Eric moaned.
Already desperate and needy, Eric ground against Gabriel. His dick was hard and aching in his ridiculously small
thong. Although Eric was pleased to feel the answering stiffness of Gabriel’s cock rubbing alongside his, they were still
annoyingly dressed.
Working his hands between them, Eric went to work on the buttons of Gabriel’s crisp white shirt. Beneath the cotton,
his skin was warm, and Eric loved the solidness of his muscular frame. Eric delighted in the discovery of Gabriel’s slightly
furred chest and smoothed his palms over the crisp hairs. His fingers grazed the scar left behind by a bullet before Eric was
born. One Gabriel had gotten by throwing himself in front of a destiny-touched necromancer. As a child, his parents would
often tell him the same story, and it had brought him comfort. Whenever he’d grown scared of the dangerous people who’d kill
him without thought, he’d reassured himself that anyone who wanted to hurt him would have to go through Gabriel first.
His obscenely gorgeous champion with the overly tempting body. Eric wanted to spend hours exploring Gabriel, but he
couldn’t. They were limited to forgetting about anything but mindless sex.
A wave of disappointment brought him to his senses, and he nearly pulled away, but Gabriel shifted. He tilted his head,
changing the angle of their kiss. Instead of voracious, his tongue was tender, and his thumb caressed Eric’s cheek. That moment
of affection left Eric undone.
He yanked Gabriel’s unbuttoned shirt from his slacks and wrapped his arms around him. Since it could be another
month or more until he was close to him again, Eric clung to his soulmate. Instead of focusing on the demands of his balls, he
savored.
In the stillness of the hotel room, Eric pretended Gabriel was his. That this was real and they could have forever. A
heartbeat later, Gabriel slid Eric’s zipper down, and they returned to two desperate bodies seeking fulfillment. The spell was
lost, and Eric wanted to weep at the cruelty of it.
Instead, he sped up the process and shoved his hands between them again to undo Gabriel’s belt and unfasten his
trousers. Gabriel was impatient and did little more than free their cocks before wrapping them in his fist. It was rough and
desperate, and Eric loved it.
The air conditioner kicked on and drowned out the sound of their harsh breathing as Gabriel jacked them closer to
completion. They didn’t make it to the bed. Gabriel coaxed Eric closer to the wall behind him with a few tiny steps until the
painted surface was against his back.
Gabriel jerked them faster, and Eric focused solely on the dick pressed tightly to his. His soulmate was well hung and
thick. He growled low in his throat as his ass clenched. In a perfect world, Eric would stretch himself across the mattress and
demand Gabriel fuck him.
Sparks flew along his spine, and he tore his lips free. Their souls filled his mind again—glowing white and sterling
silver. They reached for one another and touched. The connection was no stronger than before. Neither Eric nor Gabriel had
done anything to move their relationship forward, so they stepped no closer to being fully bound.
Yet it was an undeniable connection, and Eric yearned to have it complete. For one blissful moment, their souls were
visibly united. It was poignant, and with it came a massive rush of euphoric splendor. Two soulmates celebrating life by giving
in to the passion destiny offered.
With a soft thunk, Eric’s head hit the wall, and his seed spurted over Gabriel’s fingers. Gabriel grunted a few seconds
later as he climaxed. Eric closed his eyes and held on to the fistfuls of Gabriel’s shirt he’d grabbed at some point in their
sensual tussle.
A wave of contentment swept through him. It didn’t last. Their bodies weren’t even cool before Eric realized he had to
get out of there. The last thing he wanted was another tense, painful conversation with Gabriel.
With the musky scent of Gabriel filling his senses and his knees shaky, Eric forced himself to let him go. He wiggled,
and Gabriel’s hands fell away, releasing him. Refusing to look at him or allow himself a second of regret, Eric ignored the
increasingly sticky state of himself and yanked his pants up.
“Eric—”
“No,” Eric interjected sharply, refusing to listen to Gabriel as he headed for the bathroom door with his dignity still
intact. “I don’t want to talk. We were both horny, and we had sex. That’s it. That’s all it was. No discussion is necessary.”
Eric barreled into the bathroom, wet a rag for Gabriel that he threw in his general direction, and hastily shut himself
inside. Although he’d planned to coax Gabriel into sharing another orgasm with him, he hadn’t realized how much he’d feel
afterward.
Promising himself he’d get the fuck out of the room and tell Richard he was going home once he returned to the club,
Eric grabbed a washcloth to clean himself up. In the safety of his house, he could give in to his tears and wish for far more than
he might ever have with Gabriel. Without glancing in the mirror to see the growing misery in his eyes, Eric ran the water and
cleared his mind.
Before he could weep with frustration or relive the ecstasy he’d just shared with Gabriel, he had to face the inspirit in
the other room. And he didn’t want Gabriel to know how he longed for him. Nor would he allow Gabriel to say anything to
tarnish their night. It could not be more than great sex, and Eric needed no one to reinforce that point—especially not the man
who held his heart.
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
The Project Gutenberg eBook of Aunt Patty's
paying guests
This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States
and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no
restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it
under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this
ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the
United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where
you are located before using this eBook.

Title: Aunt Patty's paying guests

Author: Eglanton Thorne

Illustrator: W. Rainey

Release date: September 29, 2023 [eBook #71761]

Language: English

Original publication: London: The Religious Tract Society, 1907

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUNT

PATTY'S PAYING GUESTS ***
Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed.

PAULINA THREW HERSELF ON HER KNEES BESIDE ME.

Frontispiece.
 AUNT PATTY'S
PAYING GUESTS

BY

EGLANTON THORNE

Author of "Her Own Way," "The Blessedness of Irene Farquhar,"

"My Brother's Friend," etc.

WITH FIVE ILLUSTRATIONS BY W. RAINEY, R.I.

 LONDON

THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY

4 Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard E.C.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I. AN UNWELCOME DECREE

II. MY EQUIPMENT

III. "GAY BOWERS"

IV. LAYING OUR PLANS

V. A RESPONSE TO THE ADVERTISEMENT

VI. THE FIRST ARRIVAL

VII. THE AMERICANS

VIII. A PRINCELY GIFT

IX. MISS COTTRELL'S ALIAS

X. COUSIN AGNETA'S LOVE STORY

XI. THE UNFORESEEN BEFALLS

XII. AT HOBBES'S COTTAGE

XIII. OLIVE'S HAPPINESS

XIV. A PICNIC

XV. AN ACT OF INDISCRETION

XVI. MISJUDGED

XVII. A GALA DAY AT GREENTREE

XVIII. AN ELOPEMENT

XIX. MISS COTTRELL'S ELATION

XX. A PROPOSAL

XXI. THE RETURN OF THE AMERICANS

XXII. CALAMITY

XXIII. TWILIGHT TALKS

XXIV. WEDDING BELLS

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PAULINA THREW HERSELF ON HER KNEES BESIDE ME.
Frontispiece

"YOU SHOULD SEND HER INTO THE COUNTRY AND GIVE HER
A BICYCLE."

AUNT MET PROFESSOR FAULKNER IN THE HALL.

"OH, I WRENCHED MY SHOULDER A BIT," HE SAID.

JOSIAH DICKS AND MISS COTTRELL PACING ARM IN ARM.

 AUNT PATTY'S PAYING GUESTS
CHAPTER I
AN UNWELCOME DECREE

"NO books for twelve months at least," said Dr. Algar, our family
physician. "This overworked little brain needs repose. So remember,
Nan—no books."

"No books?" I repeated in utter dismay. "But that is impossible—quite

impossible, Dr. Algar!"

"Oh, I do not mean that you may not read a storybook now and then,
or amuse yourself with the magazines," he said calmly, "but anything
like study I absolutely forbid."

His words fell on my ears like a sentence of doom. How could I give
up my studies? My intellectual work was more to me than anything
else, though of late it had become a burden, and I could not bear to
renounce the hopes and ambitions on which my heart was set. For
months I had been working my hardest in preparation for
Matriculation. I wanted to take honours, for I thought that distinction
would help me to obtain a good post as teacher in a school. I worked
under disadvantages, for I had a daily engagement as governess
which occupied the best part of each day. My pupils were very
young, and their instruction did not involve for me any mental strain;
but they were tiresome, spoiled children, and I often returned home
from teaching them feeling irritated. Tea generally revived me, and I
devoted the evening to study.
As the time fixed for the examination drew nearer, I sometimes rose
at six, and did an hour's work before breakfast. It was not easy to
leave my bed in the raw cold of the early morning and dress by
gaslight. In spite of the little oil-stove which I used to kindle in my
room, the cold seemed to benumb all my faculties. After a while I
decided that it was better to work late at night, and I would sit up
wrestling with some mathematical problem long after the other
members of the household were wrapped in slumber. Soon I began
to be conscious of a sick, dizzy sensation when I rose; severe
headaches often interrupted my studies; it became increasingly
difficult for me to concentrate my thoughts.

"How cross Nan is!" I used to hear my younger sisters whisper to

each other, and my conscience told me that the words were true,
and reproached me also for the way in which I lost patience with my
little pupils.

At last there came an hour when everything faded from me as I sat

at my desk. My spirit seemed to go away to the very bounds of
existence. As from a great distance I came back to consciousness,
with a singing in my ears and a feeling of deadly sickness, and
beheld the faces of mother, Olive, and our maid-of-all-work looking
down on me.

"What is the matter? What is it all about?" I asked vaguely.

"You fainted, darling—just an ordinary fainting-fit, nothing more,"

mother said.

It was such an unusual thing for mother to use terms of endearment

that I knew when she called me "darling" that I must have alarmed
her very much, and I almost fainted again from the shock of finding
myself such a centre of anxious interest. Mother gave me a strong
dose of sal-volatile, which soon brought me round. I was put to bed,
but for the rest of the evening, some one kept watch beside me. My
swoon had lasted a long time, and, since even ordinary fainting fits
do not occur without a cause, Dr. Algar was on the morrow called in
to examine me, with the result recorded above.
"I hate story-books," I said crossly. "Cannot you give me a tonic that
will pick me up?"

He shook his head as he smiled on me with a very kindly look in his

eyes.

"The tonic you need, my dear, is rest and play, or at least the change
of work which is said to be as good as play. She wants to go out to
grass, and kick up her heels like a young pony, Mrs. Darracott. You
should send her into the country, and give her a bicycle, or let her go
where there are golf links, and learn to play. In fact, she needs to live
an open-air life as far as that is possible in our climate."

I looked at mother and tried to smile, but merely succeeded, I

believe, in making a dismal grimace. How unreasonable the old
doctor was! He might as well have ordered champagne and oysters
for a dweller in the slums. How could my parents afford to send me
into the country for an indefinite period? Mother's face wore a
troubled expression as she said gently:

"I understand, doctor. I will talk it over with her father, and we will see
what we can do. I blame myself for not seeing that Annie was doing
too much; but she takes such delight in her studies that I fancied
they would not overtax her strength. You will not, then, give her
medicine?"

"Yes," he said, "I will write a prescription for her that will steady her
nerves and help her to sleep. You have not been sleeping well of
late, my dear."

I looked at him, wondering how he knew this, for it was true. I had
not been actually wakeful, but my work had followed me into the land
of dreams, and I had been adding up never-ending columns of
figures or struggling with incomprehensible problems in a state of
semi-consciousness. Tears sprang to my eyes as I admitted that he
was right.
"Never mind, my dear," said the old doctor as he patted me on the
shoulder, and looked down on me with eyes full of sympathy. "You
feel badly now, I know, but you'll soon be better. Do as I tell you, and
in twelve or fifteen months' time you will be able to take up your work
again."

Twelve or fifteen months! Had he the least idea how long a period
that seems to a girl of nineteen? And I had so counted on the result
of my examination. The aerial edifice I had reared on this foundation
tumbled in ruins about me and I was in despair.

He must have discerned my state of mind, for he said quickly, "Now

mind, you must not brood over your troubles, or you will retard your
recovery. Find some light employment that will occupy your thoughts.
Do you care for gardening?"

"I hate it," I said pettishly, as I recalled certain tiresome half-hours I

had spent in pottering round his garden with Uncle George and
undertaking irksome tasks at his request.

"Well, well," said the doctor soothingly, "you can't know much about it
here in London. Are you fond of needlework?"

I shook my head with a sense of disgust, and mother laughed a low,

mirthless laugh. She knew how I detested needlework.

Dr. Algar refrained from further suggestions, and presently took his
departure. When he had gone mother and I looked at each other for
a moment, and then I fell to sobbing. All my strength seemed to have
departed from me when I fainted, and I felt in a state of utter
collapse. Dr. Algar spoke of it as "nervous prostration."

"Come, come, Nan, this won't do," said my mother severely; "you
must be brave and face your trouble like a woman. It's a great
disappointment, I know, but crying won't help matters, and it might
be so much worse."

"I can't see how it could be worse," I cried perversely.

"Can't you?" said mother, with a quaver in her voice. "I can very
clearly."

Then, as I continued to sob, she fetched me a glass of hot milk and a

biscuit, for the doctor had advised my taking as much light
nourishment as possible. Certainly I felt better when I had taken it,
though the prospect of the future did not brighten.

"Mother," I said, "what nonsense Dr. Algar talks! How could you send
me away into the country? And I am sure I do not want to go. I
should be miserable away from you all."

"That would depend on where you went," said my mother. "I wish I
could ask your Aunt Patty to take you; but with her husband so sadly
she will not want another invalid on her hands."

"Oh, mother, don't call me an invalid!" I exclaimed impatiently.

She smiled and went on as if I had not spoken.

"No, if your uncle were well, it would be different; but as things are, I
cannot send you. I do not see what is to be done; but I must talk it
over with your father."

Then she went away to attend to her domestic duties, and I lay back
on my pillows, feeling utterly limp and wretched. Mother had bidden
me be brave, but I was far from brave at that hour. My mood was
one of flat rebellion against the doctor's decree. A whole year without
study! How could I bear it? It was preposterous. He need not think I
was going to obey him. It would mean that I should be earning
nothing all that time, a burden on my parents' straitened means, an
additional care to my mother, whose anxieties were so numerous.

I was the second in a family of five girls and one small pickle of a
boy. We lived in a long, uninteresting road, which, being treeless,
was called an avenue, running between Wandsworth Road and
Clapham Common. Ours was a refined but by no means a luxurious
home. My father was a man of science and the curator of a learned
society. His position was an honourable one, and brought him into
connection with many eminent and interesting persons, but,
unfortunately for his wife and children, the salary attached to the
office was small. So it was that in our home there was a never-
ending struggle to make ends meet. Sometimes the ends gaped
hopelessly wide apart, and strain as we would, it was impossible to
bring them together. Then it became a question of what we could do
without.

It is wonderful how many things with which we cumber our lives are
really unnecessary and can be dispensed with if we choose. I
remember that once we did without a servant for twelve months. It
was a question of doing so, or of taking me from school a year
sooner than my parents had intended, and there was no doubt in my
mother's mind as to which was the more important, the progress of
my education or the smoother running of the domestic machinery.
She and Olive did the work of the house with the help of a rough girl
who came in for a few hours every morning. Olive had been
attending a cookery class, and she hailed this opportunity of showing
her skill. So dainty were the dishes she set before us that we
children rather liked the change of administration.

It was a happy circumstance that we were all fairly gifted with a

sense of humour. As charity covereth a multitude of sins, so this gift,
said to be rare in womankind, enables one to combat successfully
with a host of petty annoyances. We laughed together over the
pinchings of our poverty, and we took pride in the contrivances by
which we presented a brave front to the world. Thus it was that our
pecuniary straits made us neither sordid nor sour. There are many
worse experiences than that of being poor. As I look back on those
old days, I am often moved to thank God that we had not an easy,
luxurious upbringing. The difficulties that marked our home life were
unheroic, but they drew us closely together and taught us many
useful lessons we might not otherwise have learned.

Olive, the eldest of the family, was mother's right hand. She was not
only, as I have said, a clever cook; her skill in needlework surpassed
her culinary accomplishments. I have rarely seen finer sewing and
stitching than Olive could put into her daintiest work. Moreover, she
could boast a valuable attainment in a household of girls, the art of
dressmaking. It was wonderful how cleverly she would remodel old
garments and make them look like new ones. What we owed to this
gift of hers I cannot tell. Between us all we kept her needle busy.

Happily Olive had an engagement to act as reader and amanuensis

for an old lady, which took her from home every afternoon and thus
prevented her becoming a slave of the needle. Mrs. Smythe, who
lived in a large house overlooking the Common, was a cultured
woman, with a fine literary taste, so Olive learned much in her
society, and was saved from the narrowness and barrenness of mind
which is too often the fate of the domestic drudge.

Not that Olive was exactly one's idea of a drudge. She was a tall,
well-set-up girl, with fine, dark eyes, and an abundance of brown hair
which was always beautifully dressed. The last statement might be
made of Olive herself. Her clothes were never costly, unless the cost
had been defrayed by some one else, but they were always smart.
She knew how to wear them, as people say. Sewing or cooking,
whatever Olive was about, her appearance was sure to be neat and
trim, her dress adapted to the occasion and eminently becoming.

Dear old Olive! What a blessing she was to us all! Old she was not at
this time, though, for she had not yet passed her twenty-first
birthday. She and I were great chums. I think she understood even
better than mother what this disappointment was to me. I read it in
her eyes when presently she brought her work—a frock she was
finishing for Ethel, the youngest of the five—and seated herself
beside my bed, for the doctor had advised my lying still all that day.
But Olive did not say much by way of sympathy. Like mother she
bade me be brave. Mother herself was the bravest of women, and
we had all been trained to despise cowardice, physical or moral.

"After all, Nan, you won't need pity if you go into the country early in
the year," she said. "It's not very nice in London just now. You will
escape the dreadful March we get in town, and be able to watch the
gradual on-coming of the spring in the woods and lanes. I wish you
could go to 'Gay Bowers.'"

"Yes," I said drearily; "it would be more endurable if I were with Aunt
Patty."

She was our father's only sister, and our favourite aunt. We were
less fond of her husband, some twenty years her senior, and now
getting old and infirm. He was a great sufferer from gout, an affliction
that is not conducive to serenity and amiability of mind. I had always
admired the patience with which my aunt bore with his outbursts of
temper.

"Poor Aunt Patty!" said Olive. "I guess she is having a rough time of
it now. She said in her last letter, which came the day before
yesterday, that uncle was worse than she had ever seen him."

"Then she certainly does not want me there as I am now," I sighed.

"Oh, Olive, I feel like a washed-out handkerchief! It is awful to be
utterly useless, only a burden on father and mother, when I had
hoped soon to be earning a good salary and able to support myself
entirely."

"It seems hard, no doubt," said Olive; "but what you've got to do now,
Nan, is just to trust. This must be one of the 'all things' that are going
to work for your good. Now is the time to show that your faith in God
is real and not a mere profession."

I looked at Olive in surprise. Such words had never fallen from her
lips before. Frank and free of speech as she appeared, she was not
one to say much of the things she held most sacred. But I did not
need words to assure me of the reality of my sister's religion.

Just then mother's voice was heard from below calling urgently for
Olive. She ran off to obey the summons, and I lay still with closed
eyes, wondering whether I had any true faith in God. I had long
believed, as I thought, in the love of God, but to what extent had that
faith been a living influence in my life? Was it now weighed in the
balance and found wanting? The opening of the door made me look
up. There stood Olive wearing her hat and coat, and an expression
which told me something had happened.

"What is the matter, Olive?" I asked hastily.

"Where are you going?"

"To the museum to take father this telegram, which has just come
from 'Gay Bowers,'" she said. "It brings sad news, Nan. Uncle
George is dead."

"Oh!" I exclaimed, inexpressibly shocked, "and we were just talking

of him. How dreadful for Aunt Patty!"

"Yes; we think the end must have come suddenly," Olive said. "But I
cannot stay to talk now."

And she was gone.

 "YOU SHOULD SEND HER INTO THE COUNTRY,

AND GIVE HER A BICYCLE."

I saw nothing more of mother or Olive for some hours. Father came
home early, and they were busy speeding his departure to catch a
train at Liverpool Street, for he wanted to go to his sister in her
trouble without delay. The children, Dora, Ethel, and Fred, came to
visit me when they returned from their walk, and lingered in the room
longer than I desired their company. It seemed to gratify them to see
me lying in bed at that unusual hour. I do not think they believed
much in my illness.

They were disposed to discuss Uncle George's death from every

point of view. Fred particularly wanted to know whether uncle had
made a will, and if I knew who would have his horses and cattle and
the dogs, of which my young brother was particularly fond. He
leaned his whole weight on the footboard of my bed, and swung to
and fro as he asked those questions, thus inflicting the utmost torture
on my shattered nerves. I was summoning what little firmness I yet
retained in order to insist on their leaving me at once, when, to my
relief, father appeared and sent them away.

It was like father that in the bustle of departure, he found leisure to

come and sit beside me for a few minutes and express his tender
sympathy.

"I am very sorry for you, Nan," he said, "but you must not fret. It is a
comfort to me to know that the doctor says you have no organic
disease. It is just a question of taking it easy for a while, and, at your
age, you can spare the time."

"Oh, can I?" was my reply. "I don't think so, father."

"Perhaps not," he said, with a melancholy smile, "but when you are
my age you will know what a blessed thing it is to be young. All
things are possible to the young in the present age, it seems to me.
Think of your poor Aunt Patty now. What a sorrow to lose the one
who has shared her life for thirty years!"

"I am very sorry for her, father. Will you give her my love and tell her
so?"

He nodded gravely.

"She has been a good wife to George Lucas, and he was good to
her, though a bit grumpy at times," he said. "Poor fellow! I believe he
suffered more than we knew. And he had a good deal to worry him. I
don't know what your aunt will do. I am afraid she will be poorly off,
for farming has been so bad of late, and your uncle, owing to his ill-
health and growing infirmities, has let his affairs get into a sad
muddle. I should not wonder if she has to leave 'Gay Bowers.'"