Free Forbidden (The Gabriel Lennox Series Book 1) by M.L. Desir

of an answer, and continued mumbling to himself while Gabriel watched him examine the dusty neglect of the room.
    From the time Colin had come home with him and Nathaniel, the boy had slept for the rest of that night and all of the following morning. This late afternoon, he had dressed in brown knee britches tucked into boots and a plaid shirt with a solid blue coat over it, which brought out hints of that vivid color in his hazel eyes. His large eyes, heavy lids, and long lashes gave him the perpetually languid look of a cat daydreaming of goldfish and canaries.
    Gabriel was pleased to see that clean and combed, Colin’s short wavy hair looked blonder than the brown color he originally thought it had, and curled in loose locks around the boy’s ears. He had availed himself of the toiletries and clothing without hesitation, needing no instruction in proper cleanliness.
    But Gabriel wondered how the boy would feel now that Nathaniel had told him that he must keep secret that his two masters drank blood and couldn’t die.
    “You’re not listening to me,” Gabriel accused.
    Colin nodded again, obviously just pretending to listen.
    “Confirm that you are, by saying something.”
    “I was hopin’ you would tell me something a little more believable, Master Gabriel. Was waiting for you to tell me that you’re the bloody Chapel murderer himself come to cut me up! I may look flat, but I don’t fall for everything—especially not some maiden-ravished rubbish out of a bloody penny dreadful.”
    “Did Nathaniel mention maidens being ravished?”
    Colin sniffed and rubbed his nose. “No, I added that little spicy tidbit.”
    “Forgive Nathaniel for his timing, but what he told you is true. Well, as true as it can be. But I take it that you don’t believe in the supernatural, do you?”
    “I believe in the fairy folk. You know, fairies, leprechauns, gnomes, and the like, but vampires? No, I don’t.”
    Gabriel cocked an eyebrow. “So, if I told you that I was a fairy you would believe me?”
    Colin stared at him for a full minute. He shrugged. “Probably. It’d make more sense, Master Gabriel. Nathaniel says that you’re not exactly vampires, but you drink . . . blood. You rather go out after the sun sets, but that’s not unusual. Moonlight revived old Varney the vampire. Does moonlight do the same for you?”
    The corners of Gabriel’s mouth twitched into a smile. The mantelpiece clock ticked louder in the comical silence.
    “Yeah. I suppose that’s a rather stupid story,” Colin remarked with a shrug. “But what would you expect for a penny. Hell, even I, a mere mortal, live for the night, too.” He smirked. “But is that all? You’re not merely an arrogant toff who preys on high society, like Lord Ruthven, eh? You know, seducing people so that you can drink their blood. You probably don’t have the power to turn into anything weird like wolves or bats. What kind of vampire is that?”
    “Hmm. For a street urchin, you certainly know a great deal of things. You’ve suddenly become strangely articulate. Now why would that be?”
    “Don’t wanna talk about it.” Colin pulled the handkerchief from his pocket and began scrubbing the bookcase’s shelves. He spit on the cloth and scrubbed harder.
    “I could make you tell me.”
    The boy spun around, eyes wide. “You mean like hypnosis?”
    “Something like that.” Gabriel leaned forward, smiling. “Colin, look into my eyes.”
    The handkerchief became a tight ball in his fist before falling to the floor. The boy brought his hands up to his face and covered his eyes. “No way. You’re . . . not serious, are you, Master Gabriel?”
    “Trust me. Please sit down.”
    Colin slowly sank down into a chair, lowered his hands, and rested them on his knees. He stared back at Gabriel, his eyes empty and wide like a doll’s.
    Gabriel regretted having to see his eyes. “Tell me, where did you get an education?”
    Colin opened his mouth to answer, but