Page 24 of Veiled Yearning

“You hoped?”

“The man…” My throat gets tight. “He was very bad. And I… I had to do it. But it was terrible.”

A black gate looms up ahead, and Gavril pulls to a stop in front of it. He opens the window and types in a complicated code on the keypad just ahead of the gate, and after a moment, the doors swing open. Once we pull through, and the doors shut behind us, Gavril glances over at me. “How was it terrible?”

As we head down a long driveway lined with tall pines on both sides, I tell him the rest. “It’s hard to draw energy from a person. It’s exhausting. And it feels… bad. Like I’m doing something I shouldn’t. I hate it.”

“Chiara…”

“I did it that one time, and I know I had to. It was the only way. But I never wanted to do it again.” Tears prickle behind my eyes. “I hate myself when I do it. I feel evil.”

“Ah, Chiara. I’m sorry.”

I stare out the windshield, blinking back tears and gritting my teeth.

Then we emerge from the trees and Gavril’s house appears up ahead. It’s large, brick with white accents, surrounded by an expanse of fresh snow. The house—not a house, really more like a mansion—reminds me of Gavril. Solid. Strong. Uncomplicated from afar, but complex once you take a closer look.

Gavril takes us around the curved part of the driveway, where it sweeps around to deliver us right at the front door. Once he stops the car, he puts it in park and turns to face me. His hand is still wrapped around mine, and I’m not sure if I can make myself let go of it.

“You’re not evil, Chiara.” His eyes are dark and intense, his expression so certain, it’s hard not to believe him. “You are not. You are brave, generous, and kind. The absolute last thing you are is evil. I promise.”

Emotion swells up so fast, I’m breathless with it.

Gavril scans my face, then gives my hand a comforting squeeze. “Let’s get inside. Make some talismans, then how about that shower? And a fire? I have some wine if it helps to relax. Or a nap? A movie?”

Oh. Amid the darkness, a spark kindles inside me.

“Yes.” My smile is wobbly, but genuine. “I’d like to do all of it.”

9

An Imposter?

GAVRIL

My admiration for Chiara grows the longer I’m with her.

First, allowing me to even stay at her house after I upset her so badly. And putting her emotions aside when she agreed to come with me—even when it was clear she didn’t want to—because she believed it was the right thing to do.

Then the fight with the Custodians. Chiara had to have been terrified, probably dealing with flashbacks from her last abduction, but she still managed to use her incredible ability to save us.

If she hadn’t, I don’t honestly know if I could have taken the rest of the Custodians down on my own. I’d like to think I could, but I don’t know. It would have been close. And I feel so damn guilty about it.

Chiara shouldn’t have been in that situation to begin with. I should have planned better. I should have asked about shielding the car.

“It’s not your fault.” That’s what Frederick said when I called him back to report we’d made it safely to my house.

Chiara was in the shower, so she didn’t hear me as I asked Frederick, “Whose fault is it, then? I should have protected her better.”

“You were both shielded. There were no signs. Nothing suspicious.” He was calm, unflappable; the opposite of how I’ve been feeling since it happened. “We never considered shielding a car before. That’s on all of us. Not just you.”

“That doesn’t make me feel any better,” I snapped. “I promised Chiara if she came, I’d keep her safe. And not hours from her house, look what happens.”

“Now we know,” Frederick reasoned. “It won’t happen again.”

It had better not. I can’t let Chiara down again. Especially seeing how damn hard she’s been trying to stay strong. Like pulling herself together in the car when it was clear she was seconds from breaking down.

How could I not offer some kind of support, even if it was only holding her hand? An impulsive move; I surprised myself by doing it. But it didn’t feel strange or awkward. It actually… felt right.

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