Bound by the Mark of Lies (BL)
Chapter 120 - 115: The Breaking Point (1)

Chapter 120: Chapter 115: The Breaking Point (1)

The halls of the palace were quieter now, the echoes of the grand event fading into the depths of the night. Gabriel’s mind was a blur of what Max, Charles, and Damian had said. He had no idea how to solve the problems that seemed to follow him around; if an assassination attempt occurred, there would be blood. Damian is not the type of man to keep something hidden for the sake of temporary peace.

After returning to his chambers, he had bathed, letting the warm water ease the tension from his limbs. The faint scent of perfumed soap lingered on his skin, contrasting with the heaviness that continued to press against his mind. Now, dressed in a loose white shirt and soft linen pants, he sat near the window, letting the cool night air soothe the residual heat still clinging to him from the ballroom. The flickering light cast shifting shadows across the walls, offering a moment of solitude he had not realized he needed.

A sharp knock at his door interrupted his momentary peace. He frowned, rising from his chair and approaching the door, only to discover Edward standing there, his expression as composed as ever, but his eyes revealed a rare flicker of concern.

"Edward," Gabriel greeted, straightening slightly. "It’s late."

Edward hesitated for only a fraction of a second before speaking, his voice measured but softer than usual. "I wouldn’t come unless it was important. It’s His Majesty."

Gabriel’s stomach tensed. "What happened?" He could guess, but deep down he hoped he was mistaken.

Edward nodded once. "He absorbed too much ether earlier. It’s thrown his body into complete disarray. He’s holding on, but not for much longer. His rut came back."

Gabriel sighed, rubbing his temple. "And he still refuses help."

Edward’s lips pressed into a thin line. "He won’t call for anyone, won’t let the physicians near him. You know how he is. But this time...it’s worse than usual."

Gabriel studied him for a moment. "And you came to me because?"

Edward exhaled, glancing away for the briefest moment. "Because I think you might be the only one he won’t push away."

Gabriel didn’t respond immediately. He had expected something like this. Damian was too proud, too stubborn to acknowledge when he needed someone.

And yet, Edward had come to him. Even that said a lot.

"Fine," Gabriel muttered, though the weight of what that meant settled heavily on his shoulders. If he was to stay with Damian, there was little doubt about what would happen.

Physical intimacy was nothing new to Gabriel; he had previously had lovers, short-lived affairs intended to pique interest or divert attention. But he had never been on the receiving end. Never allowed himself to be vulnerable in that way.

The thought made his fingers tighten slightly, but he forced himself to exhale, to push it aside. This wasn’t about that. It was about Damian, about the ether wreaking havoc on his body.

He could handle this. He had to.

’I will be his mate and Empress; this would happen sooner or later.’

"Take me to him."

Edward gave a small nod of gratitude before turning, leading Gabriel through the dim corridors. As they walked, the scent became stronger and heavier, thick with the anxiety of a man on the verge of losing himself. It curled around Gabriel’s senses, dark and heady, a forceful reminder of what he was about to walk into.

They stopped outside the Emperor’s chambers, and Edward hesitated. "Be careful."

Gabriel raised a brow before responding. "I can handle him."

Edward let out a slow breath before stepping aside. "Then go."

Without waiting, Gabriel pushed the doors open and stepped inside.

The heat of the room wassuffocating; the air charged with the overwhelming presence of Damian’s pheromones, thick and potent. Edward had made certain that no omegas or betas were present in the chambers, eliminating any possibility of instability beyond what Damian was already experiencing. The Emperor was seated in a low armchair near the fireplace, his posture deceptively relaxed. His right hand’s fingers gracefully flipped through the pages of a brief report, the imperial ring on his finger catching the firelight and glinting with each subtle movement. His breathing was even, but the sheer weight of his presence, the thick haze of his pheromones saturating the air, betrayed the battle raging within him. His nightgown hung loosely over his shoulders, the fabric damp with sweat.

His golden eyes locked onto Gabriel the moment he entered, sharp and piercing, but there was something else beneath that gaze.

Desperation.

Gabriel shut the door behind him, swallowing the tension coiling in his throat. "Damian."

The Emperor’s fingers curled at his sides, his jaw clenched as if every muscle in his body was wound too tight. "You shouldn’t be here."

Gabriel tilted his head slightly, stepping closer despite the warning in Damian’s voice. "Edward sent me."

Damian let out a low, humorless chuckle. "Of course he did."

Gabriel paused a few feet away, his arms folded across his chest, his hip leaning on a vanity corner. "You absorbed too much ether. That’s what did this."

Damian exhaled heavily, his eyes flickering as he struggled for control. "I know. But it doesn’t change anything."

Gabriel’s gaze softened, but he didn’t move any further. "You know I won’t just leave you like this."

A silence stretched between them, thick with something unspoken.

Damian’s golden eyes studied him intently. His fingers remained still on the page of the report as he slowly set it aside, the weight of his next words pressing into the room like a storm about to break.

"If you stay, one of us will leave the room pregnant." He paused before adding, "And it will not be me."

A heavy silence settled between them. Gabriel’s breath caught for just a fraction of a second, not from shock, but from the raw certainty in Damian’s voice. The words were not spoken lightly. He meant them.

’What am I doing? My fake mark is the only thing keeping me from begging him to sleep with me.’

Gabriel exhaled slowly, forcing his pulse to steady. Heknew deep down, what this meant. But hearing it said so plainly left no room for illusions.

"Stay."

It was not an order. Not a demand.

It was a request.

And Gabriel, for reasons he couldn’t quite explain, found himself nodding.

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