Bad Boy Prince: A British Royal Stepbrother Romance (41 page)

“
T
his doberge cake
is too much,” Cassie said, giving a contented sigh as she pushed away the last few bites of the rich chocolate dessert.

Gabriel chuckled, watching her across the table, admiring her beauty. They were tucked away on the far side of the courtyard at Cafe Amelie, by far New Orleans’ most romantic patio. The high walls rose around the courtyard, ivy and jasmine falling down in fragrant waves, and the whole courtyard was lit by candles and torches. A talented local violinist was perched in the far corner, adding a quiet ambiance to the scene.

Gabriel only had eyes for Cassie, though. She was wearing a slinky black halter dress that covered her neck and chest up while leaving her arms and lower back dashingly bare. She’d left her long red locks down to curl softly around her shoulders like a cape, and she wore what Gabriel recognized as her signature black winged eyeliner, bringing out her stormy silver-gray eyes.

“You want to get out of here?” he asked, trying to hide the fact that he was staring at her curves like a horny teenaged kid.

“Sure,” Cassie said, tugging up the edges of her long black silk gloves. It seemed like a reflexive habit, making sure that her scars were always hidden from sight. Gabriel had seen those scars, and they weren’t pretty, but they did nothing to diminish her luminance. Just now, after a few glasses of champagne, she was blushing prettily and eyeing him with more than a small amount of interest.

That dress, that look on her face, the way she smiled at him… It just might be enough to make Gabriel forget all that he’d foresworn.

He slipped a thick sheaf of bills under his plate, then rose and held out a hand to Cassie. He helped her to her feet. She caught him by surprise, using the momentum to swing up and kiss him. It was a quick, playful brush of lips, but their bodies connected, hips pressing together, and Gabriel wanted more.

More, more, more. Would there ever really be enough of Cassandra Chase? Gabriel’s greed for her was beginning to overrun his fear, if only for the moment. Or the night…

“I was thinking we’d walk a bit, see the nightlife. Since we’re in the French Quarter already,” Gabriel said. “Do you want to stroll with me a bit before we get a cab back to the Manor?”

“Of course,” Cassie said, taking his hand and lacing their fingers together in a way that made Gabriel’s chest tighten. “
Let’s stroll
.”

She’d mimicked his accent on the last bit, which made Gabriel laugh. The sound felt odd in his throat, making him think he hadn’t done nearly enough of that since… London. He couldn’t bring himself to think of the day he’d left, but somehow he was going to have to talk to Cassie about it, explain why she deserved much more in a mate.

They emerged from the courtyard and headed down the sidewalk.

“Oh, I love this gallery,” Cassie said as they passed a huge window featuring famous artwork. “And this dress shop, Trashy Diva. I have a dozen of their dresses. Very 50s chic.”

She chatted happily, and Gabriel guiltily half-listened, his stomach filling with dread as he tried to think of the right way to tell Cassie that he couldn’t give her what she wanted. They walked and people-watched all the way to Jackson Square, where Gabriel tugged Cassie over to one of the secluded wrought-iron benches.

“Let’s sit and talk for a minute,” he suggested.

“Uh oh,” Cassie said, her brows shooting up.

“What?” Gabriel asked, pulling her down beside him. He couldn’t quite let go of her hand, or move his thigh away from hers.

“That sounds ominous,” she said with a shrug, glancing away.

Gabriel cleared his throat, unsure how to begin.

“Cass, I’m a murderer,” emerged from his mouth, surprising even Gabriel.

Cassie’s eyes widened as she stared up at him, her fingers clenching against his for a moment.

“Uh… what?” she asked.

“All the Guardians are in service to Mere Marie. I think you know that, right?” Gabriel asked. Cassie only nodded, so he pushed on. “I serve Mere Marie because she saved me from a grisly fate. Hanging from the neck until dead, as we called it.”

“I still don’t understand.”

“I killed my sister Caroline. I thought I knew enough magic to summon and control a demon. The spell went awry, and killed Caroline instead.”

Comprehension flared in Cassie’s eyes.

“Your sacrifice, to power the spell,” she said, nodding. “That happens with the Oracle sometimes, sacrifices being mistaken. I’ve never accepted human lives, though…”

“I was supposed to sacrifice my ability to shift,” Gabriel explained, rubbing his hand over his mouth.

“You were giving up your bear.” Cassie watched him for a moment, then she just nodded. “I don’t think that qualifies as murder, exactly.”

Anger flashed in Gabriel’s chest, quick and hot.

“Really? What do you call it, then? Carelessness? I killed her, Cass. She was cold as stone, lifeless in my arms. Without Mere Marie, Caroline would be long gone. Because of
me
.” He thumped a fist to his chest, pain searing him as he thought of his mistakes.

Cassie seemed to consider his words for a long, silent moment.

“Okay,” she said. “I’m sorry that happened, Gabriel. And I’m glad that Mere Marie saved your sister. Thank you for telling me.”

She looked on the verge of saying more, but stopped. Gabriel let out a pent-up breath, frustrated. She heard his words, accepted them, but didn’t understand the reason for his confession.

“Cass,” he said, squeezing her hand again before withdrawing. “I don’t think you see the point of this discussion.”

“You opening up about your past isn’t enough of a point?” she asked, her gaze narrowing.

“I am trying to explain why I can’t have a mate,” Gabriel said. “The responsibility of it…”

“Responsibility?” Cassie’s brows arched.

“To protect you,” Gabriel clarified.

“Let’s forget the ridiculous things you just said for a moment,” Cassie said, giving him a hard glance. “What is it that you want in your life, Gabriel?”

Gabriel paused, thinking that over.

“I don’t know,” he admitted.

“Let’s paint a portrait here. You, in the future, without all the guilt of the past. If Caroline never died, and that wasn’t hanging over your head, what would you plan for yourself?”

Gabriel took a moment before answering. He tried to imagine himself ten years from now, imagine the life he’d lead.

“I guess… I always wanted a beautiful home. A big family,” he said, as much to himself as to Cassie. “When we lived on the streets, Caroline and I would make up stories, talk about the great holiday feasts we’d have together. Lots of children gathered around the table, everyone happy and well fed. Yuletide was a special time of year for us.”

Cassie gave him a soft smile, and Gabriel was sad to realize that she understood him all too well.

“Longing,” she said, nodding. “And planning. I did a lot of that. In the Birdcage, especially. I was alone so much, and the holidays feel especially lonely. I used to do the same thing, fantasize about how I’d have lavish Christmas decorations one day, do all the things my parents never did for me.”

“For your children, you mean.”

“Yes,” Cassie said. “I don’t mean to come on too strong, but… you were there, too. I saw you in a vision, a few visions actually, and I sort of put you in my imaginings. I couldn’t know what you’d be like, your personality, but you were in the background.”

Gabriel wasn’t sure how to respond to that. It was sweet, but also a bit shocking.

“I—”

“No, no. I’m being weird,” Cassie said, shaking her head. “I just… I don’t want you to be in the background, Gabriel. Now that I’ve met you, you’re more wonderful than I could have imagined. And if you see yourself finding a mate and settling down someday, I… I’d like to be that person for you. Or at least try. I don’t want to scare you off, though.”

“Cassie,” Gabriel said, growing frustrated. “It’s not you. You… you’re perfect. There could never be someone better for me. I’m the one that’s flawed. I just… I can’t trust myself with you. You’re too precious, and I can’t let myself disappoint you. Or worse, put you in danger. Look what I did to my own sister, for God’s sake.”

Cassie opened her mouth, clearly ready to set him down, but Gabriel heard a noise and put a hand on her arm to still her.

Snick
.
Snick
.
Sniiick
.

Gabriel turned his head a fraction, and out of the very corner of his eye he saw three tall figures approaching. They wore billowing black robes, hoods covering their faces, and they moved almost without sound.

Almost.

Snick
.
Snick
. Their robes brushed against the cobblestone street across Jackson Square. It was only then that Gabriel noticed that the Square was empty save themselves and the approaching… well, not men, but creatures.

“Kallu demons,” Gabriel said to Cassie, who gave him a wide-eyed nod. “We should try to run while we still can.”

They jumped to their feet, Gabriel pulling Cassie along with him. He took a sharp left into the heart of the French Quarter, figuring that they might lose the demons in the cramped side streets. Unfortunately when Gabriel glanced over his shoulder, the demons were gaining on them.

“Bloody hell,” Gabriel cursed, pulling Cassie down another side street.

“Gabriel,” she said as he looked back at the demons again. “Gabriel!”

He turned, realizing that he had unwittingly brought them to a dead end in a back alley.

“Keep moving,” he said, pushing Cassie toward the dead end. “Stay down, let me work.”

He didn’t have a sword or a gun, but he did have his wand. He hadn’t used it against another person since that day with Caroline, not for any major spell, but it looked like today was the day he’d start again.

Gabriel squared off in the middle of the alley, flourishing his wand so that the demons would know that he wasn’t helpless.

“You don’t want to do this,” he shouted. “I’m a Guardian.”

The hooded figures slowed when they were a hundred paces away, but they didn’t react to his announcement. Meaning they likely knew just who Gabriel was, and that they’d been sent for him. Or worse, for Cassie.

The creatures spread out and approached, a yellow glow beginning to seep out of their empty robes. Kallu demons were shapeless without their robes, invisible and nearly harmless. These had been given form and power, summoned by someone very powerful.

Gabriel shot a nasty spell at the creature in the middle. It ducked the attack with ease.

“Shit,” he mumbled. He’d never fought three of them by himself before, and the buggers were fast.

They advanced again, this time firing spells of their own, and Gabriel was soon caught up in the battle. It only took a few minutes for him to realize that they were intentionally missing him, toying with him…

Then there were only two of them. Gabriel threw a panicked glance over his shoulder and saw that the third was behind him, forcing him to turn his back to one of the alley’s brick walls.

From there, the three demons forced him back until he was nearly touching the wall. One of the demons hit Gabriel with a painful stunning spell, making him cry out.

“Cassie, run for it!” he called, worried that the demons might take him down and then go after her next. He looked down the alley, noting that there were several doorways close enough for Cassie to reach without coming closer to the demons. “Bust in a door if you have to!”

One of the demons glowed more brightly than the others, and Gabriel could feel it gathering magic, concentrating. It closed in on him, looming—

“
Ait kisathen
,” came a sultry, sibilant voice.

The demon froze, then turned and backed up a step to reveal Cassie, standing mere feet away. Legs spread, arms stretched out, hair whipping wildly in a wind that touched no one else but her.

Only… it wasn’t Cassie. Blinding white light poured from her eyes and mouth, as she spoke again in that same mysterious, serpentine language.

“
Kaitssssh. Kaitssssh! Memeshk blissst!
” she cried, her voice rising in volume until it pounded in Gabriel’s ears. Thunder rumbled in the distance, saturating the air with anticipation.

The Oracle
, Gabriel realized. The Oracle had taken over Cassie’s body, protecting her vessel. Or protecting Gabriel, for some unknown reason.

“
Yishhhhk
,” two of the demons said at once, both giving Cassie a low bow. The third paused and watched her, cocking its head.

After a moment, the demon’s yellow glow flared once more, and he raised a hand as if to attack Cassie. Before the demon could move, there was an ear-splitting shriek and a thunderous
CRACK
. A flash of white light followed, blinding him for the barest second. Gabriel winced, blinking to clear the momentary shock.

Then he realized that one of the demons was simply… gone. Cassie took a step toward the other two, who fled without hesitation. They were out of sight before Gabriel could even stagger to his feet, trying to take in what had just happened.

Demons were usually emotionless creatures, but Gabriel could swear that he’d just seen outright fear in the two that Cassie hadn’t… vanished, or whatever she’d done.

She’d struck actual
fear
into a
demon
.

“Cass?” he asked, tentative.

She was still the Oracle, just now. She took a step toward Gabriel, then another, and it took everything in Gabriel’s power not to run away screaming. She truly was terrifying to behold, all blinding white light and rumbling thunder.

“Cass,” he said again, stiffening when Cassie reached out and gripped his bicep. Her fingers clamped like a vice, nails digging into his flesh through his dress shirt. The light from her eyes and mouth flashed brilliantly, and Gabriel had the distinct sensation that she was pulling something out of him, some essence.

The Oracle was summoning a prophecy.

That eerie, low voice filtered out of Cassie’s mouth again, a seductive hiss.

“
You will give the Vessel a child
,” the Oracle whispered. “
This Vessel will beget the next Vessel. You will make it so, sorcerer. The fate of many rests on you.
”