Blood Ties (Blood Lust Sequel)--COMPLETED

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Royal

Dedicated to __SINN3R__

I explained everything to Gabriel the next morning. Duke's plan to send me back to the mainland with Nero and Linc, which led to our discovery of the AOD's return. How Yang the incubus had tricked me into thinking he was Gabriel. Linc swooping in at the very last second to save me from Yang, carefully leaving out how I'd jumped Linc and kissed him.

I didn't keep that part from him out of guilt, though, but practicality.

What good would it do to tell Gabriel about it? He was already angry about everything else, no need to stoke the flames.

Plus the kiss was meaningless, just a side effect of the incubus' enchantment...at least, I told myself the kiss was meaningless.

The pitter-patter of my heart when I thought about it told me otherwise.

"Was he impersonating you the entire time?" I asked, referring to Yang's trick.

I wasn't sure when Yang the incubus had taken Gabriel's place.

Was it in the laundry room?

Sooner?

Just how long had I been hanging out with an imposter?

"Outside your dorm room." He answered, pacing the room. "When we found Lincoln with the succubus, Yin."

"Oh," I replied quietly.

I could feel the heat of Gabriel's anger rolling off him in waves. It was painfully obvious from the cherry-red tint of his forearms that he was reigning in his temper, but barely. I was proud of the progress he had made over the past couple of months, managing his anger. Had he received news like this back in September, he probably would have deep fried everyone involved before realizing it. Now he was able to extinguish the flames of his rage before they could manifest...usually.

As long as he didn't get any more bad news, he'd eventually be able to calm down.

Unfortunately for him, the universe decided to take that as a challenge.

There was a brisk knock at the door, followed by Linc's southern drawl. "Aud, you up?"

My eyes grew wide and I wanted to smack myself. Oh, Linc. You have the worst timing ever!

"Yeah, but I'm not decent." I shrugged at Gabriel, unsure if that was an acceptable thing to say.

He glanced at me, then the door, his body getting hotter by the second. After a moment, he huffed, and turned to go into his bathroom, slamming the door shut behind him.

"What's up?" I asked without opening the bedroom door, aiming for casual.

"I was wondering if you'd seen whitey."

"Whitey?"

"The white-haired vamp." He elaborated. "I can't remember his name."

"Gabriel." I answered, then asked, "what do you want with him?"

"Me? Jack shit." Linc chuckled humorlessly. "Nah, it's Havoc that wants him. He requests an audience."

"Oh, well I'll be sure to let him know the next time I see him." I offered, hoping that was enough to make him leave.

I never put my bottom portion of clothes back on after what Gabriel did to me the night before, so I really wasn't decent. But that wasn't why I wanted Linc to leave, at least not the whole reason. No, my main motivation for Linc to hit the bricks was currently in the adjacent bathroom trying desperately to keep his cool.