Chapter 148: If I Aint Got You - Alicia Keys
Gabriel’s lips curved slowly into a smile. "Explain," he said.
Mira looked down at her hands, ashamed of the trembling fingers that betrayed her. "We have done everything... for almost a century now," she began. "But nothing... nothing seems to be working. Her body rejects it."
Gabriel didn’t interrupt.
"Since the prince’s mate arrived," Mira continued, her sobs quieter now, "she got even more desperate. She began talking about losing everything. And months ago... she decided to fabricate this lie. She told me to help her fake it. To give false records to the court. And... when the time came for her to have a child... she tasked me with finding her a true blood baby. So no one would question it."
Gabriel leaned back in his seat, a gleam of triumph flashing in his eyes as he steepled his fingers. "Fascinating."
Mira felt the bottom of her world fall away. There was no going back now. The truth was out. And she knew that Seliora would tear her apart for this betrayal. But there had been no other choice. Between the devil she knew and the monster in front of her, she had chosen the more dangerous one.
Gabriel gave her a look of amusement. "Well, Doctor Mira. You have just made yourself very, very useful."
"Your grace, please. The king will have my head," Mira begged.
Gabriel turned his head slightly, as though considering her words. He gave her a smile that might have passed for charming had it not been delivered with such surgical precision.
"Don’t worry, I’ll protect you," he said smoothly.
But they both knew it was a lie.
*****
