“I couldn’t find you. He deflected the perimeter around the two of you. I thought he…” Dorian trails off, unable to finish the heinous thought. His lips are in my hair and I hear him inhale, hoping to quiet his fears. “I got a message from you, asking me to meet you at your apartment. When I arrived and you weren’t there, I waited. After a while, I called your cell but it went straight to voicemail. Then I called the store and Carmen told me that you had left to meet me at the salon per my request. Then I knew.”
“I’m so sorry, Dorian,” I whisper, my lips moving against his collarbone. “Had I’d known, I would have never gone. But when I got to Luxe, he was…persistent. He somehow froze them, all of them. He said he would kill everyone if I didn’t go with him.”
“I know,” he mutters. “Morgan said you came in but when she couldn’t remember you leaving or who you left with, I knew. Shit, Gabriella. I was ready to fucking kill him, I was so angry. And you let him touch you. Why?”
“I don’t know. I guess I was grateful. He said he wanted to protect me. And he told me he relinquished you of your duty. He said my allegiance was my choice, that he wouldn’t punish either one of us. I just wanted to be appreciative, I guess.” Even I’m a bit appalled at my reasoning. “But he never touched my skin. Not once. I wouldn’t let him.”
He exhales and I feel Dorian release a bit of the tension that is binding him. “Gabriella, I swear… I almost lost it. I guess I am at least relieved that some traditions are still honored,” he mutters shaking his head.
I raise my head, meeting his beautiful face with my questioning gaze. “Traditions?”
Dorian’s fingers slide up to my right hand and he turns it gently, rubbing the little blue anchor. “I’ve marked you.”
“What does that mean? I mean, Donna kinda flipped about it and then Stavros seemed overly interested in it as well. Am I missing something?”
He brings my tatted hand up to his lips and kisses it before inhaling the scent of my palm. I pull it back, discouraging his attempt to stall. “You are mine, just as I am yours. However, by marking you, I have forbidden all other supernatural forces from trying to acquire you, my father especially. You are mine and mine alone.”
My jaw nearly drops to the floor. Dorian truly has marked me. He has performed the equivalent of lifting his leg and pissing right on me. And while I am somewhat flattered by his show of commitment, I can’t help but feel angry that he chose not to disclose this information until now. And if it had not been for Stavros’s impromptu visit, he may not have ever let it slip.
“What the hell, Dorian, how could you keep this from me? How could you make such a permanent decision for me and not even ask me? Again?” I sit upright and turn my body so I am facing him, giving him a full view of my enraged expression. Unbelievable!
My beautiful, yet currently idiotic, lover looks at me puzzled. “Did you not say you wanted to be with me forever? That you wanted only me?”
Shit. He’s right. But that’s not the point, so I maintain my severe visage. “Of course! But your trust in me should have been enough! I shouldn’t have to subject myself to yet another ancient, paranormal ritual just so you can stake your claim.” I shake my head and chew my bottom lip. “You know, for someone that will never marry me, you sure have fucked up views of commitment.”
Dorian lets out an irritated sigh. “Are we back to that, Gabriella? I already told you why I won’t marry you. It is meaningless; just a way to build alliances. A business transaction. I have pledged my devotion to you in the most profound way possible for my kind. Weddings are trivial, ostentatious parties highlighting overindulgence and pageantry. They are ridiculous human nuisances.”
“And how would you know that? You aren’t even human!” I feel hurt, angry tears spring in my eyes, and I quickly blink them away.
“And neither are you!” he shouts, his voice nearly vibrating the room.
I stare at him blankly, unable to move, speak or even blink. I am not human. I’m still trying to fit into this world, still trying to keep up the charade of my normal life. I still want to belong, be liked, fall in love, have a family. I still want my happily ever after. And that just isn’t possible for me. I told myself that it would be alright, that Dorian would be enough for me to leave my hopes and aspirations behind. But all the while I had been trying to be enough for him, I never truly considered if he, and all that his presence represents, would be enough for me.
I stand on shaky legs and Dorian quickly flies to his feet to aid me. I gather my torn panties and stuff them in my purse then busy myself in fixing my hair and makeup in my compact mirror. Anything to keep from facing the torment of my reality.