CHAPTER 130: CHAPTER 125: WELCOME TO THE LYONS (1)

"Gregoris Fraser," Damian said without missing a beat, "meet Gabriel von Jaunez. My mate."

Gabriel didn’t flinch at the title, though it still landed with a certain weight.

Gregoris blinked, once. Slowly. His cold, silver-edged gaze slid to Gabriel, then back to Damian. Then back to Gabriel again and with a slow inhale, he could feel Gabriel’s faint scent. He smelled exactly like the Emperor; he was marked too.

"You’re the mate?" he asked, deadpan.

Gabriel arched a brow. "Last I checked, yes."

Gregoris stared at him a moment longer.

"Huh," he said finally. "Didn’t think you’d live this long."

Max choked on his coffee.

Gabriel tilted his head. "Excuse me?"

"I mean no offense," Gregoris added flatly, "but most people who sleep near Damian either end up stabbed or emotionally destroyed. Possibly both. You seem... upright."

"I’ve only thought about stabbing him twice," Gabriel said, narrowing his eyes. "Which I think shows great restraint."

Edward, without missing a beat, murmured, "It does, actually." He moved quickly, refusing to allow other attendants to assist him this morning; there was no need; he could handle three people just fine. The table was now clean; with only a few arrangements of pastries remaining.

Damian leaned back with faint amusement. "He’s handling it well."

Gregoris nodded slowly, as if reconsidering his entire worldview. "Huh."

Max was grinning openly now. "You broke Gregoris. That’s impressive."

"I am hard to impress," Gregoris muttered, still staring at Gabriel like he’d grown a second head. "But sure. Fine. I’ve seen worse mates."

Gabriel sipped his coffee calmly. "You’re not even in the top five strangest things I’ve met this week."

Gregoris looked genuinely pleased. "Then you’ll do."

Damian smirked. "Now that the approval of my shadow has been granted..." His tone was full of sarcasm towards one of his most trusted men.

Gregoris rolled his eyes with all the world weariness of a man who had seen too much. "Just don’t summon me next time unless someone’s bleeding or betraying you."

"And yet you’re always the first I call," Damian said smoothly.

"That says more about your taste in people than mine," Gregoris muttered, then crossed his arms. "I assume you called me for the report you requested about George."

"I trust you ordered our men to follow his every move," Damian said.

Gregoris nodded. "I have. His movements are suspect. More than suspect. He rarely leaves Elliot’s manor, and when he does, it’s not to conduct business or meet with his usual contacts."

Gabriel leaned in slightly, tension returning to his frame. "Then what is he doing?"

Gregoris paused. "He’s been visiting Hadeon."

The name hit the room like a dropped stone.

Gabriel stiffened. "Wait. What?" That was the last thing he expected to hear; during his five years with George, he had to constantly hear how much he and Callahan despised Hadeon Lyon.

Max didn’t look surprised. He just shook his head slowly, like a man watching a slow-moving storm. "Of course."

Gregoris folded his arms. "It wasn’t a one-time meeting. I tracked him to the old residence three separate times this week. Discreet entrances, sealed wards, full privacy enchantments. But it was Hadeon."

Gabriel set his cup down with a sharp clink. "You’re telling me George Claymore is visiting your father. The man he publicly loathes? The one and only man who has caused me hours of suffering over the last five years as a result of George or Callahan’s constant rants?"

Gregoris nodded once. "That’s what I’m telling you."

Gabriel turned to Damian. "You’re just... dropping this on me like it’s normal?"

Damian was silent for a moment, his golden eyes staring at Gabriel with a watchful, not dismissive, nor cruel expression. He was trying to see how much information Gabriel could handle. Then, softly:

"You’re sitting at this table now. You said you wanted everything."

Gabriel breathed in, grounding himself. "Right. I did."

"But that doesn’t mean it isn’t a lot," Max added under his breath.

Gabriel shot him a look. "I just found out my boss is likely plotting with the Emperor’s estranged father. That’s beyond a lot."

"Nothing about this makes sense," Max said, fingers drumming once against the table. "George hates Hadeon. He always has. Publicly, privately—violently. He wouldn’t work with him."

"And yet he is," Gregoris said.

Gabriel frowned, his voice quieter now. "Then something’s off. Something’s wrong."

Damian’s jaw ticked ever so slightly. "Yes."

"You have a theory," Gabriel said.

"I do."

"But you’re not sharing it."

Damian met his gaze, calm and steady. "Not yet. But we’ll find out tomorrow at the meeting. The Blue Ether Project meeting is a good excuse to separate Elliot and George’s newfound relationship."

Gabriel was silent for a long moment. Then, to his own surprise, he nodded.

"Alright. I’ll wait." He already had a lot to deal with and from what he could see, the day would be long enough with other matters. Gabriel was certain that Damian was not the type of man to truly relax, and he suspected that his future position in the palace would also be discussed today.

Damian’s expression softened slightly, but enough that Max noticed and smirked into his cup. He was glad that he didn’t have to go to war with George so that he would keep his mate safe and Gabriel keeping Damian busy may give him some free time from the demanding personality of his older brother.

Gregoris stepped back, already fading into the darkened corner of the hall. "I’ll keep watch. If George makes another move before tomorrow, you’ll know."

"Good," Damian said. "Stay close."

Gregoris disappeared, swallowed by shadows once more.

Gabriel stared at the place he’d been standing. "That’s going to take time to get used to."

Max leaned back and patted his shoulder, his grin widening at the sight of Damian’s frawn. "He’s not even the scariest one."

"I’m not reassured," Gabriel muttered.

Damian smirked. "And soon, you’ll meet your future father-in-law." frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

Gabriel groaned. "New family drama. Wonderful."

Max raised his coffee. "Welcome to the Lyons."

*