Embrace the Night

Page 79



He closed his eyes, his hands balling into fists, as her unhappiness washed over him. He never should have come here, he thought. Never should have seen her again. He hadn't meant to cause her pain, only to ease his own.

He could wipe it all from her mind. He had only to look into her eyes, to bend her will to his. He could make her forget that he existed… but to do so would be like ending his existence, he thought bleakly, because if he didn't exist for Sara, there was no point in going on.

And because he was basically a selfish man, because he'd been alone for too long, he turned around and took her hand in his.

"Sara?"

She looked up at him, and he cringed before the misery in her eyes. "Please, Gabriel," she murmured. "Please don't leave me. I need you so." "And I need you. Tell me, cara, if I stay, will you do as I ask without question?"
"Yes."

"Anything I say? Even if it makes no sense to you?"
A slight frown lined her brow. "I don't understand."

"It's quite simple. I'll stay, but only if you promise to do whatever I ask, without question, no matter how odd it might seem at the time."

"I promise."

"Then you must dismiss your maid from your employ."
"Babette?"

Gabriel nodded.

"Very well, but why?"

"Without question, cara, remember? Now," he said quietly, "put on your gown. It's late, and you need your rest."

"But…" Sara bit off the word. She would do whatever he asked, without question, just as she had promised. But not asking questions was far harder than she had anticipated.

"It's not too late to change your mind," Gabriel remarked.

Sara shook her head, and he turned away to don his own clothing. He heard the soft rustling of her gown as she slipped it on.

Only then did he turn to face her. "You're so young, Sara. I don't want to hurt you."