Gabriel's POV

Without speaking, Ava and I looked at him together, waiting for his answer.

Luke cleared his throat and put on a look that made it difficult to guess. "It reminds me of a historical story from the East where a man asked a military master to come out, went three times, succeeded only on the third time, and later the man became emperor with the aid of the military master. So, the master is always the last to make an appearance."

The air was still, the atmosphere awkward, and Ava asked coldly. "Is that funny?"

He finally realized what was going on and rubbed his nose. "It doesn't...