Warrior (Relentless #4)(144)

I moved toward her, intending to ask if she wanted me to stay. The exhaustion I saw on her face stopped me. I touched her face and tucked her hair behind her ear. “Try to get some sleep.”

“I will,” she whispered as she opened the door.

As soon as the door closed behind her, I went to my place for a quick shower. Then I went looking for Tristan. But he was closeted in his office on an emergency conference call with the Council.

I found out from Claire that in addition to Kenneth and the two trainees – Olivia and Mark – we’d lost Phillip and Jay, who had been on duty at the gate. The three warriors were young, and I didn’t know them or Olivia and Mark, but their deaths came as a blow.

I decided to go out and help with the cleanup, but a faint wave of pain across the bond had me heading for Sara’s room instead. Outside her door, I heard her crying and felt her pain, and I didn’t hesitate.

She was on the couch, her face pressed against her knees and her shoulders shaking. I sat beside her, and she made a small wounded sound and threw herself into my arms.

“I can’t do this anymore,” she sobbed against my chest. “I can’t bear all these people getting hurt because of me.”

I should have known she’d blame herself for the attack. I never should have left her alone.

“None of this was your fault. No one expected the vampires to try something like this. If you have to blame anyone, blame me. I promised you and Nate that you would be safe here.”

“I can’t blame you,” she said between hiccups. “You all could have died tonight. I couldn’t bear it if…”

She started to cry again, and I held her closer.

“Nothing will happen to us. Now that we know the lengths this vampire will go to, we will step up security and put every resource we have into finding him. I will never let them take you. That is one promise I will take to my grave.”

A shudder went through her. “Don’t say that!”

I had no reply, not one she wanted to hear. The simple truth was that she was everything to me, and I’d willingly trade my life for hers.

I held her and rubbed her back as she quieted, and her body slowly relaxed against mine. Her hair was still a little damp from her shower, and her familiar sunshine scent surrounded me.

When she sighed softly, I said, “Feeling better?”

She nodded, and I unwillingly let her go.

“Would you…stay just a little longer?” she asked hoarsely.

My stomach fluttered. “I’ll be here as long as you need me.”

I moved us until I reclined against one end of the couch with her lying against me. Then I adjusted the quilt she’d been wearing until it covered us. Her head rested on my chest, and one of her legs was across mine as she snuggled against me. I closed my eyes as a sense of peace filled me and my Mori.

“Go to sleep, moy malen’kiy voin,” I said softly. “You’ve earned it.”

She huffed softly. “You’re always saying stuff in Russian. What did you just say?”

A small laugh escaped me. “It means ‘my little warrior.’”

“I’m not that little,” she murmured. “You’re my warrior too.”

I wrapped my arms more tightly around her. Yes, I am.

She was asleep within minutes, no surprise considering all she’d been through in the last few hours. I looked down at her delicate features, relaxed in sleep, and pictured her fighting alongside her friends tonight. As much as I wanted to protect her, I could already see her growing into the warrior she’d be someday. It filled me with pride and scared the hell out of me at the same time. I wasn’t prepared to see her in battle. Maybe after a year or two of intense training. Maybe.

Sara shivered and cried out softly. I rubbed her back and pressed my lips to her forehead.

“No more bad dreams,” I whispered. She’d had far too many of those lately.

She relaxed again, and I closed my eyes. I should be outside helping with the cleanup, but I couldn’t make myself leave her. I’d waited days to be alone with her again, and nothing short of another attack would force me out of her arms tonight.

I soon realized her couch was shorter than mine, and not the most comfortable bed for a six foot two warrior. Careful not to jostle Sara, I got up and carried her to the bed. I laid her on top of the covers and went to turn off the TV and grab her quilt. When I lay down beside her, she turned to sprawl across me before I had even covered us with the quilt.

Smiling, I pulled her close and joined her in sleep.





Chapter 27





“Hard to believe, isn’t it?”

I looked sideways at Chris, who had joined me on what had been a battlefield twelve hours ago. The snow was more red than white, and there were three blackened circles where piles of vampire and crocotta bodies had been burnt.

I’d gotten up at dawn to assist with the job of loading the burnt remains on a truck so they could be taken miles away and disposed of. We would not desecrate our home by burying the bodies in our woods. It had been violated enough just having them here last night.

“I never thought I’d see this day,” I admitted grimly. “It kills me to say it, but Westhorne is no longer safe, at least not for Sara. As long as she’s here, the Master will keep coming.”