Gabriel met his gaze without flinching. "It was a desperate call. I thought that the scandals would keep Olivier away. I was wrong."
Damian's smile faded, just slightly. The corners of his mouth settled into something quieter, and the glow in his eyes softened, shifting from amusement to understanding.
He leaned back in his chair, wineglass still in hand but untouched. "You thought he'd let go if you were untouchable."
Gabriel nodded once, slowly. "Or if I stopped being useful. If I made myself into a liability, a public disgrace. I wasn't thinking clearly, just… reacting."
The warmth of the ether sconces flickered softly against the polished walls, casting them in a golden hush. The clink of silverware had long gone silent. Even the air in the room felt more still.
Damian set his glass down and folded his hands on the table, elbows propped, posture still as a statue—but it wasn't cold. It was focus.
