Page 86 of The Huntress

“I need you safe.” He tried to keep the pleading from his voice. After her abduction, he wouldn’t survive it if she was in danger again.

“As I need you to be. We do this together, Gabe.” She folded her arms across her chest.

He shook his head, his heart racing. The idea of Callie in danger… “You’re no match for Stavros. I have yet to train you.”

“I don’t care.” She raised her chin and glowered. “I’ve taken down suckbloods before.”

“We can escalate her training,” Dimitri said.

Gabriel clenched his fists and stared him down for his suggestion, his glare lethal and long, until Dimitri at last glanced away. “I planned to, but even if we had months to train her, Stavros has had centuries to hone his skills.” He threw a pointed look at Callie, conveying his decision was final.

Typical of her to ignore his command. “I’m a detective, Gabe. Danger I can deal with. Losing you or George? Not so much.”

Silence descended then Syl said, “I see the bond is not complete yet.”

“Everything with Callie’s conversion is unusual. It’s as if she’s still human.” Leo’s expression deepened in thought.

“Are you reading my mind?” Her body stiffened as she challenged him.

Gabriel hid a smirk.

“Parts of it.” Leo’s honest response drew forth a head shake from Mike. The man didn’t realize how much danger he was in. “As I understand, you’ve walled your inner sanctum. I can’t penetrate it, which means neither can the bond.”

“Leo, get out of my head or so help me,” she threatened, placing a white-knuckled fist on the table’s surface.

“But—” He flinched, his skin paling.

Pain marred his features, but Gabriel didn’t care what she had done to him. All that mattered was the sudden influx of emotions, thoughts, and memories that were not his own. Whatever she’d done had opened herself to theAdsumo.

He gasped, shuddering at the sweet, intense overload. Every one of his senses sparked to life. Goosebumps skittered across his skin, and his nipples responded in kind.

“Out,” he growled, unable to regulate his voice.

Dimitri rose, taking Mike and George with him, while Leo and Syl evaporated.

“George?” Callie squeaked. She twisted in her chair to stare at Gabriel, waiting for an answer.

“Dimitri will care for her.” His voice deepened as he relished their connection.

Closing his eyes, he drew her into his arms. Concern was her core emotion, at the unexpected exodus, nervous about George, worried about Gabriel’s strange behavior. With one bold and joyful decision, she placed her trust in him, as she’d done from the day they’d met.

“Do you feel it?” He kissed her temple.

Her gasp was her answer, along with the tightening of her arms around him. “What is that? Are those your memories?”

“And my emotions.” His voice was husky. “All that I feel for you, Callista.”

“You love me?” Her voice filled with hope and surprise.

“As you love me.” He wallowed in the core of her mind.

The glowing warm depths shone for him, saturating the dark recesses of his soul. He stopped breathing, not that it was a necessity, but it was indicative of how much her opinion of him mattered. Now she’d know how much she meant to him.

“You loved me from the start.” Her lips curled into a delicious smile. “Youknewwhat you were doing when you spoke the Rite ofAdsumoover me. You had every intention of keeping me forever, regardless of my permission.”

“But you did agree—your honor demanded you keep your word. That, and your hatred for Syl.” He laughed, unable to contain the blissful happiness inside him.I never thought I’d be grateful to Syl.

“Did you just…?”Speak to me telepathically?Awe graced her features, along with doubt and fear.

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