The portal's hum was unbearably loud, and faint traces of magic floated in the teleportation area, following Gabriel's body for a while. He stepped out of the portal, his long black boots clicking against the pavement. He let a breath out; the feeling of tightness in his chest was one of his many reasons for not using portals too often.

Gabriel tried to loosen the high collar of his white, silk shirt; it felt uncomfortable, but he didn't have enough time to change the shape of his mark. His slender fingers felt cold on his neck.

The capital greeted Gabriel with the same suffocating air he had left behind. The scent of damp stone and old magic lingered in the streets, weaving between cars and pedestrians like a restless specter. The city had always felt like a maze, an intricate web of power plays and whispered secrets, but today it felt particularly constricting.

He adjusted his shirt's high collar, making sure that no sliver of skin on his neck was exposed. The mark required time to be altered, which he did not yet have. It retained the form of his own original work, a silent act of defiance against the imperial contract that had once bound him. The challenge was not changing it, but timing it perfectly.

Gabriel stepped out of the car, his boots hitting the cobblestones with a sharp click. The air was cool and damp with the promise of rain. He had barely taken a step forward when he saw Theo waiting for him on the steps of his family's estate.

Theo stood tall, arms crossed over his chest, with an unimpressed expression on his face. The sharp green of his eyes glinted in the low-hanging afternoon sun, contrasting sharply with the warm brown of his skin. Gabriel knew that looked well, too well. He sighed; the day would be long.

"You look like shit," Theo greeted, pushing off the stone railing and approaching him. "What the hell happened?" It took Gabriel a few weeks to look like he was dying. He was looking like shit before, but this was on another level.

Gabriel sighed, already exhausted by the conversation he knew was coming. "Hello to you too, Theo. I see the capital has done nothing to improve your manners."

Theo ignored the jab, eyes narrowing as he took in Gabriel's fragrance. "You reek of Claymore." Theo felt his chest tighten; he was supposed to marry and reunite families; why did he smell like Maximilian before speaking with them?

Gabriel rolled his eyes and brushed past him. "Lovely. I missed you too."

Theo matched his stride with ease. "Don't play coy. You disappear for weeks, and when you come back, you smell like you have been rolling around in a Claymore's bed. Should I be worried?"

Gabriel scoffed. "That is a truly disturbing mental image; thank you for that. And no, you shouldn't be worried. Well. Not about that."

Theo's gaze flickered to Gabriel's collar. "You're hiding something." Last time he wore a shirt with a low collar, showing the mark off; now he was hiding it. Fortunately the mark was the same; Maximilian's pheromones were only on his clothes, not produced by Gabriel.

A marked omega will always smell the same pheromones as their alpha mate. Theo could feel Gabriel's pheromone beneath the thick layer of Claymore's scent.

Gabriel shot him a look. "I'm always hiding something. It's practically a family trait."

Theo exhaled sharply, frustration evident. "Gabriel—"

"I'll explain later." He wasn't lying. He just needed time to change the mark before any of his family saw it. "Let's get inside before you start interrogating me in public."

Theo studied him for another moment before relenting, stepping aside so Gabriel could pass through the grand doors of the van Jaunez estate. The familiar scent of polished wood, parchment, and faint traces of magic washed over him the moment he crossed the threshold. Home.

A home foreign to him in all aspects. He did not recall it, but he could sense the familiarity of the surroundings.

As they moved through the hall, Gabriel caught sight of his father in the sitting room, engaged in quiet conversation with his mother. His father looked up first, sharp eyes locking onto Gabriel instantly. The slight tension in his shoulders eased, but only just. His mother turned next, her expression softer, relieved.

"You're back," she said simply, standing from her chair.

"I am," Gabriel answered, voice even.

His father's gaze swept over him. "You were gone longer than expected."

Gabriel inclined his head. "Unavoidable circumstances."

His father hummed, clearly dissatisfied with the vague answer, but before he could press further, Theo cut in.

"I'll get him settled in."

A silent conversation passed between Theo and Gabriel's father before the older man gave a slight nod. Gabriel didn't wait for further questioning, making his way upstairs with Theo right behind him.

Once they reached his private quarters, Theo shut the door firmly behind them. "Start talking."

Gabriel exhaled, rolling his shoulders before pulling off his coat and tossing it onto a chair. "I assume you've heard about George's latest scheme."

Theo leaned against the desk, arms still crossed. "Everybody talks about his decision. According to my sources, the internal family is in turmoil. They dislike Elliott, but this went too far. Will you really take his deal?"

Gabriel's lips twisted. "Then you know why I had to go along with it. At least for now."

Theo's gaze darkened. "You don't have to go along with anything, Gabriel."

Gabriel looked at him, something unreadable flickering in his expression. "And if I told you it's bigger than just me?"

Theo's expression didn't change, but Gabriel knew him well enough to catch the shift in his posture. "…How big?"

Gabriel moved to the window, looking out over the city. "Big enough that we need to be careful. George is not just interested in me, but also in our family and allies. He wants Maximilian on the throne; that is my guess."

Silence.

Then Theo let out a low curse. "That old bastard never gives up."

Gabriel smirked slightly. "No, he doesn't."

Theo ran a hand through his hair. "Does Damian know?"

"Max is telling him."

Theo shook his head. "This is a disaster waiting to happen.