"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.
"Gabriella," Dorian breathes. I remain silent, too hurt and confused to acknowledge him. "I would give you everything your heart desires if I could. I would marry you. I would have children with you. I would do anything you wanted me to. But that life is just not possible for either one of us. You have to stop believing that there is a place for us in this world. It will only bring you heartache. This isn't where we belong."
I slam down the tube of mascara I am holding and it shakes the steel desk. "Ok, Dorian, I get it! I'll never fit in. I'll never have a normal life. Come on, I haven't for the last twenty years, why start now?"
I shake my head apologetically at my foolishness. "You know, I used to think that I wanted to be extraordinary. That I wanted something more than the whole cookie cutter American dream. I wanted to be special. And now that I am, so much so that there is a killer after me, I just want to press rewind and enjoy my old, boring life. Take extra time to appreciate Chris and Donna, and all my friends."
I feel Dorian's strong hands on my shoulders and he lightly kneads away the tension. Those magic fingers. "You still have time, little girl. Don't give up just yet."
I reach my hand up to touch his fingers with mine, spinning around in the swivel chair to face him. "Thank you. I know you're trying to help, trying to make the transition easier for me." I give him pensive smile. "What will happen afterwards? Once I ascend? I'll have to leave, huh?"
Dorian strokes the line of my jaw with the back of his hand, igniting tiny tingles throughout my entire body. "Not right away. Most likely you'll be summoned to either Rome or Greece, depending on what side you choose. Ordinarily, they would appoint your … job, per say, based on the skill set you were birthed with. Then you are assigned a region. However, with your unique circumstances, I can't be certain what would happen. I'd imagine that you could ultimately write your own destiny."
I nod. "I don't want much to change. I want to stay here. I wanna come to work every day. I wanna go out with my friends. I wanna have Sunday dinner with Chris and Donna every week." I wrap my arms around his waist and bury my face in his white dress shirt. "And I want you here. I don't want you to leave."
Dorian squeezes me tight, resting his chin on the top of my head before kissing my hair. "I know, little girl. I want to stay with you too."
My head snaps up with alarm. "So you have to go? Wait, I thought you were assigned here?"
Dorian gives me an apologetic half-smile. "I'm royalty, baby. I'm only here to oversee your ascension. Then I go back to Greece. Back home."
Before I can protest, Dorian's face transforms to one of pure disgust and hatred. He closes his eyes and stands upright, his body vibrating with anger. When they reopen, they flash white hot, a low growl rumbling in his chest.
"What? What's wrong?" I question with alarm.
"Stavros. Shit! I have to go." Dorian stiffly kisses my forehead then brings my hand to his face, where he gently brushes my knuckles against his lips, his eyes never leaving mine. Then he takes a step backwards and dissipates before my eyes, only leaving behind plumes of grey.
I stand in my tiny office, speechless and disheveled. What the hell just happened here? First the Dark King tricks me into meeting with him resulting in Dorian's erratic, yet pleasurable, reaction, then he just disappears?
"Fucking Warlocks," I mutter under my breath before heading back out to the sales floor to finish my shift.
When I arrive home that evening, I receive two text messages, one from Dorian and the other from Jared, the two most important men in my life. Oh, the irony. I open Dorian's first, hoping for some type of explanation for his sudden departure. Unfortunately, I come up disappointed.
From Dorian, 9:36 P.M.
-I must go to Greece immediately. I should be back by the end of the week but I will try to email you to confirm. I love you, little girl. In life and in death.
What the hell? No! Something serious must be going down for him to run off so quickly. At least there better be. Before I follow through with my plan to throw my phone against my bedroom wall out of sheer annoyance, I open the second text message.
From Jared, 9:40 P.M.
-Hey Gabs, think you can meet up with me sometime this week? I have something I really wanna talk to you about and I need to say it face to face. Cool? Can't wait to see you.
Well, that's interesting. What is it with the men in my life being so cryptic lately? I take a deep breath and hit reply, shaking my head.
To Jared, 9:41 P.M.
-Sure, just let me know what time, k?
To Dorian, 9:42 P.M.
-I love you too, though I wish you weren't leaving. What's going on? Please email me as soon as you can. And be safe. Come home soon.
After getting ready for bed, I stay awake for as long as my heavy eyelids can stand, hoping for the reply text from Dorian that never arrives.
Chapter Sixteen
"That's all you're eating?" Jared asks with raised brows.
I look down at my lightly dressed chopped salad. "Just not really hungry, I guess," I shrug.
"Don't tell me you're trying to lose weight. You already have a smokin' bod. Does Dorian like his women boney or somethin'?" Jared asks, letting his eyes fall over the length of my body draped in tight jeans and form-fitting sweater, revealing more cleavage than usual.