Embrace the Night

Page 73



He closed his eyes for a moment, her touch soothing him as nothing else could. "It doesn't matter. I was careless. It's not as bad as it looks."

"Does it hurt dreadfully?"

"Not now."

Sara drew him into her arms again as if she knew that her touch brought him solace. "How long will you be here?"

"I… I don't know." He had planned to see her dance, to assure himself that she was well and happy, and then leave. But now… how could he leave her now? Her very nearness was like a soothing balm to his troubled soul; her touch brought surcease from the pain of his wounds.

"Stay," she entreated. "Please stay."

"I don't want to complicate your life."

"How could you do that? You're my guardian angel, remember?" "I remember, cara." With an effort, he withdrew from her arms. "I must go now."
"You'll come tomorrow night?"

"If you wish."

"I do, very much. Will you meet me outside the opera house? We could go to dinner." "No. I shall come to you here. At midnight."

She rose with him, her eyes shining with happiness because she would see him again. "You won't change your mind?"

"No, but your maid, Babette, must not be here."

Sara nodded. She supposed it was natural that he wouldn't want anyone else to see him. "Won't you… will you… ?"

Gabriel frowned at her. "What is it you wish, cara? You have only to name it, and it's yours." "Won't you kiss me good night?"

He nodded slightly, intending to do no more than brush his lips across hers. As if suspecting as much, she stood on her tiptoes, her hands gently cupping his ravaged face as she pressed her mouth to his.

Light exploded through him, brighter than the glow of a thousand candles. It flowed through him, clean and pure, filling his mind with images of warm summer days and sun-kissed mornings bright with dew.

Stunned, he stumbled backward, and after murmuring a hasty farewell, he took his leave before she could see the blood-stained tears that dampened his cheeks, before he fell to his knees at her feet and