Chapter 24: A night to remember

**Chapter 24: A Night to Remember**

Gabriel took another sip from his glass, the burn of the cognac doing little to calm his stomach. He set it down on the table, fingers lightly brushing the edge of the glass absently. Even though Max was no longer actively threatening him, the sharp glint in his eyes remained, an unspoken challenge that neither of them would back down from.

"We need to make this convincing," Gabriel said quietly as he leaned back against the counter, arms crossed over his chest. "If you want George to believe we are in some... relationship, you will have to stay the night."

Max blinked, his expression darkening almost instantly. "You're joking. Are you aware that your pheromones are everywhere?" He was battling with these instincts; the pheromones were slowly getting to him. The mark he left on his partner was a barrier only for his partner; Max was still as vulnerable as before to strong pheromones. A night in Gabriel's apartment would be pure torture.

Gabriel's lips twitched. "I am not joking, Max. At least not when it comes to my own survival. You can't just walk out of here and expect him to believe us. We need to leave evidence. Not just for George, but for anyone else who might be watching. If you leave so fast, when exactly would you have marked me?"

Max exhaled sharply, his fingers curling into fists at his sides before relaxing. "You want me to pretend we're—what, lovers?"

"God, no." Gabriel gave him an unimpressed look. "Sleep on the couch, or don't sleep at all. You just need to be here until morning. Your scent will blend with mine, and when you walk out, everyone will assume the worst. Misdirection at its most fundamental level. You know, the kind of thing people like you excel at."

Max let out a short, dry laugh. "People like me?"

"Politicians. Nobles. Liars." Gabriel shrugged. "Take your pick." He dismissed his words with a flick of his hand, then took a chair and placed it near the window. He was still emitting pheromones, but at a slower rate than before Max's visit.

Max rubbed his temple, muttering something under his breath before finally looking at Gabriel. "You aren't holding back, are you?"

Gabriel grinned. "No. Not this time."

Max tilted his head, examining him for a moment before sighing. "Fine. But this isn't just about making George believe something, is it?" He suspected Gabriel had reasons for not insisting on never seeing him again. Max knew his proposal was outrageous, and he hoped Gabriel would refuse. Uncle George would have been preoccupied with Gabriel and could have altered his strategy. But this was not something he wanted.

Gabriel raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what do you think it is about?"

"You want time," Max said plainly, watching Gabriel's expression closely. "You're stalling. You want a chance to figure out a better plan than whatever the hell this mess is."

Gabriel didn't deny it. Instead, he swirled the remaining liquid in his glass and smiled. "Congratulations, you do have a brain in there."

Max scoffed but didn't argue. "And I assume you'll be calling for backup?"

"Of course. My family will be more than happy to rip Claymore apart for trying to force my hand." Gabriel set his glass down with a quiet clink.

"Not to brag, but Claymore is not that simple to deal with. Not even the Emperor can deal with him." Max didn't want to burst Gabriel's bubble, but that was the truth. Damian was currently in control of the political situation, but if one of the parties wanted to rebel, there was no guarantee that everyone else would stay put.

"Well, not to brag too, but we have Lancaster and Blackwater on our side. But this has nothing to do with our situation. Our allies can help us only if we have a plan. There is no plan before we find out what George actually intends."

Max exhaled through his nose. "I'll talk to Damian. If there's anyone who can help me untangle George's web, it's him."

Gabriel nodded approvingly. "Good. We need to figure out what George's actual plan was. Forcing us together is just a piece of it, but there has to be more. Someone is helping him. We need to find out who."

Max leaned against the back of the sofa, his expression unreadable. "You're awfully invested in this now."

"Of course I am. It affects me. And I don't take kindly to being used as a pawn," Gabriel replied smoothly. Then he stretched, feigning nonchalance. "Now, be a good little noble and make yourself comfortable. It's going to be a long night."

Max sighed and dropped onto the couch, looking around the room. "And here I thought you'd at least have decent accommodations. This couch feels like it's stuffed with rocks."

Gabriel smirked. "Good. Maybe it'll build character."

Max threw him an unimpressed look before pulling his jacket off and draping it over the armrest. "I hate this already."

Gabriel made a soft, amused noise in the back of his throat. "Try being me for a day."

"I'll pass."

Silence stretched between them for a moment before Max spoke again, his voice quieter. "My partner… they're in danger because of George."

Gabriel stilled, his eyes sharpening. "Explain."

Max exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "George doesn't deem them worthy of our family. He's been looking for ways to remove them from the picture, one way or another."

Gabriel's expression darkened. "That's why you're playing along."

Max gave a humorless chuckle. "You think I want this? If it were just me, I'd have fought back harder. But I can't afford to lose them."

Gabriel studied him for a moment before nodding. "Then we make sure George gets nothing."

Max let out a breath and leaned back against the couch. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but… I'm glad you're on my side."

Gabriel chuckled. "Temporarily."

"Right." Max smirked slightly, closing his eyes. "Let's hope we don't kill each other before morning."

Gabriel smirked back. "No promises."