Embrace the Night

Page 111



"No, nothing."

"What did you want to see me about?"

"I wanted to apologize for my actions the other night. I had no right to question you. I ask you to forgive me."

As always, her honesty humbled him. "You have every right to your questions, cara," he replied quietly. "I am only sorry I cannot give you the answers you desire."

"Are you in some kind of trouble? Is that why you're hiding out in that cottage?"

How like her, he thought, to be worried about him. "No, Sara, I'm not in trouble. Not the kind you mean, at any rate. I told you before, I lead a very secluded life, one that must seem strange to a woman such as yourself."

"I… had you been ill since I saw you last?"

A muscle worked in Gabriel's jaw. He must have looked like death itself when she saw him at the cottage that morning, and now she was wondering at his apparently miraculous improvement.

"No, cara, I have not been ill, not the way you mean." He had been soul sick, though, he thought bleakly. He had missed seeing her each evening, missed the joy of her laughter, the warmth of her caring. He had missed watching her dance. It had only been his overwhelming desire to see her again that had given him the strength to rise while the sun still commanded the sky.

"This afternoon…" She caught her lower lip between her teeth, afraid to pry further for fear of making him angry.

He met her confused gaze. It would be so easy to clear her mind of her questions and doubts, so easy to mesmerize her with his revenant power, to wrap her in the illusion that all was well. But he could not do that, not to Sara. The very thought of invading her mind was repulsive. And yet, she deserved an explanation of some kind. Unfortunately, he had none to give but the truth, and that was trapped in his throat.

"More wine?" he asked instead.
Sara nodded. "Please."

"So, cara, what is it you wish to do now?"

"What do you mean?" She sipped her wine, her gaze fixed on Gabriel's face. "Do you wish me to be gone from your life?"

"No!"

Her quick denial, the fervor in her tone, pleased him beyond words, and saddened him beyond pain.

"We cannot go on as before, Sara. You have too many questions that I cannot answer." He looked deep into her eyes, his own filled with sadness. "And you're afraid of me now, I think."