Chasing Bloodlines (Book 4) by Jenna Van Vleet Page A

joined him, pushing her bulky rose-colored dress out of the way. She curled up on him, her head on his neck. “Are you any closer to finding the Arch Mages?”
    He ran his fingers over her hair as he stared into the flames. “One of them,” he replied quietly.
    “She still doesn’t know?” He shook his head a little. “And you don’t want to jeopardize the chance of finding more?” He nodded. “This is tedious.”
    Gabriel smiled. “Give me time.” He kissed her forehead and closed his eyes, relishing a moment of peace with the woman he loved. After her rejection, he expected it to take him much longer to accept her apology and trust her again, but it came as easily as if nothing had happened. She understood him, knew him better than anyone, and though the hurt was there, it was no longer something to dwell on.
    She reached into a pocket. “Will you wear this again?” she whispered and held out her braided gold ring. He extended his left hand, and she slowly slid it onto his middle finger with a faint smile, just as she had done months before. “No matter what foolish things I say, I will always love you.”
    “No matter the foolish things I do, you will always be the only woman I love.”
    She smiled, unable to hold it in, and kissed him, kissed him more fiercely than she ever had. When she released his lips, he pulled her back for more, holding her tightly to him, and let up when he was ready. He had regrettably kissed many of the Arconians and always felt wrong kissing Robyn, but no longer.
    The night Gabriel tried to take his life again, he knew someone had stepped into his study by the energy they gave off. When it stopped, he could not tell if they had walked close enough to see him. When the energy did not tickle his senses again, he assumed the person had not gotten as far as his bedchamber door. Because of the lack of energy Robyn gave off, he thought he was once again alone, so he could try to take his life. He knew as soon as he felt the energy again that it was her.
    Lael or Mikelle would have shouted or thrown a pattern to stop him, but only Robyn would run to him like that. He knew in a moment, she was his once again by her actions and presence. His weeping had been of sorrow and relief. In that second, all his pain had finally released from its hold, no more to be submerged and dwelt on. Had she not run in, his sorrow or a knife would have killed him.
    Now, he could mend.
    She was his once again. Most importantly, he felt worthy enough to be hers.
     
     
     
     
    Dimitri shouldered his pack and buttoned his coat up tight, wrapping a scarf around his face.
    “Walking this late?” his father asked as Demi came out of his room.
    “I need a stretch,” Demi replied.
    “Don’ be too long. You have training in the morning.”
    “I won’.” Demi slipped out of their quarters and into the hall dotted with rooms. The living quarters in Castle Jaden were lavish compared to their quaint farm house in Aidenmar. He wanted to bring his siblings to Jaden when his mother vanished. Because his father went missing and Demi was needed to tend to the farm, he was never able to travel to Jaden for training. He packed several years of study into a few weeks before his Classing. His days in Jaden were filled with lectures and battles, and with each day he felt more knowledgeable.
    He passed familiar faces with a smile and a nod and spiraled down the staircase to the door, bracing against the cold wind blowing in from the south. Darkness had fallen long ago, and it was snowing, but he pressed on and looked up at the crescent moon peeking out of the clouds.
    He made his way to the gates and heralded a guard to open it for him.
    “It’s a wee late to be going by yourself, lad,” the man said.
    “I know, I will be quick. I just need t’ get out of the castle for a while.”
    The man considered his plea with a skeptical look but signaled the Air and Earth Mages on guard to crack one of the gates open. Demi