Carpathian 08 - Dark Legend

same way.
    Both of them wanted to bask in Francesca's healing light for all eternity.
    Francesca slipped her arm around Skyler's waist, a gesture so natural to her, Skyler didn't think to pull away. "We won't have to worry about going out in public until you're ready, honey. I just want you to feel comfortable and safe here at home. I think you'll like our new housekeepers."
    Skyler made a face and exchanged another quick look with Gabriel. He was making the same face. Francesca laughed at them. "I can see how it's going to be. You two are a couple of hermits. There will be no ganging up against Francesca, you two. Skyler, you like your bodyguard, don't you?"
    Skyler shrugged. "I try never to look at him."
    "Well, you should. He's quite nice-looking," Francesca replied.
    "That will be enough of that," Gabriel interrupted. "You do not need to find any man good-looking other than me."
    Francesca smiled very sweetly. "But then, I don't remember ever saying you were good-looking."
    Skyler found herself laughing. For one moment in time, she forgot. She forgot the scars on her body. She forgot the scars on her mind and soul. She was a young girl enjoying a moment of happiness with two people she was growing fond of. It was nearly impossible to believe she could trust them so quickly, but she did. "Are you going to let her get away with that?" she asked Gabriel, her eyes sparkling. "You are good-looking and she's noticed. I know she has."
    He shackled Francesca's wrist when she would have run, and dragged her close. "I am going to hypnotize her and plant all kinds of suggestions. You can help me, Skyler. I think she should revere me."
    "While you're making suggestions, you can tell her no one else needs to take care of me, I only want her," Skyler said softly, more than half serious.
    "No one else has authority over you, Skyler. These people are coming to help you during the hours I'm away," Francesca replied gently.
    "They are doing us a tremendous favor so that you will not be alone." Her voice was musical and seeped into Skyler's mind with a healing compulsion.
    Gabriel made a rude noise, drawing Skyler's attention to him. "I noticed she used the words 'no one else.' Did you catch that, Skyler? Is she excluding me? I think I'm the authority in this house."
    "You're not even good-looking," Skyler pointed out, laughing despite the seriousness of the situation.
    "Oh, so now you need to be hypnotized, too," he threatened. "I should have known you women would stick together. Just remember this when you find yourself barking like a dog in your room and wondering how you got there."
    "I'd be wondering why I was barking," Francesca contradicted. "The barking would be a bit much."
    "I don't know," Skyler mused. "If the housekeeper came in and found us all barking like dogs, she'd hightail it out of here and I'd be very happy."
    "You will give them a chance, won't you, Skyler?" Francesca asked gently.
    Skyler sighed softly. "I guess I don't have much choice. But I know I could stay by myself. I'm not a baby and I've spent most of my life alone."
    "You have a point," Gabriel acknowledged. "Please do not misunderstand, Skyler. Francesca and I want you to have a housekeeper because we want to ensure your comfort and safety, not because we don't trust you. We are wealthy, little one, and you may become a target because of that. Francesca would spend an inordinate amount of time worrying if we did not adequately protect you."
    Skyler's eyes were fixed on his face while she determined whether he was telling her the truth. Eventually she nodded. "I didn't think of that. I wouldn't want either of you to worry about me."
    Francesca's touch was soothing, as always. "Try it for a while, honey. If they don't work out, we'll find someone you like."
    Skyler made an attempt to ease the concern on Francesca's expressive face. "Aren't you worried about spoiling me just a little?"
    At once Francesca smiled, her dark eyes brilliant with laughter. "I hope that we do. It will be such fun."
    "You don't know the first thing about parenting, do you?" Skyler chastised. "I'm going to have to be the one to run things around here." .
    The doorbell cut off any further byplay between them, wiping the smile from Skyler's face. Francesca immediately circled the young woman's too-thin shoulders with a comforting arm. "They're here, aren't they?" Skyler whispered it, as if she were afraid to speak any louder. Francesca could feel her small body trembling.

    She