Page 66 of A Half-Blood’s Escape
"Have fun getting beaten up by Dominic," I just said before turning around so I could go shower.
A smile was on my lips as I walked away, but then Gabriel called out to me, and I stopped, still facing away from him.
"You know you have started to call him by his name, right?" he said.
I swallowed hard, realizing it now after he pointed it out to me. Dammit, this bond had some serious powers, and it was messing with my head. I didn't say anything though. I just continued to the bathroom, closed the door behind me, and then took some deep breaths, trying to calm my racing heart. What was happening to me?
Chapter 33
-Lara-
Gabriel was again in charge of taking care of me, while Ace had disappeared and Dominic was out ... eh, doing something. I didn't ask because I had learned it was better not to know. Ignorance really was bliss sometimes, and because I had decided that today, I would find a way to get out of there. I had to since it was clear I was starting to lose myself to the bond between us. Just last night was a good example. I mean, what was I thinking?! I shouldn't have let him kiss me like that. I shouldn't have responded but I did, and it made me realize so many things.
"So, what do you feel like doing today?" Gabriel asked as we took our seats by the dining table.
I hadn't eaten breakfast yet, and since Dominic wasn't here, I got to eat all by myself, but I noticed something strange. When I ate the food in front of me it tasted strangely ... dull. There wasn't the same kind of explosion of flavors, so there wasn't much satisfaction about eating it at all. Why was that? I couldn't figure it out, and it was then I noticed Gabriel smiling at me from the other side of the table. He was watching me with a coffee mug in his hands.
"What?" I asked.
"How does it taste?" he asked me as if he knew what I was thinking about.
"Fine," I lied.
"Why do you think you can somehow lie to us, and we won't find out?"
"Why do you think that just because you got a pretty face, I won't punch you?" I asked him back.
That made him laugh, and I couldn't help but smile too. For a moment I just felt warm, as I looked at Gabriel having a good time from my little joke. It felt strangely ... homely, which saddened me too. I couldn't want this. I had to get out of here. It was what I had decided after all. I couldn't grow soft before I had even gotten a foot out of the door.
"You're a funny little half-blood," he said.
"Yes, I am very well known for my humor," I said sarcastically.
He just smiled.
"Just admit the food doesn't taste good."
"It tastes fine!" I said again.
He shook his head again and sighed.
"You really know nothing when it comes to the mate bond do you?"
"Sorry, I grew up more human than wolf," I told him.
He tilted his head to the side, clearly wanting to know more, but I was not about to share my pathetic little childhood and how I was raised, and ...whom I had lost.
"Don't ask," I just said.
He held up one hand.
"I won't then," he said.
"Because I don't want to talk about it," I added.
"I wasn't saying anything."
While Gabriel could sure be pushy, it was clear he knew some topics you just stayed away from. So when I realized, he really wasn't going to ask, I relaxed.
