Page 11 of Branded in Love
“You might not be a vampire hunter, but I bet you kill your fair share of vampires back in Saint Petersburg…” I mumble.
Gavriil slightly creases his brow. “We don’t have any.”
“Huh?”
“Listen… you might want to let your family know that you’ll take a few days off.”
“I don’t have one,” I tell him in all honesty. “All I had left was my grandfather, and he died a little over a year ago.”
“Oh… Maybe work then.” Again, he moves in the seat. He’s a rather large hunk for such a delicate chair. But I don’t think that’s what makes him uncomfortable. I think it’s me. But why? Well, I did hit him hard with my bag.
“You should let your boss know that… uh…”
“I’m the boss.” My lips stretch into an easy smile. “I’ll text my friend Marco and have him take over the shop for a few days.” Suddenly, staying with Gavriil doesn’t seem as daunting as it did when he came knocking. He’s shown me nothing but kindness ever since we met. And he’s a vampire killer. The closer I have him, the better.
It then dawns on me. He risked his own life to save mine. Gavriil didn’t even know me. I almost died back there. He’s about to stand when my hand seizes his. “I’m sorry,” I tell him wholeheartedly.
His hand stiffens beneath mine. Gavriil’s dark brown eyes slightly widen. His breathing halts.
“I should have thanked you,” I confess, stricken with worry. My gaze captures his. “I’m apologizing now for behaving like such a bitch back then.” I stare at our hands. Why am I holding him? “God… I even hit you.”
“No apologies needed,” he says, taking my hand to my lap. He does it with such delicacy it makes my wrist tingle all the way up to my arm.
“You should rest.” Breathless, Gavriil rises from the chair. He reaches the entrance in three long strides. “Let me or Sasha know if you need anything.” He stops at the doorway to look back. “I’ll see you at dinner.”
Dinner? Was I out of it that long?I look at the windows. They’re covered with blackout curtains. “Sure,” I tell him.
He nods and walks out of the room.
I take one long sip of tea. Its warmth fills me in an instant. Like a hug that sweeps away my fears and wraps me with cozy, loving feelings. It’s almost like… magic.
10
GAVRIIL
My heart is about to explode as I march downstairs. I don’t know how I’m going to be able to survive this, having Luciana so close. I seek refuge in my library. Books are the mind’s haven. Anyone who thinks differently makes me suspicious.
When I open the door, I see Sasha. He lounges on the couch by the hearth, staring at his cellphone with an inscrutable expression.
“What do we know so far?” I ask him while I move across the room.
Sasha straightens in the seat. His fierce blue eyes follow me until I sit behind the desk. “I made a bit of research about what that blood demon said.”
“Sangue d’Oro?”I raise my brow. “What did you learn?”
“Apparently, Gold Blood is an extremely rare blood type. Usually, it’s found within old families...” Sasha puts the phone away, focusing his attention on me. “Vampires crave it. It’s a most coveted experience, and you know how bored vampires can get.”
“Filthy demons...” I mutter, looking away.
“Anyway,” my Enforcer continues, “the woman has it, and—”
“Luciana,” I interrupt him.
He frowns. “Huh?”
“Her name is Luciana,” I add. My mind whirls, stuck in the moment when she grabbed my hand.Release me,I wanted to growl back then.We’re close enough as it is!She does not realize that her sole touch unleashes a storm of emotions inside me. As if being a warlock and a shifter weren’t enough, I am an Empath. It’s not something I can turn on and off at sheer will.
For an ordinary human, Luciana bears loads of energy. Her radiance is simply sublime.
