"But..." He sighed, looking out the window again. His brow furrowed. "Now, when I look at Cordoba, all can I see are the missing pieces. My family who's no longer there. My father and mother are gone." His eyes clouded over, and I could feel his regret, the gnawing ache of remorse and guilt. "I never thought I would miss them," Gabe mused in a soft voice. "I never thought...I would be the very last of my line."
I took his hand in both of mine, squeezing gently, the cool metal of his wedding band brushing my skin. "I'm sorry, Gabe," I whispered, as his bright soulful gaze shifted to me. "I know how that's like. I miss my family like crazy."
"It's a little different." Gabe gave me a faint smile, though his eyes were still shadowed. "Your family was killed by Shuriki but... I kill them with my own hands. And I..." He shook his head. I could never drop my guard."
"But you still miss them."
"Yes," he admitted. "I was still a part of that circle. It was familiar, safe. I belonged there. Even with all the cruel games, we used to play, I still knew that my parents would always be there." He gazed down at his hand, still trapped in mine. "But things are different now. My parents are gone, and Cordoba will no longer welcome me, not like it did before."
"Feeling sick?"
"Cordoba is no longer the place I belong." Gabe finally looked up again, meeting my gaze. His eyes lightened, back to that gorgeous brown. "I'm whining, aren't I?" he said with a rueful look and shook his head. "No, I'm not sick. I might miss my kin, but my home is Avalor, it doesn't matter to me. Elena..." He shifted closer, closing the distance between us, and one hand rose to brush my cheek. "My home...is with you."
Dammit, don't cry, Elena. I bit my lip to keep the tears in check. It would not do to show up to the Cordoba with blurry eyes, but sometimes Gabe would surprise me with quiet, sincere statements like these and I couldn't help it.
"I'm sorry," he murmured, mistaking my tears for remorse, perhaps. "I'll stop talking about the Cordoba. I knew I had to come back and face King Alonso eventually. You shouldn't have to hear me go on and on about it—"
"Gabe," I interrupted, placing a finger against his mouth, making him arch his brows. "Just kiss me."
He smiled. Slipping an arm around my shoulders, he drew me forward, lowered his head and brought his lips down to mine.
We kissed each other in that dark carriage, our lips moving in rhythm, both of us uncaring of the Unseelie city right outside the windows. Gabe was gentle at first, keeping himself under control, but when I leaned against him, tracing kisses down his jaw, he groaned and tilted his head back, whispering my name. I pushed him into the corner, my hands tangling in his hair, his running the length of my back, pulling us closer. Our kisses were hungry now, devouring. My tongue parted his lips, sweeping inside; his pulled away to press to my neck, making me shiver and gasp. My hand slipped down his chest to his lean, hard stomach, and then slid beneath the fabric, tracing his ribs. He jerked, exhaling raggedly before his cool lips seared over mine again.
Pulling back, he watched me, those clear brown eyes gleaming brightly in the darkness. "My queen," he breathed, one hand reaching up to frame my cheek, making my stomach jump and twirl. "I belong to you. No matter what other people say, no matter how long I've been in Cordoba, my life is yours. Nothing will ever make me leave your side."
"You're going to make me cry," I warned him, as my eyes went blurry again and his gorgeous face shifted in the darkness like water. "And King Alonso is either going to be very happy to see me in tears or very disgusted with us." He laughed softly and drew me close, wrapping his arms around me in a fierce, protective way. His heart pounded beneath my fingers, and I felt the lightest brush of his lips against my ear.
"I love you, Elena," he whispered, and I gave a tiny, happy sob, hiding my face in his shirt. Gabe held me tight, resting his chin atop my head, gazing out the window. "I don't have to hide anything anymore," he murmured above me, sounding content and defiant at the same time. "Not from King Alonso, not from anyone. Let them talk and stare. This Elysium will be very different."
The carriage jerked and shuddered to a halt at the front gates of the Alonso palace. Gabe reluctantly let me go as I pulled back, composing myself for the ordeal ahead. The carriage driver hopped down from the seat and opened the door for us, letting in a swirl of chilly wind. Gabe exited first, then turned to help me down.
"Ready for this?" I asked him as I stepped out into the cold, , yes, lovely Unseelie weather. I remembered this quite well. Estaben and a squad of Avalor knights stepped forward, flanking us, ready to follow. Gabe nodded, offering his arm, and together we stepped into Alonso's castle.
The first thing I noticed, as we crossed the courtyard full of statues and huge, multicolored crystals. Cordoba knight watched us with barely concealed smirks, though they still kept their distance from the Avalor knights, watching intently as we passed.
Gabe's grip on my arm was tight as we wove our way through the courtyard, ignoring and yet unable to ignore our audience. As we began climbing the steps into the palace one of the Cordoba knights, gave Gabe a mocking salute and murmured a sarcastic "Knight." Gabe didn't acknowledge him; his face stayed blank.
It dawned on me what was happening. They were all here to see the new queen and her supposedly mortal husband. Not to be welcoming or polite; they were testing for weakness, wondering if this new, queen would be easy to manipulate and take apart. And they were also here for Gabe, to see if their former knight would be weak as a mere mortal. Which would make the queen he served weak, as well.
Oh, that had to end. Here and now. Not only for the future of my kingdom but if Gabe was to have any peace in Cordoba, he was going to have to prove himself to his own people. Prove to everyone that neither the Iron Queen nor her knight was ever to be underestimated.
"Gabe," I whispered as we neared the top of the steps. "Remember what I said this morning, about not getting into any duels?"
"Yes."
We'd reached the top of the steps, a few feet away from the open door into the hall, and I pulled him to a stop. Esteban and the knights paused as well, but I motioned for them to keep going. He gave me a worried look, but bowed and went through the arch, stopping on the other side to wait for us.
I turned to my knight, who looked vaguely worried, as well. "I take it back. The knights behind us are itching for trouble. I want you to oblige them."
Gabe blinked. "You want me to start a fight?" he asked in disbelief. "Now?" When I nodded, he frowned, lowering his voice. "King Alonso and the other Kings are expecting both of us," he said. "It might send the wrong message if you go in alone."
"I can handle them." I glanced at the crowd at the bottom of the steps, seeing their wide smirks, their hungry gazes, and felt my resolve grow. "I'm the Queen of Avalor—I should face the other rulers by myself first. And I want you to send another message, Gabe. They're curious to see if a knight can protect himself and his queen in the palace. If there is any doubt, word will spread, and the other Kingdoms might see Avalor weak, easy to exploit." I reached out and squeezed his arm, smiling fiercely. "That doubt ends right here. I want you to make sure that everyone knows that we are not weak, that the Queen of Avalor knight is not someone to cross. Ever."
Gabe's eyes gleamed, the shadow of an evil grin crossing his face. "As you command, my queen," he said in a low voice, barely hiding his glee. "I will carry out your wishes. Please send King Alonso and other Kings my apologies. I will rejoin you as soon as I am able."
I nodded and went through the door, nodding at Esteban to follow, leaving my knight to turn and face the trailing crowd. Footsteps scuffled over the ground, no doubt knights scrambling to attack...or flee.
"What are you?" something howled, and then there was a crash, and the sound of shattered icicles tinkling to the ground. Laughter rang out, Gabe's laughter, jubilant and defiant, making me pause.
What are you?
A good question. One that I'd asked myself on more than one occasion. Physically, Gabe was no different than before; lean and graceful, with the same command of sword skills that made him such a lethal warrior. He was still fierce, loyal, protective and could level an icy glare that could make your insides freeze. In that regard, he hadn't changed.
And yet, sometimes, he was so different. It would be insane to ever think of Gabe as soft, but the frozen shell that had always surrounded the knight was gone. He was...kinder now, able to empathize in ways he couldn't as a pure Unseelie. There were times when he seemed so human in little, subtle ways I'd never noticed before
I didn't know. And really, I didn't care. Gabe was Gabe. You couldn't put a descriptor on him; there was no one who had done what he had, no other like him in the entire kingdom. He was...unique.
Another yell echoed through the door. I continued down the hall with Esteban and the knights as the clamor of battle rang out behind me, followed by howls of pain and dismay. And I smiled to myself. Whatever Gabe was, he was the best at what he did. It wouldn't take him long.
This year's Elysium was held in King Alonso ballroom, and the place was already filled with people. I left Esteban and the knights in the hall just outside the entrance, and a knight announced my arrival in clear, high tones: "Her majesty Elena Castillo Flores, Kingdom of Avalor, and Queen of Avalor."
