The Vampire's Court

Chapter 56-Time is Running Out

As soon as Gabriel strolled into the room the next afternoon, Dimitri's eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Gabriel had gone all out today—his long blue-black hair freshly combed and loosely tied back, his golden-brown eyes gleaming with mischief. He wore a sharp, tailored vest that hugged his broad chest and a billowy, white linen shirt that somehow made his large, bear-like frame seem even more imposing. His beard was neatly trimmed, the dark hairs catching the light just enough to make him look dashing—something that irked Dimitri to no end.

Dimitri watched with barely concealed irritation as Gabriel sauntered over and, with a dramatic flair, slid into the seat right between him and Seraphine.

"Ah, perfect spot," Gabriel said, grinning wide as he settled in comfortably. He leaned toward Seraphine almost immediately, his grin only widening. "Good afternoon, Sera."

Dimitri's voice was low and dangerous. "You're sitting in my seat."

Gabriel smiled sweetly, leaning back in his chair. "Am I? Funny, didn't see your name on it."

Mickey snorted into his drink, clearly enjoying the tension while Andrei smirked, leaning in to Gabriel. "Careful, frate, you know Dimitri's a bit... possessive these days. Especially with—"

"Watch it, Andrei," Dimitri snapped, his tone razor-sharp.

Seraphine blinked, caught a little off guard by Gabriel's sudden proximity—and the brewing chaos. "Gabriel," she replied, smiling politely.

Dimitri's jaw clenched. He could feel the tension thrumming through his veins, the possessive side of him flaring as Gabriel—looking annoyingly handsome—chatted Seraphine up with ease. Dimitri's fingers curled into fists, but he kept his face calm, forcing himself to take slow, steady breaths. He wasn't going to give Gabriel the satisfaction of a reaction. Not yet.

Gabriel, however, knew exactly what he was doing. He leaned in a little closer to Seraphine, his deep voice warm and inviting. "I must say, you're looking quite radiant today. Paris agrees with you, doesn't it?" He flashed her a charming smile, his golden-brown eyes gleaming with playfulness.

Seraphine smiled back, unaware of the game Gabriel was playing. "Thank you, Gabriel. You're looking quite... dashing yourself today."

That was all the invitation Gabriel needed. "Oh, this old thing?" He glanced down at himself with mock modesty. "I figured I'd put in a little effort today. Gotta keep up, you know?" His gaze flicked to Dimitri for just a second, and he smiled, satisfied with the growing tension on his brother's face.

Dimitri nearly growled out loud.

From across the room, Andrei and Mickey exchanged amused glances. Andrei had filled Mickey in on everything that had happened the night before, including their relentless teasing of Dimitri over his newfound territorial dominance. Now, as they watched Gabriel execute his little plan, both of them looked very interested in seeing how this would unfold.

"Watch closely," Andrei murmured to Mickey, his voice low and amused. "This is going to be good."

Mickey grinned, leaning back slightly, his Irish accent carrying a hint of mischief. "Aye, poor bloke looks like he's about to lose it."

Andrei chuckled. "Oh, just wait. He's trying so hard to keep it together."

Dimitri, meanwhile, was doing everything he could to maintain his composure. Every muscle in his body was tensed, his instincts roaring at him to shove Gabriel aside and stake his claim next to Seraphine. But instead, he forced himself to stay silent, his expression neutral—though his eyes betrayed the storm brewing inside him.