Warrior (Relentless #4)(112)

“Mary and her new friend talked for a long time, and the sylph told her this was her home now if she chose to stay. Mary looked around her and knew she might never feel as safe or as content as she did at that moment. She could have that forever if she gave up her life in the human world and stayed in Faerie.”

I should have been watching the griffin, but I couldn’t tear my eyes from Sara’s face as she described her time in Faerie. The joy in her eyes when she remembered the experience caused an ache to start up in my chest. In Faerie she had been safe and pampered, and she never had to worry about the dangers of this world. Was I selfish for wanting her here with me instead of in that beautiful, safe place?

Movement from above drew my attention, and I sucked in a sharp breath as the griffin stepped off the rafter and flew in a small circle before descending to land near Sara.

I raised my sword and took a step toward Sara before Chris grabbed my arm.

“Look at the griffin,” he whispered. “It’s not upset.”

He was right. The griffin stood quietly, watching Sara with interest. But there was nothing threatening in its stance.

Sara went on with her story as if there wasn’t a griffin standing a few feet away. I tried to listen, but all of my attention was on the creature. It looked calm now, but griffins were unpredictable. If it attacked, I’d only have a second to reach Sara.

The griffin let out a small squawk, and I realized Sara had stopped talking.

“I know it’s scary being away from home,” she said in a crooning voice. “I don’t know if you can understand me, but I promise you’re safe here with us until we find your family.”

It took all of my strength not to move when the griffin began to walk toward Sara. It stood over her for several long seconds before it lowered its head and rubbed its face against Sara’s. It was a gesture of affection shared only among griffins of the same flock. Then it turned away and marched into the cage across from where Sara sat.

Sara stood and walked over to quietly shut the cage door. Her face glowed when she turned and smiled at us.

Chris found his voice first. “I thought I’d seen it all when I met the troll, but this…”

“Sara, do you realize what just happened?” Sahir croaked.

She frowned and shook her head.

“She marked you with her scent. To her you are one of her flock now. I-I have never seen anything like it.”

Grinning, she started toward us. “So, I’m like an honorary griffin? Cool.”

She gave me a smug look. “See, piece of cake.”

I heard a scratching sound, and it took me several seconds to realize it was coming from the wyvern. My eyes flew back to Sara, and my gut wrenched sickly when I saw how close she was to its cage.

I dropped my sword and ran as flames spewed from between the bars of the cage. A second later, I reached her and spun her away. I wasn’t fast enough to prevent the flames from touching her, and I held her against me with one arm while I smothered the fire on her sleeve with my free hand. The smell of seared flesh filled my nose as Sara cried out in pain.

Blood pounded in my ears, and I fought to control the fear simmering below my skin. If I had been one second slower…

Sahir ran toward us. “Sara, are you okay?”

“Goddamnit, Sahir, I told you it wasn’t safe in here for her,” I roared at the warrior, who came up short. “That thing could have killed her.”

“It’s not his fault,” Sara rasped in a pain-filled voice. “I was careless. I got too close.”

“The hell it’s not,” I bit out. “He should never have allowed you in here.”

Chris moved toward us. “Nikolas.”

I looked at him and saw the warning in his eyes, the same one he’d given me when I almost lost it the night Sara was hurt by the crocotta.

Sanity returned and I loosened my hold on her, but I kept an arm around her waist. Touching her was the only thing calming my Mori right now.

Sara tried to pull away. “D-don’t blame Sahir for this. I’m old enough to make my own decisions.” She glared up at me. “Let me go.”

I ignored her demand. All I could think about was how close she had come to being engulfed in flames. “You can’t keep taking risks like this.”

“Would you just get the hell over yourself?” she yelled, pulling hard.

I released her so she didn’t injure herself further.

She whirled to face me, her eyes flashing with pain and fury. “You don’t get to say where I can go or how I spend my time. And I’m not some weakling you need to jump in and save all the time.”

I gave her a disbelieving look. I wasn’t trying to control her life. I just couldn’t stand to see her put herself in danger. Like just now.

“Okay, you just did and I’m grateful, but that doesn’t give you the right to yell at everyone or treat me like I’m useless. If that’s all you think of me, I wish you’d just stayed away.”

The hurt in her voice cooled my own anger. I took a step toward her.

“I didn’t say you were –”

“Just forget it.” She put up her good arm and let out a whimper of pain.

“We need to get you to the medical ward,” I said, taking another step toward her.

She turned away from me. “I don’t need your help. I can get there on my own.”