Embrace the Night

Page 135



"Why didn't you answer?"

"You must know why." "Because you're a…"
"Vampire."

She nodded, wondering why the word was so hard to say. In her heart, she knew it was true, but deep inside she believed that if she never said the word, the truth would go away.

"Sara." He rested his chin on the top of her head.

"Why have you come back?" she asked tremulously.

"Do you want me to go?" He had told himself that if she no longer held any affection for him, he would find Nina and do whatever she asked in exchange for her promise to spare Sara's life.

"No! Oh, Gabriel, nothing's the same without you. Please don't leave me again." "I won't," he promised. "If you're sure you want me to stay, I'll stay."
"I'm sure."

"And what of Maurice Delacroix?"

Maurice! Guilt washed through her. She had promised to marry Maurice in the spring. At her silence, Gabriel drew back so he could see her face. "What is it, cara?"
"I…"

A sudden heaviness settled over Gabriel. Had she fallen in love with the other man in his absence? "Sara?"

"I… I didn't think I would ever see you again," she stammered, "so… so I…" She swallowed hard. "I told Maurice I'd marry him."

"I see."

"But I don't want Maurice! I want you." "Do you?"

"Yes! You've got to believe me. I only said I'd marry him because it didn't matter. If I couldn't have you, it didn't matter. Don't you see?"

"Has he made love to you?" He spoke the words calmly, as if her reply was of no real import, knowing all the while that he would kill Delacroix with his bare hands if he'd dared do more than kiss Sara good night.