Page 102 of A Half-Blood’s Escape
Iwas not going anywhere.
"So, let me guess," Lara said, and took a bite of her grilled cheese sandwich. "This is just one party out of many?"
"Sadly, yes," I said, stroking her hair.
I couldn't stop touching her. She was driving me insane, and even if I had had her at the party, I needed her again, when we came home. Lara sighed tiredly though.
"Will I ever get used to them?"
We all shook our heads, even Ace, and she sighed defeated again.
"We were brought up differently despite being born into the aristocratic world."
"You mean you were brought up differently!" Gabriel said. "I learned it all. The way to speak. The way to behave. The way to scheme behind people's backs."
"You don't seem like them though," Lara said.
Gabriel just smiled at her.
"I learned, with time, that I didn't want to be them."
She just nodded and then turned her eyes to Ace. He was just sitting there, quiet as always.
"What about you?" she asked.
We all turned our attention to him, and he just shrugged a little.
"Didn't have my parents long enough to be brought up like them," he said.
Gabriel and I exchanged shocked looks, while Lara just nodded, not understanding why this was so shocking because she hadn't spent a couple of hundreds of years with Ace, but she had gotten more out of him, than any of us ever could. I mean I wasn't surprised his parents weren't alive, considering we were the only hybrids left, but ... I was still surprised, because he had just answered her, instead of just staying quiet, as he always did.
"You have to teach me your ways," Gabriel said and took another bite of his burger.
"What ways?" she asked, confused.
That made me and Gabriel laugh.
"What?" she asked and turned to me.
I just shook my head, kissing her on her forehead.
"Nothing."
"It issomethingor you two wouldn't be laughing!" she pointed out.
I just caressed her cheek, looking at her with a loving look.
"You are just amazing."
That made her blush like crazy. It was clear Lara wasn't used to compliments, but she was going to get used to them because I would not stop telling her just how perfect she was. I loved everything about her. It was no wonder she was my mate. Stubborn but kind too. Pushy, but also so caring. She was the perfect combination of everything, and she gave me exactly what I needed. A challenge, but she also knew when not to challenge me. She was the perfect queen. I just hoped everyone else would see it as well.
"So, is the next party we are going to the ceremony, or do I still have to win more people over?" she asked.
I glanced at Gabriel, who just shrugged.
"We will wait and see what Damon says. He is more connected with these people," I said.
Gabriel just focused on his food. He was never very interested in the conversation whenever Damon was brought up, and I understood why. Those two, even after all these years, were still not friends. Damon thought Gabriel might turn against me, but I knew he wouldn't. All three of us shared a deep connection since we were the last hybrids, but that could be hard to understand when you weren't one. Even though Lara was my mate, it would still be hard for her to understand, but she was nonetheless still part of this little family of ours, and she fit in just perfectly.
