Embrace the Night

Page 183



Easing out of bed, he went to the window and stared into the darkness, but it was Nina's face he saw, her eyes wide with surprise and pain as he drove the stake through her heart. What had she felt in those last few moments as she felt her strength ebb, and where was she now? Had a benevolent being taken her soul to heaven, or was she even now roasting in the flames of perdition, doing penance for all the blood she had shed, all the lives she had destroyed?

What would be his fate when death finally claimed him?

He stood at the window until he sensed dawn approaching, and then he closed the heavy drapes and slid under the covers beside Sara.

Wrapping his arms around her, he drew her close, absorbing her goodness and warmth into himself, until the sun climbed over the horizon and darkness claimed him. Yet even in his deathlike sleep, he was aware of her beside him. It seemed her heart beat in rhythm with his and he knew, without knowing how he knew, that she slept at his side throughout the day.

A little before dusk, he opened his eyes to find her head pillowed on his shoulder. A moment later, her eyelids fluttered open. And then, to his delight, she smiled at him.

And then she frowned. "Where are we?"

"A hotel room."

She glanced at the window. "What time is it?"
"A little before dusk. You slept the day away, I'm afraid." "Where's… what happened to… to Nina?" "She's dead."

"You killed her?"
"Yes."

She didn't know what to say to that, so she said nothing. Her stomach growled loudly in the silence. Gabriel smiled indulgently. "I think perhaps I should feed you."

"I amhungry," she allowed, and yet she couldn't help feeling guilty for thinking of something as mundane as food after what they'd been through the night before.

Gabriel's gaze moved over her face, lingering on her lips. "Shall I call for room service?"
"Maybe later." She paused a moment. "Where's Maurice?"

There was no easy way to say it, Gabriel thought, no way to take the sting from the words. "He's dead." Sara shook her head, not wanting to believe even though she could see the truth of it in Gabriel's eyes.
"I'm sorry, Sara. He was a brave man. He loved you very much, more than you'll ever know."