Page 69 of Veiled Yearning

“What?” Paul swats her hand away. “I’m just asking. I’ve never seen Gavril with—”

“Paul.” Circe pins him with a glare. “You’re making this weird. And you’re embarrassing Chiara.”

Chiara’s cheeks are indeed pink, but she faces Paul and lifts her chin as she says, “Yes. It’s really him. And I’m not upset.” She pauses, and her lips curve into a smile. “I wouldn’t have imagined it either. When Gav first showed up at my cabin, I tried to kick him out.”

Darian jumps in, grinning. “That sounds about right. That’s how I feel every time I see Gavril.”

Titus catches my eye from across the room to give me a quick nod and an approving smile.

“Good on you, Chiara.” Xavier raises his half-filled glass toward her. “I never thought Gavril would find someone who could put up with him.” Eyes crinkling with laughter, he adds, “If you ever change your mind about old Gav, I’m single.”

“Enough.” I cast a sour look at Paul and Xavier. “Chiara and I are together.”

Frederick finally decides to get involved, announcing, “While I enjoy ribbing Gavril as much as anyone, there are other things we need to discuss.”

The atmosphere in the room sobers at once, smiles sliding into more serious expressions. Shoulders set, chins lift, and gazes narrow with purpose.

“Where are the others?” I ask. “David. Lucas. Knight. Sam. Larkin. They should be here as well.”

“They were practicing with some of the new weapons,” Titus answers. “Down in the basement.”

“New weapons?” Paul looks over at Titus with interest. “What new weapons?”

Titus exchanges a quick glance with me, and I answer Paul’s question. “Enhanced ones. Ones that Chiara and I made yesterday. The fire effect is more… intense than those we’ve used before.”

Intense is an understatement. Anything struck with the imbued blade will erupt into flames, rather than the burning sensation that occurred with the old ones. Chiara wasn’t thrilled to discover how violent they can be, but she understands why we need them.

“I hate it,” she whispered to me last night, while the other Sentinels enthused about the new knives and daggers. “Creating something so brutal. It makes me feel… evil.”

“Never,” I reassured her. “You are the farthest thing from that. We are creating these weapons to help our friends. Our allies. Other vampires who could be targeted by the Custodians. And that’s a very good thing, Chiara. Not bad.”

Paul looks impressed. “I definitely want to try out one of those.”

Tiny lines etch into Chiara’s forehead, and her lips press into a pale line. I pull her into my arms and murmur into her ear, “Remember, it’s helping the people we care about. Okay?”

Her arms snake around my waist. Softly, she says, “I know.”

Over her shoulder, I meet Frederick’s gaze. “We should gather the others. Meet in the living room in five?”

“Yes.” He turns to Cait. “Would you mind going down there to get them?” Her brows jump up in question, and he leans down to whisper something in her ear.

A moment later, she gives him a quick nod. She kisses him on the cheek and heads over to Chiara and I. Brightly, she asks, “Chiara. Will you come with me? I’m trying to find some new books to order, and I was hoping you might have some ideas.”

Chiara brightens. “I’d love to.”

As she heads off with Cait with a pleased smile on her face, my heart squeezes.

She never says anything about it, but I know Chiara longs for friends. She isolated herself for so long, she convinced herself it was better that way. As much as I want to be everything to her, there are things women can give her that I can’t. So if being friends with Cait or Jules or Grace makes Chiara happy, that’s what I want for her.

“You know.” As we all leave the kitchen, Frederick sidles up to me. In a low voice, he continues, “At Christmas, Cait said something, and I had a hard time believing it then.”

Slowing, I turn to him. “What was that?”

“She said you’d be the next to fall.” He stops in the hallway, waiting until everyone else passes us. “She wasn’t quite right; David met Raine first, but she just had a hunch you’d meet someone. And…”

I hold his gaze and tell my best friend the truth. “I love her. I never thought I could. Love someone like that.” Regret slams into me as memories rush back to the surface. “I’m sorry, Frederick.”

“Stop. You don’t need to keep apologizing.” Frederick’s expression softens. “Everything happened as it was meant to. And you’ve long been forgiven.”

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