Bat out of Hell (7 page)

Ava
tried
to
do
as
he
said,
but
it
was
difficult.
The
place
felt
strange.
What
will
my
parents
and
guardian
say
when
they
realize
I
walked
away
from
school
during
the
lunch
hour
bored
as
usual
and
wanting
to
explore
the
lush
countryside.

They'll
say
it's
time
to
go
home,
since
my
studies
don't
seem
to
be
improving
my
strong-willed
nature.

She
twisted
her
hands
in
her
lap
as
the
man
came
back,
carrying
a
tray
laden
with
all
sorts
of
delicacies.
Her
mouth
watered
in
spite
of
her
trepidation.

“
Eat
your
fill,
young
lady.
My
master
shall
be
along
shortly.
”
He
smiled
and
poured
her
a
cup
of
tea
before
he
walked
out
on
silent
feet.

“
Thank
you,
”
she
called
belatedly.

The
biscuits
and
clotted
cream
were
heavenly,
and
she
sighed,
feeling
her
waistline
expand.
I'm
getting
chubby.

The
thought
brought
a
smile
to
her
lips,
but
there
was
more
fear
than
humor
in
the
notion.

The
door
opened
near
her
side,
and
she
saw
a
dark
shape
out
of
the
corner
of
her
eye
as
she
turned
her
head
to
look.

“
Hello,
miss.
I
am
Gabriel
Dunning.
Welcome
to
Winghaven.
”

Ava
started
at
the
name.
Winghaven?
The
man's
appearance
gave
her
further
pause,
and
she
sucked
in
her
stomach
as
she
looked
at
him.
His
hair
fell
in
ebony
waves
past
his
chin,
and
his
eyes
were
green.
No,
gold
or
maybe
blue.
They
changed
as
rays
of
sunlight
came
in
through
the
window,
or
when
he
smiled,
as
he
was
doing
at
the
moment.

“
Good
afternoon,
my
lord.
”
Ava
rose
and
curtsied.
The
man
wore
a
flowing
white
overshirt
and
black
breeches.

“
It's
a
pleasure
to
meet
you.
I'm
enchanted.
”
He
bowed
low
over
her
hand.
“
You
may
call
me
Gabriel.
No
title
required.
”
He
smiled,
and
Ava
noticed
sharp
teeth
at
either
side
of
his
mouth.

She
backed
away.

“
No
need
to
fear.
What
is
your
name,
my
lovely
creature?
”

“
Ava.
Ava
Allen.
”

“
A
fitting
name
for
a
woman
like
you.
”
Ava
saw
him
lick
his
lips,
but
his
tongue
darted
out
and
in
so
quickly,
she
wasn't
sure.

“
Thank
you.
I
wondered
…
I
think
I'm
lost.
”
She
twisted
her
fingers
behind
her
back,
feeling
unsettled
as
Gabriel's
eyes
changed
color
yet
again.
This
time
they
looked
as
brown
as
earth.

“
Ah,
yes.
It's
easy
to
get
lost
in
the
forest,
though
it
seems
it
doesn't
happen
as
much
as
it
once
did.
”
A
strange
look
passed
over
the
man's
face,
and
Ava
wondered
what
he
meant.

“
I
suppose
so.
I
need
to
get
back
now.
”

“
I'm
sure
there
is
no
rush.
Where
are
you
staying?
I
can
have
a
message
relayed
that
you'll
be
joining
me
for
dinner
after
losing
your
way
on
a
walk.
”

“
Oh,
no.
I'm
sure
—”

“
I
insist.
”

Ava
had
the
strange
sensation
of
being
sucked
into
Gabriel's
eyes.
She
lurched
in
her
chair,
breaking
eye
contact.

“
Very
well.
I'll
stay.
”

“
Good.
I
will
have
a
message
relayed
at
once
to
—
?
”

“
Mrs.
Verness.
She
is
my
guardian
while
I'm
here.
”

“
Ah,
you
are
a
student?
”

“
Yes,
for
my
last
year
of
schooling.
If
my
parents
let
me
stay
on
here.
”

“
I
see.
How
lovely.
”

“
Yes.
”

“
Well,
let
me
just
relay
your
message
to
my
footman
and
he
will
deliver
the
letter.
You
will
join
me
for
dinner,
and
afterward
I'll
accompany
you
home
myself
in
my
carriage.
”

Alarm
leapt
inside
Ava's
chest.
“
Oh,
no.
Mrs.
Verness
would
be
angry.
It's
not
proper--
”

“
I
assure
you,
she
will
be
agreeable
to
my
plans.
I
know
your
guardian,
after
all.
She
is
one
of
my
tenants.
Besides,
I've
never
kept
a
woman
here
against
her
will.
”
He
raised
his
eyebrows,
and
heat
rushed
through
her.