Free Dominion 4 - Ascendance by Lissa Kasey Page B

more.
“Seriously?” Gabe asked. He glanced at Sam. “Fighting over me?”
    “Not just you,” Sam protested. “I’m just tired of everyone always thinking Seiran is better than me. Pillar, earth witch, whatever.”
Did he think I wanted all this? To be Pillar, to be singled out? I sighed.
    Gabe pulled a bottle of some type of glue bandage out of the kit and squeezed the wound together while painting it on. I tried not to move, though it hurt. “Sei?”
“He started it,” I protested. He’d come at me.
    “And you could have put him in a binding spell and ended it immediately. I know Jamie has been teaching you and Kelly defensive spells. Sam’s not a witch. He can’t counter your spells, even if he borrows your power. He’s shown no control over spells. All he can do is enhance and redirect ones others create.”
    True. I hadn’t even thought of it. I guess I really had wanted the fight. The sad thing was it hadn’t solved anything.
    “What is there to solve?” Gabe sounded exasperated. “You fly out here without telling anyone, slam the door in my face, and then decide you need to beat the crap out of Sam. Please tell me what this is doing for you?”
“I came here because I wanted to learn about my dad.” And to get away from the growing gap between us.
    “And you couldn’t have said, ‘Gabe, let’s go to California so I can learn about my dad?’ A relationship isn’t just about love and great sex, Sei. It’s about compromise, talking to the other person, and trust.”
“Like you’re one to talk! You never tell me anything.”
    “I don’t tell you things that can hurt you, Seiran. You have enough trouble in your life—I know I don’t need to burden you with mine.”
    “You just said a relationship is about compromise and talking to each other. What do you think that means? I don’t want your crap any more than you want mine, but I’m here to help you deal with it, whether you like it or not. So stop being an ass and share already.”
    His shocked expression meant I probably got through. I totally expected him to throw me out or rage at me again, but he said nothing.
    “I was stupid for just up and coming here. I know that.” My cheeks felt hot. The moment that had driven me to go seemed unimportant now. It had been the pride Gabe felt toward Sam. I wanted him to be proud of me, love me, and not some ex-boyfriend cast-off. “You were proud of him. I felt it through the bond. I was jealous, and so I made a bad decision. We all fuck up, even you, Gabe.”
    Gabe burst into movement again, blotting away the rest of the blood. He spoke quietly. “I am proud of him. He’s learning fast, working hard to hold back the hunger and only take what he needs. The first few months are horrible for a new vampire. More than half have to be put down because they can’t handle it.” He put away the kit and glared at both of us, who were covered in dirt. “The faster he learns, the faster he can live without constant supervision. I’m not doing this for me, Sei.” He sat back on the bed next to me and swept his fingers through his hair. “Yes. I fuck up too. I will try to share more. It’s just hard. Been alone a long time.”
    I stared at him, feeling foolish and tired, but no way could I sleep alone tonight. Whatever stupid things we did to each other, I still loved him, and he loved me. I felt it through the bond. He needed me more than anything, and I needed him too. “All things worth fighting for take work, right? I’m willing to work on this, on us , if you are.”
    He nodded, palmed the back of my head, and pulled me in for a kiss. His lips on mine felt so sweet, water after a drought to my parched earth. “I’m sorry,” he whispered between little kisses and flicks of his tongue.
Sam cleared his throat, got up, and threw his dirty towel into the bathroom. “Do I have to be here for this?”
    The comment made me want to punch him again. Gabe kissed my forehead and the emotion