Bound by the Mark of Lies (BL)
Chapter 65 - 60: Time (1)

Chapter 65: Chapter 60: Time (1)

Chapter 60: Time (1)

The tension between Gabriel and the Emperor lingered like an unspoken storm, following Gabriel through the grand ballroom with each step. He did not seem to hear laughter, music, or clinking glasses. The alcohol from Charles didn’t seem to help as much as he needed to.

He could not look at his brothers, who were obviously concerned. First came Princess Anya, and then Damian led him out of the hall. Gabriel’s heart was still beating with the weight of Damian’s words.

Gabriel hoped that Peter’s actions and the fact that he was born as an alpha, like his siblings, would make finding a mate impossible. However, fate had other plans for him.

"What happened?" Theo asked again, his voice insistent but gentle. His green eyes scanned Gabriel’s face, looking for answers that Gabriel refused to give.

Gabriel shook his head, attempting to remove the heaviness that clung to him. "Nothing. It’s just..." His voice trembled. How could he explain Damian’s mess of thoughts? How could he explain the Emperor’s subtle pull on him and the dangerous way his presence appeared to infiltrate his very soul? He was not prepared to face any of it just yet. Not here, amidst this glittering charade.

Charles, ever perceptive, seemed to notice a shift in his brother’s mood. He raised his brow, as if reading between the lines. "Just do not make the mistake of letting him manipulate you," he said quietly but firmly. "If you are entangled in his web, it will take a lot to get out."

Gabriel’s gaze turned to Charles, and he tightened his grip on the glass. "Do you think it is so easy to get out of the Emperor’s plans? You know him, Charles."

Charles sighed, a deep sound that expressed both frustration and understanding. "No, it’s never easy. However, that does not mean you should let him drag you into his web without a fight. There is a fine line between being a piece in his game and becoming his pawn. You must ensure that you continue to have control over your own fate." He looked over at Theo, who appeared to be lost in thought while still standing protectively by Gabriel’s side.

"It’s more complicated than that," Gabriel interrupted, his voice tight. "Don’t worry about it. "Let us just get through tonight."

Despite his efforts to dismiss it, Gabriel realized his brothers were correct to be concerned. He could not avoid the Emperor’s gaze, and every step he took seemed to bear the weight of an impending decision. Damian’s words echoed in his mind, turning over and over. He was not sure whether to fight, submit, or break free completely.

But the more he thought about it, the more the uncertainty gnawed at him. Could he truly trust Damian?

However, somewhere in the back of his mind, he was intrigued by the possibility. Could he rewrite his claim? Could Damian truly provide a different kind of power that did not feel like a trap?

The burn from the mark on his skin flared again, reminding him of how little control he actually had.

He took another sip of his drink, trying to steady himself. There was no easy answer, and Gabriel was not someone who made decisions lightly.

’Is Damian really my mate?’ He wondered if that was true, then nothing could stop an alpha from taking what was his, and Damian was a dominant one. More ruthless than the others.

Before he could speak again, his parents reached them. His mother looked at him with concern, and his father, ever the stoic, studied him silently. The quiet understanding between them was enough to calm the turmoil in Gabriel’s chest. He did not need to explain everything to them just yet.

The Emperor’s warning lingered in the back of his mind. ’Think carefully.’

There was no running from this. Damian’s shadow was already cast upon him. Gabriel could feel it. His gaze flickered across the ballroom, his thoughts racing as the gazes of nobles and guests seemed to linger a little too long on him. He did not need to draw more attention, but he already felt like the subject of whispered conversations.

"Let us go home," Gabriel said abruptly, his voice low but insistent, his gaze briefly meeting Theo and Charles. His tone conveyed a sense of urgency, but it also hinted at discomfort. He could not talk about what had happened on the balcony, not now, not in front of so many people. "It’s too much tonight."

His mother, Elowen, moved closer, her expression unreadable but her eyes bright with understanding. She looked at Gabriel for a moment before responding, her voice soft but firm. "Gabriel, if we leave now, people will become more suspicious.They will wonder why you are leaving so early. Let them believe that the Emperor wanted to settle the scandal with Princess Anya. We should stay a while longer. Let the rumors die down."

Her words hit Gabriel with the weight of practicality, and he felt a tension coil in his chest. As much as he wanted to run, he knew she was correct. The more attention they drew, the more people gossiped. It was better to stay calm, even if it felt suffocating.

"Stay, Gabriel," Theo added, his voice gentle, convincing. "Just for a little while longer. We’ll get through it."

Charles said nothing, but Gabriel could see the silent agreement in his eyes. He took a deep breath, his shoulders tensed, and nodded. He had little to no choice.

"I’ll meet Felix and Nicolas," Gabriel said quietly, his voice barely audible over the music. "I need to speak with them."

Theo nodded in agreement and gave him a brief, reassuring look before returning his attention to the gathering crowd. Gabriel could feel his brothers’ gazes on him for a brief moment, but he needed space, time to center himself away from the prying eyes of the ballroom. He moved quietly through the crowd, towards a quieter corner of the hall where Felix and Nicolas were already waiting.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.