Warrior (Relentless #4)(132)

“No stronghold has ever been breached, and we’ve added extra security since Sara came. This time yesterday I would have said she was absolutely safe here. Nate changed that.”

I sighed wearily. “I’ll talk to her about it in a few days. She can’t handle anything else now.”

“You’re right.” He let out a ragged breath. “She was so happy to see Nate, and then he stood up. God, the look on her face. It’ll haunt me forever.”

“That’s what they wanted, to cut her as deeply as possible. It’s going to take a long time for her to heal from this.”

It was hard enough for her, knowing that Nate and her friends would age and die, but for Nate to go this way. This never should have happened.

My hands clenched the arms of my chair. “I should have known those bastards would go after Nate to get to her. I promised Sara they’d both be safe, and I failed them both.”

Tristan shook his head. “We failed them. I was so happy my granddaughter was here I didn’t do my duty as a warrior. I should have left someone in Maine to watch over Nate until we caught the Master.”

“And now Sara and Nate are paying the price.” I rubbed my jaw, which was covered in a day-old beard. “I’ve never seen her like this, Tristan. I don’t know what to do.”

“Be there. That’s all you can do. The bond will help. She has a strong connection to you, and it will let her know she’s not alone.”

He clasped his hands. “Claire told me you sent for the werewolves.”

I frowned. “Is that a problem?”

“No. I’m glad you did it. Sara talks about them like they’re family, and she’ll need them, especially after Nate’s gone.”

“About that.” I leaned forward in my chair. “I want to give him a proper burial. I know that’s not how we dispose of vampires, but this is Nate.”

“I agree.” He wrote something on a notepad. “I’ll arrange for cremation, and we can have a celebration of life ceremony here.”

“She’ll appreciate that.”

Tristan finished writing and pushed his chair back. “I’m going to see Nate again. Do you want to come with me?”

“Yes.” The last thing I wanted to do was see Nate as a vampire and chained to a wall. But I owed it to him and to Sara to be there.

The cells and interrogation rooms were located in the lowest level of the main building, and they were specially constructed to contain even the strongest vampire. The stone walls and floor were two feet thick and reinforced with silver mesh. There were no windows, and the only door was warded by an ancient Druid spell.

Ben was standing guard when we got there, and he smiled grimly at us as he took a set of keys from his pocket and unlocked the door to the cells.

“What’s it been like down here?” I asked him.

“He’s screamed for blood a few times, but other than that he’s been quiet.”

We stepped into the hallway that housed the cells and closed the door behind us. We’d only taken a few steps when Nate’s voice came from the cell at the end.

“Tristan, back so soon? And who do I smell with you? Nikolas, maybe?”

“Hello, Nate.” I stepped up to the barred window and flipped the light switch to illuminate his cell.

Nate stood chained by his hands and feet to the back wall. He smiled and rattled one of his chains. “When you asked me to visit, I had no idea the accommodations here were so grand. I should have come a lot sooner.”

“I wish you had,” I said regretfully.

Seeing him like this doubled the weight lying on my chest. Nate had been a good man, a loving father to Sara, and he never should have come to this end.

“Well, I’m here now.” He licked one of his fangs. His eyes were the coal black of a new vampire, and they glittered with hatred.

“I was hoping Sara would come to visit me. Where is my dear little niece?”

“Busy.” If I had my way, she’d never see him like this.

He sighed dramatically. “And I was really looking forward to spending some quality time with her, talking about the good old days. Maybe she’d give me a taste of that fine faerie blood. I hear there is nothing like it.”

My jaw clenched, and I reached for the door handle.

“Don’t.” Tristan laid a hand on my shoulder. “He’s trying to provoke you.”

I dropped my hand and stared at the creature that used to be Nate Grey. It had his memories and his body, but it was nothing like the man. Prior to today, I’d never known anyone before they became a vampire. I’d never thought about the person they’d been, or how much of them was left after the demon took over their body. It was clear to me now that nothing of them remained.

“What happened to you?” I asked him.

He laughed coldly. “I should think that’s obvious.”

“Yes, but I bet you want to tell us all about it.” If there was one thing I knew about vampires, it was how arrogant they were. They loved to talk about themselves. And the younger the vampire, the cockier they were.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” he taunted. “I didn’t tell Tristan the ten times he asked me. Why would I tell you?”

I shrugged. “I figured you’d enjoy telling us how you became strong and whole again.”