The next morning, Amelie prepared two coffee mugs, one for herself and the other for Gabriel. Through Albus, she had found out the prince loved drinking coffee in the morning after having a bath.
She knocked on the door while holding the tray in one hand.
"Come in," Gabriel’s voice reached her ears, and she pushed the door open before walking inside.
Amelie pushed the door open and stepped inside. "Good morning, Gabriel. I brought coffee for—" She froze mid-sentence, her words catching in her throat as her gaze locked onto him.
Gabriel stood before her, clad in nothing but a loosely wrapped towel hanging low on his hips. Droplets of water trailed down his chiseled torso, highlighting the defined V-line that disappeared beneath the fabric.
Amelie swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. She was rooted to the spot, unable to tear her eyes away. Her stare was so intense that she didn’t realize how obvious it was until Gabriel stepped closer.
Lowering his head to meet her gaze, he smirked. "I know I’m hot, Amelie, but if you keep looking at me like that, I might just start blushing."
Grabbing the coffee mug, he noticed the second one, realizing Amelie wanted to have coffee with him.
However, she turned around, ready to leave the room.
"Weren’t you here for coffee with me?" Gabriel questioned. "Come, have a seat. There’s no need to shy away. I suppose you will keep seeing me in this avatar a lot of times," he asserted, noticing the shift in her expression.
Amelie looked at him before walking toward the couch in the seating area and placing the tray on the glass table. Gabriel walked there and rested the mug down.
"I’ll put on some clothes. In the meantime, you should drink the coffee," said Gabriel and walked ahead to the closet. Sliding the glass door, he disappeared from her sight.
Amelie heaved a breath of relief and grabbed the mug.
She took a slow sip before taking in her surroundings. This was the second time she was in Gabriel’s room. Yesterday, she couldn’t get the time to take a look, but now she was taking her time.
Gabriel’s room was the largest one in the mansion. It was a blend of contemporary and modern style. Her eyes darted to the large photo of Gabriel, which was right on the front wall if seated on the bed. Everything was tidy, of course, there were so many servants who would not let it happen.
’So far, I am unable to understand why I get a musky scent from him. Even when he was standing close to me, more than the soap fragrance, I was getting that musky scent. Is he my m...’ Amelie didn’t finish her thoughts, not wanting to believe this theory anymore.
Though in their world, scent was the strongest way to find a mate, however, after being betrayed by her own fated mate, Amelie started doubting it.
Alex was also good to her in the beginning. He was ready to fight the world for her. That was what he used to tell her.
"What are you lost in, kitten?" The moment Gabriel’s voice reached her ears, she snapped back to reality. She looked at him, now dressed in black.
Gabriel, instead of taking a seat on the sofa chair, sat next to her. He grabbed the mug and inhaled the aroma of the coffee. "What were you thinking?" he asked again, taking a sip while keeping his gaze focused on her.
"Nothing," Amelie lied.
"Did you have a good sleep?" Gabriel questioned before taking another sip.
"Yeah."
Gabriel observed her closely while drinking his coffee as silence stretched between them.
Amelie felt awkward, wondering how to break the ice. "Um... Last night, you talked with Karmen about some spy’s death. Is it a serious issue?" She then turned her head. "I am not asking because I want to gossip with someone. I am just curious," she explained.
"Have you heard of the Blood Dominion?" Gabriel asked her. "I suppose you haven’t," he then added.
"I have," Amelie answered.
"Interesting," he mused.
"I heard the elders gossiping about it once in the pack, and it was in the news too. There were several articles about it," she stated.
"Oh, so you know. I am not aware of news and stuff," Gabriel stated.
"Did someone from there kill your spy?" Amelie inquired.
"Yes. I need to discuss the matter with my dad," Gabriel answered.
"I see. I hope the spy who sacrificed his life rests in peace," Amelie prayed in a low voice. She silently finished her coffee, placing the mug on the tray. She waited for Gabriel to finish his coffee, who was still drinking it.
"Gabriel, do you feel strange around me?" Amelie’s question amused him. He rested the mug on the tray and leaned back.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"I wonder if you get any scent from me," Amelie said in a low voice.
"Do you?" He asked her the same question.
"No," she lied immediately, clasping her hands together.
Gabriel noticed that, but he didn’t say a word. "If I had received your scent, then I would’ve marked you by now," he truthfully told her.
"Oh." Amelie then thought, ’I think the scent I receive is something else. If we were truly mates, he would have gotten it.’
"I’ll take these downstairs," Amelie said, almost rising to her feet, but Gabriel caught her wrist, stopping her.
"You aren’t a servant here," he reminded her. Gabriel then moved closer to her and continued, "Help me dry my hair. It’s still damp."
"Sure," she immediately agreed. "Where’s the dryer?"
Gabriel stood up along with her and walked them to the dressing table in the closet room.
"Take a seat," Amelie instructed him before grabbing the dryer from him and plugging it in.
As Gabriel sat on the velvety chair, Amelie lightly brushed her fingers over his scalp, turning on the dryer, which blew hot air over his head.