Witch’s Promise (Shadowguards #3.5)

20. Gabe

Chapter 20

Gabe

T he shrill ring of his phone jolted Gabe from a deep, dreamless sleep. He groaned, fumbling blindly for the offending device on the unfamiliar nightstand. The blue glow of the screen assaulted his eyes, making him squint as he tried to decipher the time.

4:37 AM.

A text from Lucas flashed across the screen:

Need you back at your place. Now. It's urgent.

Gabe's heart rate spiked, adrenaline chasing away the last vestiges of sleep. What the hell had happened? Was his family okay? Had Riley made another move?

He started to sit up, only to be reminded of where he was by the warm body pressed against his side. Sean. Right. Last night had been... well, fucking incredible didn't even begin to cover it.

Gabe turned his head, drinking in the sight of Sean's sleeping form. The early morning light filtering through the blinds cast a soft glow on his skin, highlighting the sharp planes of his face and the curve of his shoulders. He looked younger like this, unburdened by the weight of guilt and regret that usually hung around him like a shroud.

A chuckle escaped Gabe's lips before he could stop it. God, when had he become such a sap?

The sound was enough to rouse Sean, who blinked blearily up at him. "Whassamatter?" he mumbled, voice rough with sleep.

Gabe's heart did a funny little flip in his chest. It wasn't fair for someone to look that adorable while barely conscious. "Nothing," he said softly, leaning down to press a kiss to Sean's forehead. "Go back to sleep. I've got to head out, though. Lucas needs me back at the house."

Sean's brow furrowed, concern chasing away the last traces of sleepiness. "Everything okay?"

Gabe shrugged, already swinging his legs over the side of the bed. "Not sure. Probably just Lucas being his usual dramatic self, but I should check it out."

He stood, wincing slightly as his muscles protested the movement. Fuck, he was getting old. Or maybe it was just the enthusiastic workout they'd given each other last night. The memory sent a pleasant shiver down Gabe's spine.

As Gabe hunted for his discarded clothes – how the hell had his shirt ended up on top of the bookshelf? – he felt Sean's eyes on him. He turned to find Sean propped up on one elbow, a hungry look in his eyes that made Gabe's breath catch.

"See something you like?" Gabe teased, unable to keep the grin off his face.

Sean's answering smile was downright predatory. In one fluid motion, he was out of bed and pressed against Gabe's back, strong arms wrapping around his waist. "Mmm, maybe," Sean murmured, lips ghosting over the sensitive skin of Gabe's neck. "But I think we both need a shower before you go anywhere. We smell fucking terrible."

Gabe laughed, leaning back into Sean's embrace. "Whose fault is that, I wonder? I seem to remember someone being very insistent about round three. Or was it four?"

Sean's teeth grazed Gabe's earlobe, sending a jolt of electricity straight to his groin. "You weren't exactly complaining at the time."

Gabe turned in Sean's arms, bringing their lips together in a kiss that quickly turned heated. God, he could get used to this. Waking up together, trading lazy kisses and playful banter. It felt so natural, so right, that for a moment Gabe forgot about Lucas's urgent message, about the looming threat of Riley and all the complications that came with their newly rekindled relationship.

But reality had a way of intruding, even in the most perfect moments. Gabe's phone buzzed again, a sharp reminder of the responsibilities waiting for him back home.

"Fuck," Gabe muttered, reluctantly pulling away from Sean. "We really do need to get moving. You want to come with me? See what all the fuss is about?"

Sean hesitated for a moment, and Gabe could practically see the gears turning in his head. He knew Sean still felt out of place around his family and team, still unsure of his role in this new dynamic they were all navigating.

"You don't have to," Gabe added quickly. "I know it's a lot, and if you need some time to process everything-"

"No," Sean cut him off, a determined set to his jaw. "No, I want to come. Whatever's going on, we face it together, right?"

The simple statement, echoing Gabe's own words from the night before, made his chest tighten with emotion. He nodded, not trusting himself to speak past the lump in his throat.

"Alright then," Sean said, a hint of his old cocky grin tugging at his lips. "Let's get cleaned up and go save the world. Or at least find out what's got Lucas's panties in a twist this time."

As they stumbled into the small bathroom, hands roaming and lips meeting in increasingly heated kisses, Gabe felt a curious mixture of joy and trepidation. He had no idea what awaited them back at his family's house, no clue what new crisis might be unfolding.

Gabe's tires screeched as he pulled into the driveway, his heart pounding a frantic rhythm against his ribs. The house loomed before them, windows blazing with light despite the early hour. Whatever was going on, it was big enough to have roused the entire household.

"You ready for this?" Gabe asked, turning to Sean.

Sean's answering smile was tight but determined. "As I'll ever be.”

They barely made it through the front door before Lucas was upon them, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced by barely contained excitement.

"About damn time," Lucas said, his eyes darting between Gabe and Sean's joined hands. A knowing smirk played at his lips, but he mercifully chose not to comment. "Your dad's awake, Gabe."

The words hit Gabe like a physical blow. His father, awake. After days of lying still as death, poisoned by dark magic that had nearly claimed his life. Gabe felt his knees go weak with relief, only Sean's steady presence at his side keeping him upright.

"Go," Sean murmured, giving Gabe's hand a gentle squeeze before releasing it. "I'll wait out here with the guys. Your dad needs you right now."

Gabe nodded, grateful beyond words for Sean's understanding. He took off down the hallway at a run, his heart in his throat as he burst into his parents' bedroom.

The scene that greeted him was almost surreal in its normalcy. His mother sat perched on the edge of the bed, holding his father's hand as if afraid he might disappear if she let go. Giana and Gino hovered nearby, their faces a mixture of relief and lingering worry. And there, propped up against a mountain of pillows, was his father.

"There's my boy," His dad said, his voice rough but warm. He held out his free arm, beckoning Gabe closer. "Come here, son."

Gabe felt tears prick at the corners of his eyes as he crossed the room in three long strides. He sank onto the bed, carefully wrapping his arms around his father's frail form. The familiar scent of his dad's aftershave mingled with the sharper smell of antiseptic, a reminder of how close they'd come to losing him.

"I thought-" Gabe choked out, unable to finish the sentence. I thought I'd lost you. I thought I'd failed you.

His ’dad’s hand came up to cup the back of Gabe's head, the gesture achingly familiar. "I know, son. I know. But I'm here. You brought me back."

Gabe pulled back, swiping at his eyes with the back of his hand. "How are you feeling? Are you in any pain? Should I get Finn to-"

"Gabe," his mother cut in gently. "Your father's fine. Finn's been monitoring him closely. What he needs now is rest, and maybe a chance to talk to his son without the whole family hovering."

There was a pointed quality to her tone that had Giana and Gino scrambling to their feet.

"Right, yeah," Gino said, backing towards the door. "We'll just, uh, go update the others. Come on, Mom."

As his family filed out, leaving Gabe alone with his father, he felt a familiar weight settle onto his shoulders. There was so much to say, so much that had happened in the days since the attack. Where did he even begin?

Gabe hovered uncertainly at the edge of the bed, the weight of unspoken words and lingering guilt pressing down on him. His father looked so frail against the mountain of pillows, a far cry from the imposing figure that had loomed large in Gabe's childhood memories.

"Oh, for heaven's sake," his father said, patting the space beside him. "Sit down, son. I'm not going to break if you breathe on me wrong."

Despite the gravity of the situation, Gabe felt a smile tug at his lips. Trust his dad to cut through the tension with his trademark bluntness. He gingerly lowered himself onto the bed, careful not to jostle his father's still-healing body.

"There," his dad said, satisfaction coloring his tone. "Now we can talk without you looming over me like some overgrown mother hen."

Gabe snorted, the familiar banter easing some of the tightness in his chest. "Says the man who once threatened to put a tracking spell on me when I was ten minutes late coming home from school."

His father's answering chuckle turned into a wince, his hand coming up to press against his chest. Gabe tensed, ready to call for Finn, but his dad waved him off.

"I'm fine," he insisted, though the lines of pain around his eyes said otherwise. "Just a twinge. Nothing compared to what it could have been if you hadn't gotten to me in time."

The casual mention of how close they'd come to losing him hit Gabe like a physical blow. He swallowed hard, guilt churning in his gut. "Dad, I... I'm so sorry. If I'd been faster, if I'd realized sooner what was happening-"

"Stop right there," his father cut him off, his voice firm despite its weakened state. "You have nothing to apologize for, Gabe. You saved my life. If you hadn't been there, that dagger would have done a hell of a lot more than just put me out of commission for a few days."

Gabe shook his head, unable to accept the absolution his father was offering. "But if I'd been more prepared, if I'd seen the signs earlier-"

"What? You would have somehow magically prevented a surprise attack by a group of highly trained assassins?" His father's tone was gentle, but there was an undercurrent of steel that brooked no argument. "Son, you can't control everything. Sometimes bad things happen, and all we can do is deal with the aftermath as best we can. And from what I've heard, you've done a damn fine job of that."

The praise, so freely given, threatened to undo Gabe completely. He blinked hard against the sudden sting of tears, overwhelmed by a mixture of relief and lingering guilt.

"I don't know about that," Gabe muttered, unable to meet his father's gaze. "I feel like I'm fumbling in the dark here, I feel like all of it is too much. I'm not cut out for this kind of leadership."

His father was quiet for a long moment, and Gabe braced himself for disappointment or criticism. Instead, when he finally spoke, his voice was filled with a warmth that made Gabe's chest ache.

"You want to know why I chose you as the next coven leader?" his dad asked, the question clearly rhetorical. "It's because you have the heart and the mind of a true leader, Gabe. You care deeply about people, about doing what's right. But you also have the intelligence and strategic thinking to back it up."

Gabe looked up, startled by the conviction in his father's voice. "But I don't know what I'm doing half the time. I'm just making it up as I go along."

His father's laugh was warm, tinged with fond exasperation. "And you think I had it all figured out when I first took over? Son, leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about being willing to ask for help when you need it, about surrounding yourself with people you trust to have your back."

The words hit Gabe like a revelation. He thought of his team, of the unwavering support they'd shown him over the past few days. Of Sean, choosing to stand by his side despite all the complications and dangers that came with it. Maybe his father was right. Maybe he wasn't as alone in this as he'd thought.

"I've already consulted with the other coven members," his dad continued, a hint of pride creeping into his voice. "And our family, of course. They all agree that you're the best suited to lead us into the future."

Gabe felt a curious mixture of honor and terror at the thought. "I... I don't know what to say. I want to do right by the coven, I do. But Dad, I have a life in Manhattan. I don't know how I can be in two places at once."

His father's expression softened, understanding replacing the earlier pride. "I may have said my time as coven leader is over, but that doesn't mean I don't have a few good years left in me yet. We'll take it one day at a time, alright? No need to uproot your entire life overnight."

The easy acceptance, the willingness to compromise, was so unlike the father Gabe had grown up with that he found himself momentarily speechless. When had his dad become so... flexible?

As if reading Gabe's thoughts, his father grinned. "What? You think your old man can't learn new tricks? Nearly dying has a way of putting things in perspective."

Gabe laughed, the sound startled out of him by his father's unexpected humor. "I guess so. Though if this is what it takes to get you to lighten up, maybe we should arrange near-death experiences more often."

His dad swatted at him playfully, wincing slightly at the movement. "Watch it, wise guy. I'm still your father, coven leader or not. I can still ground you, you know."

They shared a chuckle, the lingering tension between them finally dissipating. As the laughter faded, Gabe's father fixed him with a knowing look that made him suddenly wary.

"So," his dad said, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Are we going to talk about you and Sean being back together, or do I have to pry it out of you?"

Gabe felt his face heat, caught off guard by the abrupt change in topic. "I- what? How did you even know about that?"

His father's grin was downright smug. "Your mother might have mentioned something. She always did have a soft spot for that Drake boy."

"Of course she did," Gabe muttered, making a mental note to have a chat with his mom about the concept of privacy. "It's complicated, Dad. We're still figuring things out."

His father's expression turned serious, concern replacing the earlier amusement. "Just be careful, alright? I know you care about him, but given your history and everything that's going on now..."

"I know, I know," Gabe said, waving off his father's worry. "Trust me, we're taking things slow. Well, slowish. It's Sean, after all."

His dad chuckled, shaking his head fondly. "That boy always did have a way of turning your life upside down. Just promise me you'll be smart about this, Gabe. With everything that's happening, we can't afford any distractions."

Gabe opened his mouth to argue, to defend his decision to let Sean back into his life. But before he could formulate a response, a knock at the door interrupted them.

His mother poked her head in, a knowing smile playing at her lips. "Sorry to interrupt, boys, but there's someone here to see Gabe. A very handsome someone, I might add."

As his mother disappeared to fetch the visitor, Gabe turned to his father with a questioning look. "I wonder who it could be at this hour?"

His father shrugged, wincing slightly at the movement. "Only one way to find out. Go on, son. I'm not going anywhere."

Gabe hesitated for a moment, torn between staying with his father and facing whoever had arrived. But his dad made the decision for him, shooing him towards the door with a wave of his hand.

"Go," he insisted. "We can talk more later. And Gabe?"

Gabe paused at the threshold, looking back at his father. The love and pride shining in the older man's eyes made his throat tight with emotion.

"I'm proud of you, son. Just know that I believe in you.”

The simple words, so freely given, threatened to undo Gabe completely. He nodded, not trusting himself to speak past the lump in his throat. As he turned to leave, he felt a curious mixture of anticipation and dread. Who could be visiting at this hour?

Gabe made his way to the living room, his mind racing with possibilities. As he rounded the corner, he stopped short, his eyes widening in surprise.

There, standing in the middle of the room looking as imposing as ever, was Alex.

"Alex?" Gabe said, shock coloring his voice. "What are you doing here?"