Warrior (Relentless #4)(196)

“No, but it’s fortunate they were all experienced warriors. The four of them took on nine vampires and killed seven. The last two got away.” According to the warriors, the vampires had seemed more interested in taking hostages than in killing them.

Desmund left me to walk over to Sara, who had set her weights on the floor. She was breathing heavily and a sheen of sweat covered her forehead. A glance at the clock told me she’d been at this for twenty-five minutes.

“You have thirty-five minutes left in this exercise,” he said firmly.

“I can’t last an hour,” she panted. “I can barely do half an hour.”

He waved a hand. “Nonsense. You are stronger than that. Continue.”

It surprised me when she conceded without further argument. Whatever else I could say about Desmund, he was a good trainer.

Instead of resuming our conversation, he and I watched Sara as she struggled to maintain the connection with her Mori.

At least ten minutes passed before she cried, “I can’t.” Her body shook from the effort, and her jaw was clenched when she gave me an imploring look.

“She must learn to do this,” Desmund said in a low voice before I could go to her.

“Am I late?” Eldeorin walked into the room. He looked at Desmund. “Sorry, I was detained.”

“Your timing is perfect,” Desmund told him.

“What are you doing here, Eldeorin?” Sara asked through gritted teeth.

The faerie smiled at her. “Desmund and I talked last night about your training, and he mentioned the difficulties you are having with your demon. We came up with something that will help motivate you.”

She looked at me, but I was as in the dark as she was. I just hoped they got on with whatever they were going to do. Seeing her in pain was hard enough. Not being able to go to her was torture, and I would not be able to stand back much longer.

“We are going to try something new, and Nikolas has agreed to take part in our little experiment,” Desmund said as he walked over to her. “You must stay joined with your Mori until the hour is up. If you don’t we will start over, but I don’t think that will happen.”

“Why?” she asked hoarsely.

In the next instant, Eldeorin was behind me with his hands gripping my shoulders. He was shielding me from the brunt of his power, but an unpleasant tingle spread out from where his hands touched me. It was like a low electrical current, enough to make me grunt in discomfort but not strong enough to cause any damage.

“Stop!” Sara yelled, starting toward us, her eyes wide with fear.

Desmund caught her from behind, holding her arms against her sides. My pulse jumped angrily at the sight of her being restrained, and my Mori growled.

“Your life could one day depend on you joining with your Mori,” Desmund said mercilessly. “What if it was one of your friends’ lives in danger? Or his? Could you do it then?”

Sara stopped struggling and glared at Eldeorin. Her eyes blazed so hot I wouldn’t have been surprised to see smoke rising from his body. “Let him go, or so help me…”

Desmund leaned down. “Imagine that is a vampire instead of the faerie. What will you do?”

Sara didn’t respond. Her gaze locked with mine, and I watched her body shake as rage replaced her fear and pain. Being joined with her Mori must be making her feel the bond more intensely. It was an emotion I recognized all too easily, and my heart swelled at the thought of her feeling that way for me.

Eldeorin shifted and sent a small jolt of power into me. I held back my grunt of pain, cursing him silently. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was enjoying this.

Something blurred in the middle of the room, and Desmund slammed backward into the far wall. Eldeorin’s hands were torn away from me as something hit him hard and sent him sprawling ten feet away. I blinked as the blur became Sara, her face a mask of fury as she stalked toward the faerie.

If there was one thing I knew from experience, it was how to calm a Mori rage. I reached for Sara and pulled her back against me, wrapping my arms firmly around her. She tried to break free, and I put my mouth to her ear. “It’s okay, Sara. Calm down.”

Her struggles ceased, and she stood quietly in my arms, her chest heaving and her breath coming in angry little pants. The tension in her body told me she was prepared to attack anyone who came near us.

Eldeorin gave her an appraising look as he leaned against the wall. “Fascinating. Sara, are you still joined with your demon?”

“Yes.”

“Interesting.” Desmund joined us. His hair was out of place, but he didn’t seem to notice as he studied Sara.

“I’m glad I could entertain you guys,” she bit out.

Eldeorin smiled, unfazed by her anger. “You are not strong enough to throw off a warrior or me with your demon strength. You used your Fae magic.”

She huffed. “So?”

“You used it while joined with your demon,” he added with a smug look.

“What?” She trembled, and I pulled her closer, my hands rubbing her arms.

“What does that mean?” I asked the faerie.

“I am not sure,” he replied with a thoughtful expression. “Sara has told me that her magic hurts her demon. Perhaps she and her demon have adapted. Or perhaps her Mori is safe from her power when they are joined.”