“What are you doing here?” He demanded in return, his hot gaze on Gabe. Normally, he avoided Gabe but that clearly wasn’t going to happen this time around. He was… heated.
“This is my land. I can- we can go wherever we wish.” I stated. “Now answer my question.”
Gabe laced his fingers through mine then suddenly I was dragged between their pissing contest.
“I won that fight. I said I didn’t want to have to see your face again, scumbag.” Nikolai hissed at Gabe, “I told you to get fuck out of my palace, out of my land.”
“This is my palace and my land too.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “I have fought for it just like you did. So Gabriel stays.”
“Are you not a man of your word?” Nikolai goaded.
“I am,” Gabriel said. “But more than my own word, I value Avalyn’s wish and well-being. I’m not going to make her suffer by leaving her.”
The rage in Nikolai’s eyes intensified. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t suffer then. And since you aren’t going to leave, I’ll just finish what I started that day.” And then he opened his fist and a gasp left Gabriel before his hand came up to clutch his neck and he collapsed, his eyes rolling to the back of his head. His heartbeat quickened all of a sudden.
My eyes widened when I realised that Nikolai had sucked all the air out of Gabe’s body.
“Stop it!” I screamed, before I fell to my knees and started patting Gabe’s cheeks. “Breathe, Gabe!” He can’t die. He can’t. He just can’t.
His face started turning blue and my head snapped up to glare at Nikolai. But he was relentless. Like always. He always did whatever he wanted, without considering other’s feelings, without thinking about anything other than what he wanted.
“Av…” Gabe croaked before his voice cut off. There was pure fright on his face.
I panicked. I felt like I couldn’t breathe either. “Don’t die. You can’t die. You can’t. Not you. Not you too. Please. Breathe.” I shook his limp body and used all my powers to help him breathe but nothing worked.
And then suddenly, he sucked in a huge gulp of air before he began breathing quickly, taking in as much air as he could.
But I still couldn’t breathe. I was talking huge gulps of air but my lungs were burning.
“Avalyn!” Nikolai snapped, pulling me out of it and I realised he was kneeling in front of me, his hands on my shoulders and his deep grey eyes looking straight into mine worry. “Breathe, Love. In.”
I took in a deep breath.
“Out.”
I released my breath. He made me do it a couple of times and then I finally felt like I could breathe again.
“Are you okay now?” His hands slid down my arms and caught my hands in his. My skin sizzled and my body felt hot.
I nodded, unable to say anything.
“Words, Moya Lyubov.”
“Yes, Nikolai.” I whispered, biting my lip.
“Do you have panic attacks often?” He asked softly.
“I used to.” I haven’t had one in years.
“Did you talk to the doctor about it?” His thumbs caressed the back of my hand.
“I did therapy for some time to cope with… everything.” The guilt on his face was instant. I wanted to wash it away. I wanted to tell him that I understood. I understood why he did what he did. And I would be grateful to him for the rest of my life. He sacrificed his life for mine. He sacrificed everything and everyone for me. Because he loved me.
“I’m sorry.” He didn’t need to apologise for anything.
Tears rose in my eyes.
For all that we had. For all that we lost. For the love we shared. For the memories we made. We had the best time of our lives together.
What was I doing?
Why was I hurting him?
Why the fuck was I hurting the man I love the most?
What was I doing with Gabriel?
Nikolai is my true soulmate.
Nikolai is the man I love.
A cough broke us apart. Gabe was conscious now.
“Avalyn?” He called me, his eyes fluttering open.
I love Gabriel Volantis.
I yanked my hands out of Nikolai’s hold and glared at him for having the audacity to touch me before looked at Gabe, getting worried, “Gabe!”
Nikolai had pulled out all the oxygen out of his body. I’ll deal with him later. I need to make sure Gabe is okay first. “Are you okay, babe?”
He coughed again a few times before breathing harshly, “yes.”
“Come, I’ll help you stand up,” I jumped to my feet and helped him stand up. Ignoring the burning gazes of Nikolai and Valerie, Gabe and I made our way back towards the palace.
Nikolai
“Did you see that?” I whispered in awe.
She loves me. She really does. I saw it in her eyes. She’s just blinded by him. And is in denial. I just need to help her realise that it is me who she really wants.
“I did.” Valerie’s voice was tense and then she turned to look at me, her eyes alert. “Something is off.”
“What? No! Nothi-shit.” My jaw clenched. Yes. Ava being nice to me clouded my head. Something was definitely off. “She was herself again when I touched her. But then she shut off when he called her.”
“You haven’t touched her yet?” Valerie asked, looking genuinely surprised.
I shook my head. “She maintains her distance, even when we’re together. And I didn’t want to touch her without her consent.”
“But now you do.” She stated the obvious.
I smirked, a plan forming in my head. “Now even she won’t be able to save herself from me.”
******
It wasn’t working. Nothing I tried worked.