Betrayed By The Hero, Loved By The Lord

Cassandra held her hand out to greet Selene. She expected a different welcome from Selene but it was good to see that Selene wasn't going to make this hard for anyone.

Selene looked down at the outstretched hand before her. She was trying to be cordial to avoid making a scene in front of the guests present and the men who came with Gabriel, but to offer a hand to shake was far too much. 

Did this woman not have any shame? Were all humans this brazen?

For someone with a short lifespan, Cassandra wasn't careful with her actions. 

Gabriel was furious with Selene for not returning Cassandra's greeting. There was reluctance evident in Selene's gaze. "Are you so high up on what status you have left that you wouldn't return her greeting? She is my lover which means you must treat her with respect."

Each word Gabriel said was a stab to the heart to Selene. She was the one who remained to take care of the home and awaited his return yet he didn't show her any respect. 

She had given her all to this marriage for what? This was how he repaid her?

"He left her for a human," Selene heard the whispers of the vampires enjoying the sight.

Selene's lips were folded into a thin line showing her displeasure. She shook Cassandra's hand like Gabriel wanted. "We need to talk in private," she said and then turned to head inside first.

This wasn't a conversation to have in front of their guests.

She had not anticipated entertaining them this way. 

Gabriel followed Selene inside, still holding Cassandra's hand. Selene should have known it was going to come to this one day since she wouldn't open her heart to him and she was using him more than they arranged for him to help her.

Cassandra admired the mansion she would call home from now on. 

Selene led the pair to a library which should be far away from any of the guests. She turned around to face the two who appeared oblivious to how embarrassing and wrong this was. 

The library door was still open but Selene didn't want to pass the couple. She didn't want to get closer to see Gabriel holding Cassandra's hand so lovingly.

Selene looked at Gabriel. He was the one who made a promise to her. "We are alone now so please tell me this is some foolish joke you and the other soldiers came up with. That you would not embarrass me like this. Please," she begged, willing to laugh if it was all a careless joke. 

She was a good wife to him. Why was this how he repaid her?

"You need to send her away before this gets out. Your victorious return shouldn't be ruined by this. Have her leave before we go to the banquet," Selene said, desperate to avoid getting mocked by the town again. 

The muscles in Gabriel's jaw tightened. The tables had turned in this home for his word to be final.

Selene wished for someone to stand beside her as Gabriel's gaze made the room feel cold and uncomfortable. She shouldn't take his anger lightly but Selene held onto her memory of Gabriel that he would not harm her.

That would go against everything the kingdom praised him for. 

"You will leave before I ever send Cassandra away. You need to be careful that I do not throw you out for my guests to see. I am being upfront instead of running behind your back with a lover. She must stay here since I brought her a long way from her home," said Gabriel.

He would not give up a woman who loved him for a woman who wouldn't let him touch her. A woman who only saw him as a way to protect herself. 

Selene looked down at the floor, her hands grabbing a handful of her dress. It pained her to have to beg him to send his lover away. "Please do not do this to me. I've already been mocked by the town before. She is a human-"

"And my lover!" Gabriel yelled, his frustration getting the best of him. "I am to be rewarded for my part in the victories and I will have her. I am being kind to not send you away and only ask that you teach her what she needs to know."

Gabriel released Cassandra's hand. "In my absence, you've gotten ahead of yourself. I make the rules here. I've had to put up with you for too many months but I am still open to keeping our arrangement. You will be my wife but she will be my lover. It is not much for you to do compared to what I do for you."

Selene's eyes glistened with the tears she still tried to not let fall. "I have been a good wife to you. It wasn't easy to run this home alone for months. What did I do to deserve you shaming me like this? I love-"

"Do not lie to me," Gabriel raised his voice, not wanting to hear her empty words. "You do not love me. You liked using me and now I have risen above you. I might not be a pureblood but now I am the kingdom's hero so you answer to me now."

Selene's lower lip quivered. It was a slap in the face for him to be like this when all she wanted was to make him happy. Where was the man who promised to protect her?

They had both started this arrangement to use each other so why now was he only pointing out her side? Selene wanted a husband to protect her while Gabriel wanted a woman with any status. They paired well with each other. 

Cassandra stepped forward to place her hand on Gabriel's chest. "Your guests are waiting for you. You shouldn't be so worked up when you have people who adore you wanting to see you."

Gabriel had more to say to Selene but he calmed down for Cassandra's sake. "You are going to put on your best smile and be a good host to the guests we have. Then you are to prepare a room for Cassandra to use tonight. She will need dresses and a maid to tend to her from tomorrow. Now, we have a banquet to attend."

Selene didn't believe the man walking away from her with the woman at his side was the man she married. He knew that going out there to a room filled with vampires was going to ruin her but he did not consider her feelings or reputation.