Page 80 of Veiled Yearning

It’s not an empty basement anymore. Three men are at the opposite end of the room, staring at us. Two are Custodians I don’t recognize, both scowling and glaring daggers. And the other is Nicolas.

I’ve never seen him in person, only in Gavril’s visions, and he’s shorter than I expected. Thinner. Less intimidating.

Then he smiles, and everything inside me goes cold.

It’s oily. Malevolent. Predatory.

His dark eyes are chips of black ice; cold and deadly.

As he stares at me, his lips draw back, baring his teeth in an obscene grin.

He barks out a sharp laugh and shakes his head in disbelief. “Chiara.” He almost purrs as he says my name, his voice slick and satisfied. “And here I thought I’d have to work to get you. But here you are. Giving yourself to me.”

Gavril is vibrating with tension beside me, and a low growl rumbles in his chest. His arm is a steel band around my waist. He snarls at Nicolas, “Never.”

Nicolas shifts his gaze to Gavril. “And you brought her here? I thought you were smarter than that, Gavril.” His eyes narrow. “I know who you are. One of those. Causing trouble for me all these years. I’ll take great pleasure in killing you while your precious Chiara watches.”

“It will not happen.” Gavril’s features are like stone. “The Sentinels have chased you long enough. Today is the end of it.”

“Hardly.” Nicolas laughs again. “Your little group is sadly unprepared.” He glances over at Fred and Cait and makes a small, dismissive gesture. To the Custodian to his right, he says, “Take them out first. And make sure it hurts.”

My instincts are screaming at me to do something rather than standing here passively waiting. But that’s not the plan.

Nicolas can’t know yet. Not until the right time.

Instead, I just watch as the Custodian summons a crackling orb of electricity in his hand.

At the same time, the other Custodian’s hand starts to glow a pale blue, with tiny ice crystals frosting the skin.

Nicolas is watching me with a speculative look, and at once, I realize he’s testing me. He knows I can imbue things, and has suspicions I can do more. But he’s not sure. This is all a test to see if I’ll interfere.

I wish I could. But as hard as it is, I do nothing.

Besides, we planned for this. And I’m confident my friends have this handled themselves.

As soon as the Custodian flings his lightning bolt at Frederick, the next things happen in a near blink.

Frederick and Cait form their invulnerability bubble, deflecting the blue-white energy away from them.

Roman and Grace use their mind control to force the Custodian with the icy hand to turn and attack his ally. Without hesitation, he leaps at the other and starts punching him, freezing skin and bone with every blow.

With the two Custodians distracted by their own fight, they don’t notice Frederick and Roman until it’s too late. Twin blades flash down, and moments later, both Custodians are dead.

All through it, Nicolas has been focused on me. He casts a quick glance at the two decapitated bodies, looking completely unbothered by them. In an amused tone, he says, “Well. That was something different. But they were disposable, anyway.”

Then he looks at Gavril again with interest. “Are you planning on doing anything? Attacking me?” He pauses, his lips twisting. “I suppose I could be convinced to let the other women go. Not Chiara, of course. But if Chiara comes to me willingly, I won’t kill the other women. I think that's more than generous.”

“That’s never going to happen.” Gavril meets his gaze evenly, and his voice holds absolute confidence. “None of it.”

Nicolas cocks his head. “Very well. It will be the other way, then. And it will be so much more fun for me.”

The light in the room dims.

Gavril tenses beside me.

And then everything really starts.

Roman flies across the room, crashing into the wall so hard, the stones crack where he hit.

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