Forbidden (The Gabriel Lennox Series Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

soliloquy, the vampire explained that if he hadn’t killed the girl, he would have had to destroy himself.
    At the end of the operetta, Gabriel felt lost. The opera proved to be absurd. Only the mad could understand it. In the darkness, he turned to Nathaniel, his mind filled with questions that he doubted would be answered. “Did you like the opera?” Nathaniel asked.
    “It was tart.” He stood up, and Nathaniel did the same. “I assumed that it would make sense, but it was filled with a plethora of contradictions,” Gabriel stated while they followed the departing guests. He didn’t catch a glimpse of Sevien anywhere. Good.
    Covering his mouth, Nathaniel let out a soft laugh. “Tart? Oh Gabriel! You must have forgotten all you’ve learned about our kind.”
    Forgotten? Lies were worth forgetting. But the truth should be cherished. Gabriel glanced at Nathaniel, who abruptly stopped laughing and grew very still.
    “Lilith wants to kill you,” he stated, his blue eyes as cold and dry as a winter sky.
    Gabriel laughed to hide his fear. “You’re madder than I thought. Maybe I should check you into an asylum.”
    “You are to Enlighten others, Gabriel. Your desires must be Lilith’s desires, or you’ll suffer the consequences. She wants to kill you. Would you like to know how?” This time, his eyes held a pleased sparkle.
    Who cares what Lilith wants? Certainly not me. “ You can’t kill what’s immortal. I am my own god, my own devil. I follow my own desires.” He shoved Nathaniel. “Out of my way.”
    His companion laughed. “Immortal or not, she can break you. Don’t be cross with me. I’m only the messenger.”
    Gabriel spun around sharply on his heels. “Lilith wants me dead, does she? Well, everyone is entitled to their wants, but wanting something doesn’t make it so. And you’re the messenger, eh? Well then, relay this message to her: I don’t fear you . . . and . . . go to Hell!” He turned away and sped ahead of Nathaniel. A few feet away, he could see Sevien speaking with a small group. As he came nearer, he recognized the musicians from earlier. Almost immediately, they stopped chatting and acknowledged his presence.
    “Leaving so soon?” Sevien asked.
    Gabriel shrugged. “I don’t know yet. I’m in need of a breath of fresh air. If that is all right with you?” he asked, his tone far from gracious.
    A thin smile bowed Sevien’s lips. “Of course. But first, let me introduce you to my special guests. You may recognize them as the performers from that delightful and imaginative opera.” His smile widened into a Cheshire Cat grin.
    Have you already tasted of this fruit? asked the Prince. Gabriel forced a tight smile. He had to get out of here. He brought out his hand to the black-haired pianist. “A pleasure to meet you. You play divinely.”
    The pianist gave Gabriel’s hand a good, firm shake. “Thank you, Monsieur—” he replied, deep blue eyes on Sevien’s as if pleading for assistance in the formalities.
    “Lennox,” Sevien answered. “Monsieur Gabriel Lennox, this is Michel Delechevalier, and this is his wife Genevieve.”
    Gabriel kissed her upturned hand. “A pleasure, Madame.” Still holding her hand, he added, “You played Parfit?”
    Genevieve’s face flushed noticeably as she nodded. “Yes. I miss the black locks, though. And please don’t be a stranger. You may call me Genevieve.”
    A soft laugh spilled from her husband’s lips. “Stranger? How can he be anything but? We’ve only just met him.”
    Genevieve nodded, took the tasseled pink-and-white fan dangling around her slender wrist, and fanned herself furiously. “ C’est vrai ,” she replied, agreeing with her husband. “But would you ever intend such a horrible thing to remain, Monsieur Lennox? Or may I call you Gabriel?”
    Michel and Sevien looked at her, eyebrows raised, but only Michel looked annoyed. “Please excuse my wife’s boldness. We’re French, as you know, and for