Chapter 168: A Millennium

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Esme paused at his words, searching those captivating eyes she loved so much. Her brows furrowed. Something that cost him a palace by the sea was a rare gem that made him go mad and accept Einar's offer. She looked down at the box; her hand trembled against the leather as she felt strange energy emitting from it. 

Gabriel's chin rested on her shoulder as he gazed at her. "Open it, Esme," He cooed, his hand caressing her bare arm. "It's yours.." He kissed, and she looked at him after straining to hear what he next whispered. "It's always been yours.. been you." Esme looked at him, but his lips were clamped shut. She must have misheard. 

Gabriel tilted his head at her lap. "Open it!" He moaned impatiently. Esme shook her head, chuckling at her cute mate and pulled at the golden clasp to open the box. She slowly lifted the lid and paused when she saw a ring with brilliant, clear-cut ruby staring back at her. Her eyes widened as she continued to stare at it; almost in a trance, there was a soft glow from the corner of the jewel. She shook her head and looked at it again, but the glow that almost hummed didn't fade. 

"Gabriel.." She whispered, turning to look at him. 

But Gabriel disappeared and reappeared kneeling before her, holding her hands in his, kissing each of her knuckles, staring up at her, his eyes searching hers. "I have waited a millennium for you, Esme. The moment I saw you, I never had a chance. You had my heart before I could even say no." He caressed her cheek. 

"You are my one true mate. Werewolves, vampires, shifters, they all know you are taken. But.." His eyes lowered to the glimmering ruby ring. "I want the humans to know too. Marriage is not traditional for us but wearing this ring.. will keep idiots away and keep my hands blood-free."

Esme glanced back at the ring. "You said it was rare.." Her voice barely came out as a whisper, her throat full of emotions swelling up within her chest. She really wasn't expecting any of this, the romantic lead up to this moment. "Are you sure-"

"It is yours," Gabriel cut her off, his voice and eyes intense. 

Esme looked back at him, slightly surprised, but then her lips curved up into a smile, her hand caressing his sharp jaw as she stared back at him. "Then I will wear it.. Maybe after tomorrow, though." Her thoughts flicked to the favour she owed Einar. 

Gabriel's gaze momentarily darkened, and his jaw set. "Yes.. After tomorrow. Wear it. If you like it, that is?" He kissed her knuckles again, waiting for her response. 

"It's beautiful, Gabriel. How could I not love it?" She smiled, looking down at it again. "But is this a ruby? There's something about it.. It almost doesn't seem real." She chuckled at her own words, but when she looked up to her mate, he was smiling at her. 

"It is a star ruby, but this one, in particular, is rare. It is said to have belonged to a goddess," Gabriel replied, staring at it fondly. "Try it on."

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Esme pulled the ring out of the box, her thumbs brushing over the gem that still glimmered like it wasn't part of this world. The moment her skin touched it, she felt a sudden warm sensation spread through her fingers up her arms and to her head. Esme grimaced, putting the ring down and rubbing the sides of her temples as sharp pain throbbed and her eyes began to go blurry. 

"Esme?" Gabriel cupped her face, peering at her face in concern. "What's wrong?"

'You can't do this!' A voice screamed, echoing across the room. The desperation was apparent in the woman's voice. Her voice. 'Don't..'

Esme frowned, clutching tighter on her head. "Do you have a headache?" Gabriel asked in concern. Esme stared back at her mate, searching for any signs he heard the voice, but he didn't. She looked down at the ring. Was it magic?

Before she could question further, the stabbing pain caused her to grimace again and lie back down on the bed. "It hurts," She muttered.

"Hold on, let me get you something." Gabriel disappeared and within a few minutes returned with her pyjamas, a glass of water and painkillers. Esme took the painkillers, and Gabriel helped her change into the pyjamas, pulling her back onto the bed, so her back rested against his chest. He started to massage her shoulders, and Esme's lids grew heavy.

"You're so good to me," She murmured drowsily, enjoying the way his hands kneaded her and the warmth of his body behind her. Gabriel replied, but her consciousness was already slipping, and she couldn't hear his response as sleep took over her.

Esme was staring down at a marble table; the roots of her hair was pulling gently like someone was playing with her hair. She looked up and saw herself in a mirror, a lady behind her putting her stylishly curled raven locks to the side, pinning them into a hairstyle that felt uncomfortable. Her attire was of a dark grey almost black peplos dress, the silky material flowing down her petite body with a golden chain at her waist. Her dark eyes were almost black, and her freckles across her nose and just below her eyes were golden.

Golden!? Raven locks? Grecian attire and a servant.

The surroundings behind the servant slowly faded into her sight, revealing a large bed chamber the size of a house, everything of the highest quality, and the floors walls and pillars in a very light pink and white tone in marble. 

Esme realised she was in a dream again, and it was shocking to see herself in the mirror, yet her hair and freckles were different. 

Whatever this dream was, it seemed to continue from the last one. Esme could feel the thoughts of meeting her father swirl in her mind. She was anxious but determined at the same time. It was almost like she feared her father would kill her, and at the same time, she adored him? What sort of dream was this? Maybe she was reflecting some of her familial issues into this dream state? Though the anxiety felt so real.. Everything about this dream felt so real.

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