Warrior (Relentless #4)(183)

Then they disappeared before my eyes.





Chapter 35





It took me a second to realize what he’d done, and fury replaced my surprise.

“Sara,” I yelled as I ran to the back lawn, hoping he’d taken her there, even though I couldn’t feel her nearby. When I found no sign of them, I cursed Eldeorin loudly.

Jordan came running from the house. “What happened? Where’s Sara?”

“Eldeorin took her,” I ground out.

She came up short. “Eldeorin? Where did he take her?”

“I don’t know,” I snapped.

Her eyes widened and she took a step back, her fearful expression dousing some of my anger.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to take it out on you.”

“No problem.” Her breath came out in a puff. “Just don’t do it again. I almost had to go change my pants.”

I smiled grimly at her attempt to lighten the mood.

“So he just showed up and took her? Did he say anything?”

“He said it was time for her to start training with him.”

“Oh.” She smiled. “Then that’s what they’re doing.”

I didn’t share her relief. Eldeorin had a whole estate to train Sara on. He had no reason to take her away from here. There was no telling where he’d taken her and what they were doing. Or when he’d see fit to bring her back. Faeries were unpredictable and thoughtless. He’d think nothing of keeping her away for days or weeks if it suited him.

“I know Eldeorin can be a bit much,” Jordan began hesitantly. “But he cares for Sara, and he’ll keep her safe. And if he tries anything, Sara won’t –”

“Not helping, Jordan.” I knew exactly how the faerie felt about Sara, and what he’d do, given the chance.

“Sorry,” she said sheepishly.

I walked around to the front of the house again, hoping they would appear. They didn’t, of course, and I began to pace the driveway in angry strides.

Chris arrived half an hour after Sara and Eldeorin had disappeared. He didn’t look surprised to see me looking ready to hit something.

“Jordan called me,” he said. “No word yet?”

“No,” I said through clenched teeth.

“Jordan wasn’t kidding. You are in a scary mood.”

I glared at him. “This isn’t funny.”

He raised an eyebrow, undaunted. “I can tell that by the fact that you’re out here wearing a trench in the driveway and Jordan’s hiding in the house. Not much makes that girl nervous.”

I stopped walking. “She’s hiding from me?”

Chris shrugged. “You can get a bit crazy when it comes to Sara. Based on what you look like now, I can only imagine what you were like right after Eldeorin took her.”

“I was furious,” I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck. “You would be too if a faerie took your mate away.”

“Whoa.” He put up his hands. “After seeing what you’ve been through the last four months, I’m never taking a mate.”

His vehement tone brought a reluctant smile to my lips. “You won’t say that when you bond with someone. All you’ll want is to make her your mate. And all you’ll think about is her safety and happiness.”

He grimaced. “Don’t get me wrong; I love my cousin. But if all women make their mates lose their minds like this, then thanks but no thanks.”

I started for the house. “I haven’t lost my mind, and Sara’s not like other women.”

“You can say that again.”

“All I’m saying is when it happens to you, you won’t care about any of that.”

He opened the door and entered the foyer ahead of me. “I’ll just have to make sure it doesn’t happen to me.”

“I’m sure there are a lot of mated males who said that once too.” I was one of them.

Jordan was waiting for us in the living room. “No sign of her yet?”

“No.” I paced the large room as she and Chris speculated about where Sara and Eldeorin could be.

“They could be anywhere,” I burst out, my anger returning with each passing minute.

“He won’t let anything happen to her,” Chris said.

I knew Eldeorin would keep her safe, but –

I sucked in a sharp breath as I felt her return. Then I was at the bottom of the stairs, looking up at her.

“Are you okay?” I asked as she walked down the stairs, looking the same as when she’d left.

Her smile melted my anger. “Better than okay.”

She stopped on the bottom step, and I framed her face with my hands, needing to touch her and reassure myself she was unharmed. Her face was slightly flushed, and her eyes seemed to glow with some inner light. She looked happy.

“Where did he take you?”

“We went to a place where there were no people around, and he helped me release my power,” she said with a hint of excitement in her voice. “He said I needed to let it out without worrying about hurting you guys.”

“Did it help?” I asked, releasing her.

“Yes. I almost feel like my old self again.” She reached up to place her hand on my chest, her touch soothing. “I’m sorry if you were worried,” she said softly.