by Leah Kent
"It better not be like that," Finn said solemnly. "You're engaged now, Gabriel. You owe it to your future wife and to our pride to remain faithful. If she calls, don't answer. There's way too much at stake to be fooling around with a pretty face."
The recollection stung. Tonight he'd been trying so hard to forget, but Finneus was happy to drag every unhappy thought to the surface. The pride deserved a better King. Gabriel wasn't ready to settle down and rule, not now, maybe not ever. His was a wild spirit, and he was happiest while serving, not giving orders. It was why he had joined the military, and it was why he'd elected to go on so many tours. It had been years since he'd last been in America, but following the death of his father, Gabriel had no choice but to return.
"Her name's Victoria. She's not just a face," Gabriel mumbled. Arguing against Finn always seemed pointless; the man was a lawyer, and he knew just what words to use to set himself up for victory. Still, he felt like Victoria was worth fighting for.
"I don't care if her name was Anastasia and she was the missing Romanov princess. The fact of the matter is, you are engaged to a lioness from another pride. You will keep the engagement and strengthen our relations with the shifter community. Throwing a human girl into the equation doesn't make sense. You will do what is best for all of us."
"I will." Gabriel said. The conversation had gone on long enough. Without waiting for Finneus to dismiss him, he began the walk back to their table where his pride had gathered. The laughter and high spirits had not suffered in his wake; Tabitha was doing a good job at keeping everyone agreeable.
As he sank back in his seat, all Gabriel could do was stare upwards and take in the night sky. An unwanted engagement. Forced diplomacies. Control over a whole pride of lion shifters. There were so many changes happening so quickly in his life, all of them unwanted. Was it wrong to want to find a sliver of solace amongst the madness? Finn seemed to think so, and if he did, maybe it was true.
"Here she comes," Finneus murmured as he took his seat at Gabriel's right. "On your best behavior; you want to make a good impression."
Gabriel picked his head up and looked momentarily towards his friend. Finneus was older by six months, and time had aged him in a way different than it had aged Gabriel. Where Gabriel was rugged and thick, Finneus was refined and elegant. A life of scholarly pursuits left Finn soft, where Gabriel had lived by hardship and physicality. Still, their blonde hair and blue eyes mimicked were almost identical. If only they had been brothers instead of cousins. What Gabriel would have given for an older brother to assume the position of King in his stead.
"How sweet of you to save me a seat." The voice was low and sultry, and had Gabriel’s thoughts been in order, it would have immediately piqued his attention. As it was, all he could think about was Victoria and her honey words, and how much he'd rather be at a quiet, private venue with her than out on this patio with his pride and his betrothed.
The chair to his left pulled out from the table, then someone settled in it. Gabriel turned his head to take her in for the first time. His fiancée.
As she sat she shook her head to free stunning black locks of hair from a high ponytail. Her face was blessed with attractive bone structure, and her hips offered a tantalizing curve on an otherwise petite body. There was no questioning that she was beautiful, but Gabriel felt no pull. Nothing about Jessica struck him in the way that Victoria had when he'd first laid eyes upon her.
"It's nice to meet you," he offered as she settled. Pretty brown eyes fell upon him and assessed, and one corner of Jessica's lips twitched upwards in a smirk.
"Nice to meet you, too," she crooned. It's nice to know that I'm to marry a man with some muscle to him. When I met your brother—"
"Cousin—"
"Whatever. I was afraid you'd look the same. I'm glad to see that's not the case."
Most lion shifters had feline qualities to them. In Jessica's case the cat was easy to see; she was sly and sleek, matching the same slinky quality of a cat up to no good.
"And I'm honored that you would come to sit with all of us even after a long day on the job. The pride is tightly knit, and when we marry you will be family with all of us."
"So I'd heard," Jessica said, turning just slightly in her chair. "All of you are really... Traditional. I guess it's refreshing."
The more she spoke, the less Gabriel desired her. Condescending, uncaring, and brash, she was exactly the kind of woman he tried to avoid. Victoria's forlorn stare and timid nature haunted him.
"So," Jessica murmured, eyes tracing across each one of them in turn. The conversations around the table had ceased now that she'd sat with them, and all eyes were on her and Gabriel. "Is pride dinner a thing? Because it seems like a lot of unnecessary work."
In his mind, Gabriel sat with Victoria at a private table like one of the ones across the patio as he made her blush and laugh. He'd promised Finn that he'd do what was best for the pride, but if she called he wasn't sure he could resist. After all, he’d known Jessica for all of two minutes, and already she rubbed him the wrong way. Could a woman he had no connection to really be better for the wellbeing of the pride than one he was interested it? Gabriel wasn’t sure.
It was going to be a long night.
Chapter Three
So much had happened in the last three days that the timeline of events made little sense. At some point she'd stopped by the apartment and collected her belongings while Peter wasn't home. She'd located a sleazy but cheap motel to stay at for a few days until she figured out what to do. She'd cancelled and rescheduled her appointments at work to take some time to get her life sorted out. She'd tried to call her parents to no avail. Leaving Peter had turned her life on its head, and it was going to take some time before she felt upright again.
What Victoria did remember was that on the third day she called him.
Since they'd met that night at the Ambrogio, Victoria had not forgotten his face. The business card sat inside the clutch by her beside, unforgotten but off-limits. Jumping from a serious relationship right into going on a date with a handsome stranger seemed desperate and not her style, but shaking Gabriel from her mind was harder than she'd thought. It was as though he'd infected her and had rooted his presence in her soul. Maybe he was an angel sent down to guide her through these tough times. Maybe it was time that she stopped ignoring her blessings.
As she dialed the number on the back of the lawyer's business card, Victoria traced the letters of Gabriel’s name with her index finger. The phone rang once, twice, three times. She plopped back upon the lumpy motel mattress and held the business card upwards, waiting. Four times, five times. Victoria was just about to take the phone away from her ear to hang up when the call connected.
"Hello?"
"Hi."
For a moment silence stretched between them. The depth of his voice surprised her, and warm familiarity spread through her stomach as excitement caused her heart to beat that much faster. It was really happening — she was really speaking to him.
"Um, this is Victoria, from the Ambrogio the other night. You gave me your number, and I thought I'd call."
"I remember," he said right away. Victoria smiled. The business card slipped from her fingers and spun through the air, landing on the mattress at her side. "Listen, I can't really talk right now. Can you meet me tonight? Seven, at Masquerade."
Masquerade was one of the city's gems. As the name suggested, guests were encouraged to enter wearing masquerade masks, and many often dressed in elaborate costume. The venue was upscale, but the atmosphere was always relaxed and fun. Victoria had been once or twice, but after meeting Peter she hadn't had much of a chance to go.
"Yes, but—"
"I have to go, V. I'll find you."
The call disconnected, leaving Victoria both puzzled and excited. Was it a date? It felt like a date. With only a few hours left to get dressed and ready, there was little time to waste. This week was going to be a week from hell, so if she could spend even
just one evening having fun and doing something for herself, she had to take advantage.
The hours passed quickly. Victoria washed, then did her hair and makeup. From amongst her scattered possessions crammed into suitcases she located the strapless peacock dress she'd worn the last time she'd gone to Masquerade. It was a radiant blue green color, one half of the sweetheart bust decorated with fabric peacock feathers sewn with accent sequins. The feathers stretched diagonally across the dress, and the longest ones ended upon her skirt. The skirt itself was puffed out, layers of billowing tulle concealed by a layer of fabric peacock feathers that peeked out from between the dress and over the tulle. The mask she owned was matte black, crafted to fit over her nose and cheekbones on the bottom while forming a V pattern symmetrical to the bridge of her nose at the top. Upon it in glossy black paints were intricate designs that framed the mask, some of the lines laid with black glitter, others left glossy. Victoria had always loved it, and was thrilled to have a chance to wear it again.
Before she knew it she was dressed and in the back of a cab. The Masquerade was in a much better part of town than where she'd come to call home over the last few days, and although the drive was brief, it would be too far to walk in heels.
The sun had just begun to set, the sky stained with reds and pinks. The Masquerade opened its doors for dinner as early as half past four, but seven was when guests began to show up in earnest and the party began. Victoria exited the cab and glanced up and down the street, hesitating only momentarily to tie the mask to her face. So far she hadn't seen Gabriel, but she suspected he might already be inside.
Amongst modest gatherings of people in beautiful dress and elaborate masks, Victoria entered the venue. Old world elegance greeted her in its marble columns and plush red carpets. Mirrors with filigree gold frames hung upon the walls to reflect back the dazzling colors of women's dresses and the beauty of anonymity. As she passed down the entrance hall it was impossible not to see herself; as big as Victoria felt, she also felt beautiful. No doubt if Peter were here he would make a comment about her thighs, or her stomach, or her arms, but without him there to hold her back, Victoria was liberated. Tonight would be good; she was certain of it.
The entrance hall led to the sitting area and the dance floor. Unlike most bars, the area was well lit and kept immaculately clean. Two rows of tables lined the outside of the room, offering guests a place to eat or, later, to sit with their drinks, and the center of the room was lowered and reserved for dancing. For now the music was still at a decent volume as the last of the diners finished their meals, but soon the lights would dim and the music would get louder. The empty dance pit in the center of the room would fill with men and women looking to lose themselves to the music.
Still there was no sign of Gabriel.
Victoria let her eyes sweep the room from the left to the right, lingering on the guests at the tables and those that milled about by the bar. It was just after seven, so maybe he hadn't arrived just yet. Would it be better to sit at one of the tables, or to wait outside?
Before she had a chance to consider it further, a familiar hand met her lower back.
"I'd recognize you anywhere," Gabriel's voice whispered in her ear. A shiver ran through her, and slowly Victoria turned her head in his direction. "Thank you for coming out tonight, V. I'm sorry I had to be so curt on the phone."
Tonight he was dressed in black slacks and a white button down. Overtop he wore a black jacket, left open, and a black tie. A simple black mask set across the top with silver embellishments concealed his face, but Victoria knew the blue eyes beneath.
As though by magic, as the words fell from his lips the lights began to dim. A sense of wonder rode through her, and Victoria couldn't help but believe that he'd arranged the coincidence. The music swelled in volume, the rise gradual. The hand traced from the small of her back to her hand, which Gabriel took with affection. He guided her with ease towards the empty dance floor.
Old world met new. All eyes upon them, Gabriel took her in his arms and they began to dance. Peter had always tried to make her invisible, and had never wanted to associate closely with her in public in ways that would demonstrate their intimate relationship. Gabriel hadn't wasted a second letting the entire room know who he was here with. Warmth spread through Victoria's cheeks at the thought. For the first time in a long time she felt worthy.
Gabriel held her close as they moved across the empty floor. One of his hands was at her waist, the other still holding hers. Victoria had her free hand at his shoulder. As close as she was she could smell his cologne, a subtle, woody aroma mixed with the lighter, brighter scent of dried grass and the crispness of the summer sun. Like an open field, she thought. Like nature had claimed this man as its own.
"I haven't been able to stop thinking about you," Gabriel confessed as they moved across the floor. Each step left her feeling that much lighter until it felt as though she floated over the dance floor instead of upon it. The strong and yet controlled way that Gabriel touched her made her heart sing in a way Victoria had never known it could.
"I've been thinking about you a lot, too," she replied. The words were as hushed as they could be over the volume of the music. For the next hour or so classical waltzes overlaid with electric beats would play to ease the transition between high dining and dance, and then later in the evening the music would change to club-like affair. Victoria was glad that Gabriel had invited her out early into the evening; the waltz they shared felt far more personal than senseless jumping and grinding.
"There's something special about you. Something I can't put my finger on. It feels like I've known you for a long time." As they danced his fingers wove between hers, and the hand at her waist held her that much closer. All eyes were on them as they shared the first dance alone. For once Victoria did not feel self-conscious.
"You think so?" she asked. Once upon a time Peter had said sweet things to her, but there was sincerity in how Gabriel spoke that had always been absent in her sort-of-ex's voice. Had they really broken up? Since she’d left him at the Ambrogio they hadn’t spoken, but the words had never officially been said. "I'd know if we'd met before. Yours is the kind of face a girl doesn't forget."
The bright dresses and monochromatic suits that clustered near the outskirts of the dance floor were just as magical as the patio lights had been. Victoria's heart was in her throat.
"I think it's deeper than that," Gabriel replied. "I can't explain. Not here."
They spun across the floor in lazy circles. The song was coming to its end.
"Then where?"
"Somewhere private. Somewhere we can speak without fear of being heard. I understand if you don't want a stranger taking you behind closed doors, so I'll leave the choice up to you. There is something I want to share with you, but I will bite my tongue and just enjoy your company tonight if that's what you want."
A secret. A request for privacy. For all the red flags she knew were present, Victoria wanted to bring him home. They barely knew each other, but Gabriel's presence alone made her feel as though she owned the world. She wasn't ready to let that feeling go away just yet.
"Let's stay and dance a little longer," she said. "I've got somewhere we can go later. I'm enjoying this too much to leave right away."
The smile that spread his lips eased some of the gruffness away. God, was he handsome. Victoria's heart fluttered at the sight. He was smiling for her.
"Of course. I want nothing more than to dance with you tonight. You look lovely, and the world deserves a chance to see. I'm a lucky man to have your company."
It was magic, the words he spoke, the way they danced, and the way his hands felt upon her. When the song ended other pairs descended to the dance floor, and soon they wove their way around others. Never once did Victoria notice. Gabriel was all she saw and all she heard. They spoke of their lives, of his deployment overseas and her struggle to upkeep her interior design business. Of their likes and dislikes, and of stories of thei
r past. And sometimes they relished mutual silence. Things were easy between them, like they moved together thought a blissful dream.
When the music grew heavier and the beats more insistent, Gabriel directed her to the edge of the dance floor. A rugged, mature man like Gabriel wasn't the type Victoria imagined would be interested in clubbing. Now that the evening was beginning in earnest, it was time for them to take their leave. Hand in hand they climbed the few stairs leading up from the dance floor and headed for the front doors. A cab already waited outside, drawn in by the crowds the Masquerade always pulled.
"Where are we going?" Gabriel asked as she flagged the cab down.
"Back to where I've been staying. We'll have privacy there."
They both sat in the back, and Victoria gave the driver the address. Was this crazy? Her head said yes, but her heart said no. It was just like Gabriel had told her earlier that evening — it felt like she'd known him a long time. Gabriel was the type of man who was easy to trust.
