Page 86 of Veiled Yearning

His brows pull into a little V. “You’re sad because you’re happy?”

“Not sad. Just… Sometimes I feel so happy, it’s overwhelming.”

Poor Gavril just looks at me with a puzzled expression. I suppose it doesn’t make much sense, the way I’m saying it. Then he says slowly, “Well. As long as you’re not upset…”

“I’m not. I promise.” I give him a soft kiss before continuing. “I’m happy, Gav. So happy.”

But I can’t really blame him for being worried. In the month since we defeated Nicolas, it hasn't always been happy or easy.

There have been many nights—though they’re gradually becoming less frequent—when I’d wake Gavril up screaming, convinced Nicolas had come back for me. And there were other nights when it was Gavril having nightmares; terrible dreams of me not waking up in the basement, and of him holding my cold and lifeless body in his arms.

On those nights, we hold each other tightly, and we spend hours talking about more pleasant things—trips we want to take together, plans for a new house, and how many pets are too many.

The first week after the battle wasn't the relief I’d hoped it would be. While we did return to Gavril’s home in Manchester, it was only for a brief visit—just a day later we were back on the road, doing our part to destroy the Veil quickly.

True to her word, Ivy questioned all the captive Custodians, using her ability to force them to tell the truth about what they knew of the Veil. Most of them didn’t know how the Veil was formed, or how it could be destroyed—unsurprising given Nicolas’s paranoia. But one Custodian knew, and that’s all we needed.

It’s kind of shocking, really, how simple it was. Anyone with the ability to manipulate heat or light can use it to break down the Veil. So I could do it, along with Nylah, Titus, and Jules and Alex with their shared ability.

Even though Gavril was worried about me traveling again so soon after the battle, we knew how important it was to eliminate the Veil. Even though Nicolas was gone, it didn’t mean one of his allies couldn’t try to escape into the Veil, just as he did so many years ago.

It was hurried and stressful, but after a week of scouring the Northeast, with Raine using her own ability to detect the Veil, we destroyed every last bit of it. It’s hard to believe. The shadowy realm that Nicolas used to enable his terrible acts is finally gone.

Does that mean I’m completely at ease? No.

There will always be a part of me that fears. A part of me that seeks solitude and security and shields. There’s a part of me that will always find comfort in my careful routines and get anxious when things aren’t in the right place. But Gavril doesn’t judge me for that. He accepts me, and does everything he can to help make me feel safe.

“Chiara.” Gavril kisses my furrowed brows, then draws back to look at me. His voice is gently scolding. “You’re worrying again.”

I quickly deny it. “I’m not.” A pause, and then, “Not worrying. Just thinking. About everything that happened. The Veil. Being safe.”

He sits up and the blanket puddles around his lap, exposing his muscular chest. Drawing me up against him, he embraces me. “You know you’re safe, right? That I won’t let anyone hurt you?”

“I know.” It comes out weak and uncertain, and I try again more firmly. “I know. Rationally, I know. But sometimes I get in my head, and the scary thoughts get… sticky. I don’t want them there, but it’s hard to get rid of them.”

“Ah, Chiara.” His jaw tightens, and his mouth presses into an unhappy line. “I’m sorry. I wish I could—”

“You do. All the time. It’s nothing you aren’t doing. It’s just in my head. But it’s getting better. Really.”

He gives me an assessing look, reading my expression to see if I’m being truthful. Then he says, “I want you to tell me anytime you’re feeling overwhelmed. Okay? And we’ll deal with it together.”

Oh. This love I feel for him. It’s more powerful than any ability. It’s the most powerful thing in the world. “Okay.”

“That reminds me.” Gavril reaches over to the nightstand and rummages around in the drawer. “I got something for you.”

My heart trips, skipping a beat. We haven’t talked about marriage, not with everything else going on, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about it. But I don’t think Gavril would just surprise me like that; he’ll want to make sure I’m okay with it before asking.

Almost shyly, Gavril places something small and smooth in my hand. “It’s for your collection,” he says. “I saw this one and it reminded me of you.”

I look down, and my heart melts into a puddle. It’s a tiny lion, intricately carved out of stone, so lifelike I can practically hear it roaring. “Gav. I love it.” As I smooth my thumb across the fine detailing, I ask, “But how does it remind you of me?”

His eyes flicker with emotion. “Because you’re brave. Strong. Loyal. Beautiful.”

“Oh.” My nose prickles. “I never saw myself that way. But when you say it…”

“It’s true, Chiara. You’re all of those things, and so much more.” He leans in to capture my lips, teasing them open and plunging deep. His tongue strokes and twines with mine, and his hand cups my nape as he takes the kiss deeper. I hum into his mouth, a tiny sound of pleasure, as my body starts waking up and demanding more.

But he pulls back and gazes at me seriously. “I love you, Chiara. So much, I can’t believe my body can contain all of it. And it just keeps building. Every day, I love you even more.”

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