Finally, after what felt like an eternity lost in his fury, a dagger sliced his forearm. The physical pain penetrated his mental anguish, and he lowered his weapons. Gabe threw his head back, breathing hard and sweating.
"You … good?" Rhyn panted.
"Define good."
"I figured you'd be by yesterday." Rhyn tossed his weapons. "We've known for a little over a week."
"About the time everything started going to shit with the underworld."
Anger rose, but Gabe reined it in, exhausted. He flung away the weapons and the trench coat. His clothes were strangling him in heat after the match. He pulled off his sweater then dropped back onto the sparring mat, focusing hard on calming himself down. Unfazed by Gabe's attempt to hack him into pieces, Rhyn sat beside him.
"Rhyn?" One of the half-demon's brothers called from the doorway.
"Bring it."
Gabe twisted his head to watch Kiki, Rhyn's right hand and the most dependable of the brothers, walk into the gym. He looked around in disapproval at the disaster that remained of the new gym. Gabe sat up as Kiki approached, and the tall Immortal paused, critical gaze taking in both of them.
"It's Gabe, Kiki. He's not gonna kill you," Rhyn said.
"Yet," Gabe added.
"Neither of you are funny," Kiki replied. He set the iPad he carried on a totaled machine a few feet away without coming closer. "Rhyn, a reminder that Gabriel is a deity or at least, a human-turned-immortal-turned-deity, which means you must use-"
"-discretion," Rhyn finished through clenched teeth.
"Exactly. The first page has the talking points outlining what you can share," Kiki said before addressing Gabriel. "Do you have any idea how much this gym cost to set up?"
Practical and detail-oriented, Kiki was well-dressed and lean. Like all the brothers on the Council That Was Seven, he had the same father and a different mother. His Oriental features were chiseled, his turquoise eyes bright. He'd lived in Tokyo before Rhyn dragged him to the castle as his charge d'affairs.
"Send me the bill," Gabe said drily.
Kiki was unimpressed. "Discretion, Rhyn." He turned and walked out. Rhyn stood and crossed to the iPad, reading quietly.
Gabe heard the voice of Rhyn's mate, Katie, from the direction of the hallway as she greeted Kiki on her way in. Her blue eyes lit up when she saw him. Curly brown hair was pulled into a ponytail, and she wore jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt that was tight over her swollen belly. The last of Gabe's anger slid away at her glowing smile.
Rhyn glanced up, gaze lingering on his mate, then shook his head.