Skyler was lying quietly, staring up at the ceiling, when he entered her room. His shadow reached her first. Someone with fewer powers of observation would never have noticed the tiny shiver that ran through her small body. “Do you fear me?” Gabriel asked softly, giving her the courtesy of staying out of her mind. He knew he would have to “read” her to be sure Lucian had not taken her blood, but he was determined to respect her privacy whenever possible.
Skyler’s fingers curled nervously in the sheet. “Not really.” Beneath the thin covering, the outline of the stuffed wolf was visible close to her side.
There was honesty in her voice but her tone was a mere thread of sound. “Do you know why I am here?”
She looked at him then, her large gray eyes soft and wide, long lashes throwing thick crescent shadows across her cheek. She looked beautiful to him. Skyler swallowed hard and brought up her hand to cover the scar running along the curve of her face. Very gently Gabriel caught her wrist, preventing her from covering the thin, jagged white line. Tenderly he turned her hand over, ran his thumb over the myriad of scars crisscrossing her forearm, wrist, and hand. “We are family, child, real family. There is no place for embarrassment. I am proud of you, proud of the way you defended yourself and kept yourself true to your own soul. Do not hide your badges of courage, Skyler, not from me and not from Francesca.”
Her large eyes moved over his face a little moodily. “I have always been alone, as far back as I can remember. Ever since my mother died, I have been alone. I’m not certain I know how to be with others.”
Gabriel had a breathtaking smile and he used it shamelessly. “Welcome to the family then, Skyler. I have been alone far too long and so has Francesca. We will learn together.” He stroked back her hair with gentle fingers. “We may be amateurs at it, but in the end we will be successful.”
The smallest ghost of a smile flickered across her face. “You think so?”
“I know it absolutely. I do not fail in my tasks, not even those abhorrent to me. This is the first time I am undertaking something for myself. Believe me, child, I will not fail.”
She studied him, more adult than child. “What tasks are abhorrent to you?”
His white teeth flashed at her, a small tribute to her insight, to her special gifts. “There are times I have no choice but to order the women in my family to do as I bid them,” he answered mischievously.
Her soft gray eyes lit up briefly, a small victory for him. “And that is abhorrent to you? I doubt it, Gabriel.” She felt very brave teasing him back.
He sat down so he wouldn’t tower over her. It was important to him that he didn’t intimidate her. Francesca’s influence had helped Skyler to accept him, to see him as someone good, not an enemy, but his position with her was tenuous. He made certain his movements were flowing and graceful so he would not startle her.
“If I take your hand as Francesca does, I can read your thoughts,” he explained softly, “much in the way you receive information about those around you. I do not want to frighten you with my touch, but it is necessary that I’read’ your memories of the other one who visits you so often.”
Her long lashes fluttered, veiled her large eyes. “Will I be able to read yours?” There was a hesitation in her voice, as if she feared angering him.
“Would you like to?”
“I usually can.” When he continued to look at her, Skyler twisted the sheet between her fingers. “I’ve always been able to read people if I touch them.” She glanced at him, a quick surreptitious look. “I don’t think it’s the same way you and Francesca read minds though. I just seem to know things. I can hear and feel her talking to me. I know she’s there with me.” Her fingers continued to pluck nervously at the sheet. “Just like the other one is there when I’m afraid.”