<h4>Chapter 225: Let’s Mix Things Up Today</h4>
Gabriel himself was lounging on the front porch when Luciver arrived, as if he had been expecting him. A ss of liquor sat on the table beside him. His posture was rxed, legs stretched out, one arm slung over the back of his chair, but the glint in his eyes was that of a predator.
"Brother! Whenever you visit me, I get punched in the face. Do I need to protect my face?"
Luciver ascended the steps. "Let’s mix things up today, Gabriel...I came here to threaten you."
Gabriel chuckled, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. "Whew! That’s usually me doing that. Do I get to then punch you? You’re not king anymore, so I guess it wouldn’t be treason."
The old bitterness between them was a familiar rhythm, but Luciver wasn’t here to dance to Gabriel’s tune. "Where is she?"
Gabriel tilted his head, feigning confusion. "Who?"
"The queen."
"Excuse me?" Gabriel’s brows furrowed.
Luciver stepped closer, closing the space until Gabriel was forced to tilt his head back to keep eye contact.
"See," Luciver said, "you finally overyed your hand. And as soon as Damien is more level-headed, he’ll figure it out too. But right now..." His lip curled slightly, just enough to show his disdain. "Right now, he’s out looking for his wife."
"I genuinely don’t know what you are talking about," he said.
Luciver’s gaze narrowed. "You orchestrated every step of taking Veyron and Luna down because the scandal would make the council members lean toward you, give you a listening ear. And then, you would be one step closer to the throne. But you have finally made a mistake..."
Gabriel gave a slow, mocking p. "I admit to all of that. I nudged everyone the right way because the royal house wasmitting a crime."
Luciver stepped closer. "But kidnapping the queen with the help of rogue vampires, Gabriel, your crime is bigger."
"Again...I don’t know what you are talking about."
"Only you have it in for the throne. Only you would like to see Damien suffer. Only you want the unborn child dead."
"All of that is true. But I did not take the queen... Luciver." The way he said his name was deliberate, a subtle reminder that they shared blood, even if loyalty had long since died between them.
Luciver tilted his head slightly, his lips curling into a slow smile. "Mmmm... but that would at least shine a microscope in your direction." He turned as if to leave.
Then Luciver stopped, pivoted back. "Oh, and one more thing."
Before Gabriel could respond, Luciver’s fist shot forward, the impact of knuckles against bone echoing through the still evening. Gabriel’s head snapped to the side, a sharp crack signaling a fractured jaw.
Luciver straightened his coat, turned on his heel, and descended the steps.
Gabriel shot up from his chair. Fury crackled through his eyes.
"Duran!!!"
His new butler—Duran appeared in the doorway. Thest one, Laurent, had mysteriously disappeared.
"You called, Lord Gabriel."
"Do not entertain any visitors. I am going to be in my study for a while. I don’t want any disturbance."
Duran inclined his head. "Understood, my lord."
Without another word, Gabriel turned sharply on his heel and stalked inside. Behind him, Duran moved to the small outdoor table and silently cleared the drinks left there.
*****
Williams had been waiting. He knew the moment the underground doors mmed that his lord had returned—and that the storm wasing straight for him.
Gabriel burst in, every step radiating usation. "You took the queen and you used the men?!...Do you have any idea what you have done?"
Williams met his eyes. "First of all, I didn’t take the queen."
Gabriel’s brows furrowed, disbelief etched into every sharp line of his face. "What are you talking about? I was just with Luciver and he says the queen was taken by rogue vampires."
"Yes," Williams admitted, "my men were there—but we didn’t take the queen." He leaned forward. "Morvakar did."
Gabriel’s voice came out as a low growl at first, trembling with disbelief before it sharpened into a roar. "Why would your men be there? Why in the world would you even let them out? I warned you."
"I was informed that the werewolf king was around. I took that as an opportunity."
Gabriel stepped forward. "Are you crazy? I promised you...I promised you that you would have your fun with the werewolf territory when I take the throne." His chest rose and fell sharply.
Williams smirked. "You and I know that is not happening. What have you achieved? You have been able to knock out the unborn heir then what?"
"Are you questioning me? I made you! I own you!!"
Williams straightened. "No you don’t. I made myself. All you did was find a human body to transfer my soul into. I was the one who created the spell to ensure my soul wasn’t permanently destroyed when Luciver killed me... "You think you forged me?"
"You came to me, made me promise to help you in exchange for doing everything to get me the throne."
"And it would have been easy if you hadn’t waited centuries to bring me back!...You waited until things got tooplicated to make it easy. If you want to be mad at someone, be mad at yourself. It is time I focus on my revenge against the werewolves."
Gabriel’s jaw clenched so tightly it was a wonder his fangs didn’t pierce through his own cheeks. "You dare to defy me?" Gabriel thundered.
"You choose to see it that way..."
"Didn’t you think for one minute that your timing was wrong? That anything that happens to the queen right now will shine the torch at me? Or you just didn’t care."
"If everything had gone right, no one would suspect you," Williams said. "Like I said, I didn’t take the queen, Morvakar did. All I wanted was to take the Alpha king out, and the werewolves would be without a king which would make it easier to wipe them out of existence." His eyes glittered at the thought, as if the ughter was art.
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