Chapter 154 chapter 154

Chapter 154 chapter 154
Gabriel’s POV

I sat down looking into emptiness as I was very angry after we left the place. The council locked us inside the manor “for protection.” The word sounds wrong in my mouth. I know a cage when I see one. Thick wards pressed into the walls. Guards outside every door with smiles that don’t reach their eyes.

They’re not protecting us. They’re containing her. They don't want her to be powerful like she said. Maybe everything she was thinking earlier was right. They just want to control her and make sure that they can use her powers for themselves.

Everyone in that council is a hypocrite, and they don't deserve to be in the council of elders. They are just greedy people who want to be in power, and they see someone who is more powerful than them as a threat.

I watched Carlota pace the room, barefoot on cracked stone, the moonlight spilling through the tall windows and tracing the sharp line of her jaw. She looked restless, unhappy, like power having nowhere left to go.

"I can't believe they are trying to hold me back with this. Do they think I'm an idiot who is supposed to just let this happen?" she lamented.

“They’re afraid of you,” I said quietly.

She didn't stop pacing. She didn't even look at me. “I think that's good enough proof or verification,” she answered. “Maybe that means I’m finally dangerous enough to matter to anyone.”

The words hit harder than I expected. I stepped closer before I thought better of it, lowering my voice like the walls themselves might be listening. “You already matter to me,” I said. “Long before the moon claimed you.”

She froze. Slowly, she turned to face me. Her eyes searched mine, like she’s trying to decide if I’m lying or if the truth scared her more.

I think more than enough times I have already shown her that I cared about her more than anything right now and she is my most important priority. I don't know why she looks shocked that I would say this again.

"Right now I don't even know if I can think of anything else. I just want to get out of here and go on with my life. I have a lot of things that I want to do even if I want to live peacefully," she said calmly.

I took her hands in mine. I badly want to take away all your pain and make sure those people don't come near you again.

"But you can't do it," she replied. "It's dangerous, and you're going to get hurt anyway. I will finish this myself since it started from me."

The fact that she has the two of us is very concerning for her. I can't imagine what is going on in her head right now. Even though I hate my stepbrother, I definitely don't want him to die because of her and then have her blame herself for the rest of her life because of this.

For one heartbeat, the air between us got hotter like there was so much heat around us. The bond hummed. The moonlight flared faintly, reacting to us, to how close we are to crossing a line neither of us can uncross.

I’m about to reach for her. But Paxton came in between us, looking at us like we were idiots. He looked visibly annoyed by us being together. I can't believe that he is still here. Why doesn't he just go away and let us talk to each other?

"You know, if you stay silent and don't move, it is actually a much better look for you. It makes you look more handsome than you would ever be," I told him.

"Stop trying to take advantage of her feelings when she's being serious about things. Why don't you just get your head on and think about the most important things rather than being romantic at moments like this?" he fired at me.

I shook my head. "This is none of your business. She's not complaining, and we were talking about something important before you cut in. Don't you think you are being rude?"

"If only you could be serious for once," he stated. "Does this place look like a place where you can talk about things like that? We are literally locked up. Don't you think we should be thinking of how to get out of here?"

I was tired of arguing with him every single time. Even though Carlota told us not to argue with each other, I just couldn't help myself. Every time I saw him, it was either he was trying to make me a murderer or something. I'm very sure he won't stand a chance against me the next time we have a fight.

We're only together right now because of the situation of the moon. If not, I wouldn't even allow him to go near her at all.

"I'm not going to argue with you right now because you're nothing but an idiot," I said to him.

I know he wanted to give a comeback to me, but he didn't get a chance to because something crashed downstairs. The sound of shattering wood echoed through the manor, sharp and sudden, snapping the moment clean in half. Carlota’s head jerked toward the door. My attention was taken there immediately, and I knew this wasn't something that was just ordinary. It was going to be something serious.

"What the hell is that?" Paxton said, going outside to check what it is. "You should wait here, Carlota. I will go and check it."

I wanted to say something, but she looked at me. When is he always acting like he's the only one who cares about her? Of course I can go outside and check. I'm not a coward. But then I thought about it. If he's going outside to check, it means that our attention might be diverted, and someone has to stay here with her to protect her.