Bound by the Mark of Lies (BL)
Chapter 70 - 65: Family Business (2)

Chapter 70: Chapter 65: Family Business (2)

The tension in the room was intense enough to suffocate anyone with a weaker constitution. Gabriel, on the other hand, took a slow sip of his coffee, savoring the warmth while keeping his expression neutral. The questioning stares of his parents and siblings burned into him, but he refused to give in.

"Damian wants you to be his mate?" Theo’s voice was low, full of disbelief and protectiveness. He slammed his hand down on the table, but his gaze never left Gabriel. "And you are just going to let it happen?" Theo noticed Damian watching Gabriel the other night and hoped that his brother did something to annoy or even disrespect him, but the realization that Damian saw him as a mate made him falter.

Gabriel shrugged, his lips twitching into a small, wry smile. "Oh, you know me. "I like making the most of things." He sighed heavily, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms. "If I refuse, the Emperor will make my life a living hell. If I say yes, it will still be a living hell, but at least I made that choice." He raised an eyebrow and gave Theo a pointed look. "I am sure I will have to put up with his company from time to time. "How lovely."

Theo’s gaze sharpened, but his eyes were filled with concern rather than anger. "It’s not a joke, Gabriel. This is serious. If Damian actually claims you as his mate, we need to make sure he knows he can’t just—" He stopped himself, a flash of something dangerous crossing his expression. "He can’t just take you."

Gabriel met his gaze, his lips curled into a smirk. "Oh, believe me, I am fully aware of that. Damian will not get away with anything, no matter how hard he tries to pull rank. He leaned forward slightly, his eyes gleaming with a mix of defiance and dry wit. "If he thinks I will just roll over and agree to be his personal punching bag, he is in for a surprise." He glanced at his mother, Elowen. "Besides, I am sure I can find a way to make him wait a little bit. Make him suffer like the rest of us. It’s only fair."

Gabriel remembered their meeting on the balcony; something told him that Damian was changing. He couldn’t use his brain the moment he felt the Emperor’s pheromones and that was something that never happened before. Even when Max visited him while he was in heat, he could think and move his body, a shiver down his spine. Gabriel was sure that Damian wouldn’t let him go.

Elowen, who had been silently watching the conversation unfold, raised an eyebrow. "Does he know that you were an alpha at birth?"

Gabriel leaned back, his expression shifting to serious contemplation. "Honestly, I have no idea. We didn’t talk that much; I would assume that with his intel, he already knows and doesn’t bother him. Biologically, now I’m a dominant omega." He stopped to eat some of his already cold eggs. "He only cared about the mark on my nape and the contract beneath it."

Elowen’s gaze was sharp, but there was a quiet concern hidden beneath the calm exterior. She exchanged a glance with Lucius before looking back at Gabriel. "You’ve never told him, then?"

"I didn’t have the leisure to think about the past; I was an alpha at birth and, in the best-case scenario, three more years after that. I’m no different from the other omegas now." He weighed if he should tell them more about it before speaking again. "The labs I did in the hospital a few weeks ago were perfectly normal for an omega, I lack nothing." Gabriel emphasized the word nothing, subtly referring to his ability to bear an alpha’s children.

Theo’s eyes flickered with a mixture of disbelief and suspicion. "Normal? Gabriel, you know how things work with alphas and omegas. This is not about your normality; it is about how it affects you and the bond Damian wishes to form."

"I do not have a real choice, so you can stop. Damian would either wait for me to make a decision or, as he warned me, would publicly claim my mark as his. Then there would be no choice. I will continue to be his, and the contract will remain active. He would make whatever moves he wanted, but if I took the initiative, he would break the contract and I would be able to find out what really happened during the rebellion."

Lucius watched his son closely, the lines of concern on his face gradually giving way to a more calculating expression. After a moment of silence, he leaned forward slightly, his voice calm but firm. "You know, Gabriel," he said, "from a political standpoint, your situation with Damian is not as bad as you might think."

Gabriel raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "What do you mean?"

Lucius’ gaze sharpened, and his voice became more measured and thoughtful. "Damian is the Emperor, Gabriel. His decision to claim you as his mate could significantly strengthen your position, both within the family and in the political arena. If he publicly claims you, your status will rise. The von Jaunez family would be perceived as closely aligned with the imperial family, which could result in increased influence and power."

Theo’s face darkened, but Lucius raised a hand to stop him, continuing unaffected. "I am not saying it is without risk. However, in the context of the game, it is not necessarily a bad hand to play. In fact, it’s quite strategic." He looked straight at Gabriel, his voice low but full of quiet approval. "Damian’s claim may provide you with the power you need to control your own destiny. It would send a message to those around you—both allies and enemies—that you are not to be taken lightly."

Gabriel leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly as he considered his father’s words. "Are you saying I should just accept this because it is a good political move?"

Lucius shrugged gently. "I am saying that the most advantageous position is not always the most comfortable, but rather the one that allows you to act on your own terms. If Damian considers you to be his mate, it will be difficult to challenge your influence without also challenging him."

Theo looked conflicted, glancing at Gabriel before meeting his father’s gaze. "But what about Gabriel’s autonomy or freedom? You can’t just ignore that."

Lucius’ eyes softened as he gazed at his youngest son. "I am not asking you to give up your autonomy, Gabriel," he said gently. "What I mean is that you may need to change your perspective. This doesn’t have to be about giving up control. It is all about putting yourself in a position where you can make important decisions."

Gabriel remained silent for a long time, his gaze shifting between his father and Theo, his mind processing the weight of the words.

Finally, he let out a deep breath. "I see your point," he admitted, but his tone remained quiet and challenging. "But that does not mean I will let Damian run everything. I will play the game, but in my own way."

Lucius nodded, the faintest smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I wouldn’t expect anything less from you, Gabriel."

As Gabriel reached for his phone, his fingers touched the screen’s edge, revealing a new message from Anabelle. The text was succinct, as usual, but it carried important news. His eyes quickly scanned the words, a faint smile tugging at his lips, before the weight of the situation fell on him once more.

Anabelle:The Blue Ether Project has advanced to the next stage. The palace has set up a meeting in six days. I will keep you updated if there are any further developments.