Gabriel was about to leave the area when a sudden attack grazed his temple, forcing him to halt.
"Not so fast, Gabriel," a voice mocked from the opposite direction.
Gabriel turned slowly, recognizing the familiar tone. "Ah, it's you again," he replied with a calm demeanor, though his eyes were sharp and focused. Without missing a beat, he inquired, "Where's Liz?"
Lucian's response was a cruel, mocking laugh that echoed through the tense air. "You really don't know, do you? Liz ran off with me on the night of your wedding. How pathetic."
Gabriel's expression darkened, the weight of Lucian's words pressing heavily on him. But he kept his composure, refusing to let Lucian see how deep the wound truly was.
Gabriel snapped his head to the left, a flash of surprise crossing his face as he saw Selene had managed to re-enter the bodies of Wolfdale's inhabitants, accompanied by a group of vampires under Lucian's command.
