Page 18 of Branded in Love
Natalya dashes to the counter and takes a silver chain, then slips two stones into it. When she comes back, she fastens the chain around my neck. “Black tourmaline and rose quartz, my dearest…” she mumbles. “You need them both.”
Half my face is still wet when I point my cloth at Gavriil. “You know, Natalya, I thinkhecould use some magic spraying too.”
Natalya’s face brightens, pleased. She turns to Gavriil, bottle in hand. Her lips part, ready to speak when he interrupts her with, “No, no…” A dismissive hand in the air. “Thanks. I’m good.”
She narrows her stormy eyes. “You’re too good of a warlock for my spells, is that it?” she scolds him, a hand cinched to her waist.
His face slackens.
I crack a smile. “Oh, so you’re a warlockanda vampire hunter?” I say, easing his restlessness. Given what I’ve been through in the last few days, him being a warlock is hardly disturbing.
Natalya stares at me, pleased. “I like her,” she says. Now she turns to him. “I really do.”
There’s a moment of silence between us. This is so uncomfortable. The only thing missing is the chirp of crickets.
Natalya moves to the counter once more. She pulls a drawer open and extracts a small crystal container. It reminds me of the flasks where mynonnakept her perfume. Natalya opens the flask and pours the spray’s liquid inside. When she closes it, I see the small pump pending from the cap. It’s exactly like one ofnonna’sperfume dispensers.
“Now, take this,” she tells me, handing me the bottle. “What vampires crave about you is your scent. Your blood’s scent, actually. It permeates everything about you. They won’t be able to track you as long as you wear this. With your scent covered, the vampires’ craving will diminish.” Her gaze cuts to Gavriil’s. “Everyone’scravings will be subdued.”
My brow tangles. I have no idea what she’s saying. All I know is that this perfume will keep the vampires’ fangs away from my neck, so that works for me.
“Thank you, Natalya…” Gavriil says, stepping outside.
She holds my arm and leads me to the courtyard. “Thank you,” I tell her.
“Now, Luciana...” She faces me in confidence. “Remember, this is only a layer of protection. These vampires already know who you are, and they can still track you. So please,” she holds my arms, “be careful.”
“I will,” I say.
Her lips stretch into a caring smile.“Bene, bene…”she says, and wraps me in a warm embrace. This time, I return her hug with the same affection.
“I’ll talk to you soon,” Gavriil says, opening the courtyard’s door.
“You better.” Natalya stands in the middle of the garden. “I’m your best cousin and you know it.”
Gavriil smirks, amused. “That you are,” he says, holding the door for me to pass.
When we’re in the hallway and the door closes, I feel lighter, happier, relieved even. I seize the opportunity to tease him. “So, you’re a warlock?” I grin.
He stares at me sidelong, narrowing his dark brown eyes. “Sometimes.” He shrugs and opens the café’s door.
My face contorts in bewilderment.Sometimes?What kind of answer is that?
14
LUCIANA
Idon’t know whether it’s Natalya’s spell or today’s outing with Gavriil, but by the time we return to the house, my mood has greatly improved. Not only am I relieved and less worried, but I’m genuinely happy as I cross the door and move through the hall.
Gavriil walks beside me. Out of the corner of my eye, I see him remove his coat and hang it in the vestibule’s closet. “We could dine out,” he suggests, “if you’d like.”
I turn to face him, and the most brilliant plan occurs to me. “No need,” I say. “I have something better in mind.”
“Oh?” His attention anchors on me fully.
“I’m fixing dinner for you,” I tell him, dropping my bag on a chair by the fireplace. “Hope you like Italian.” I tug away my jacket. The house is warm and cozy. Central heating. Delightful.
Gavriil bites his lower lip. “Sounds good…” he says, the words drift into silence. “But you don’t have to do this. I can…”
