Embrace the Night

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with Quillan. After we hear from him, we can decide about the future."

Sarah nodded. She would put it out of her mind until they heard from the vampire in France. Until then… She smiled at Gabriel as she took him by the hand and led him upstairs to bed. Until then, she intended to spend every minute getting reacquainted with the incredible man who had been her husband.

Chapter Seven

Because she didn't like spending her days with nothing to do, Sarah decided to try to find a job. She broached the subject on a Friday night while they sat in the kitchen playing rummy.

She hadn't expected Gabriel to object, but he did. Strenuously.

"I know women in your time didn't work, but I need something to do," Sarah argued. She shook her head, needing to make him understand how she felt. "I can't just vegetate on the sofa watching soap operas all day."

"Forgive me." Gabriel tossed his cards onto the table and stood up. "I didn't realize you were unhappy here."

"I'm not unhappy," Sarah said quickly. "Just bored." She looked up at him, suddenly curious. "You've lived hundreds of years. What did you do to pass the time?"

"A variety of things, some you wouldn't believe." "Like what?"

"For a few years, I was a spy for one of the French kings. I can't remember now which one it was. Skulking around in the shadows was the perfect occupation for a man who must live always in darkness. For a time, I was a knight, and after that, a minstrel—"

"A minstrel!"

"I've been told my voice is passable." "Would you sing for me?" Sarah asked, intrigued.

His gaze moved over her face, his expression softening. "I sang for you once before." "Sing for me now. Please."

Gabriel thought for a moment, and then he began to sing an old Italian ballad of unrequited love.

His voice was deep, melodic, haunting. He sang in Italian, but he sang with such emotion Sarah had no trouble understanding the message. His voice wrapped around her, soft as candlelight, as poignant as a lover's last caress.

And memories flooded her mind. Memories of Gabriel coming to her in the dark of night, singing to her as he held her in his arms and danced her around her room in the orphanage, making her feel loved. Cherished. Beautiful. Gabriel. How could she ever have forgotten the magic of his touch, the power and beauty of his voice?