Warrior (Relentless #4)(234)

“What?” Sara’s fear immediately turned to rage, and I had to hold her back when she tried to jump at Elena.

Elena ran her fingers through my hair, and I hid my revulsion, not wanting to set her off.

“I have been waiting for you for a long time, Nikolas. For months, my children have tried to bring you to me. I had to find Sara because of Azar’s pesky prediction. But you are my real prize.”

Sara grew rigid in my arms as the meaning of Elena’s words hit us. I sent her reassurance through the bond, but a bonded female could be as crazy as a male if her mate was threatened.

Elena continued as if she hadn’t noticed anything. “You are a magnificent warrior, and you will make an even more magnificent vampire and a fitting mate for me.”

“No!”

Sara leapt out of my arms and would have reached Elena if two vampires hadn’t grabbed her first. She twisted in their hold, her eyes blazing despite my attempts to calm her.

“You can’t have him,” she shouted.

Elena smiled indulgently. “Sara, what you don’t understand is that Nikolas and I were always destined to be together. He loved me, and we would have been mated if I hadn’t been taken from him. Isn’t that right, my love?”

I didn’t want to anger her, but I could never profess that kind of love for her. If something happened to Sara or me, my last words would not be a lie.

“I loved you, Elena, but as a sister. I grieved your death as a brother grieves his sibling.”

She shook her head. “That’s not true. We were perfect together. If we’d had more time together, the bond would have grown.”

I didn’t know what to say so I said nothing.

Her smile returned. “That’s all in the past. Today we’ll start over and create a new bond.”

Sara tried to lunge at her again. “Nikolas will never bond with you. He’s mine.”

Elena sneered at Sara. “Just because he is your protector, does not mean he belongs to you, you silly child.”

“He’s not my protector,” Sara growled. “He’s my mate.”

“No!” Elena stomped her foot. “You’re mine, Nikolas, not this half breed’s. When you become a vampire your Mori will die and the bond with her will be severed. Then we will be together forever.”

I shook my head in horror. Sever the bond with Sara? I’d rather die than lose her that way.

Elena stood over me. “My wedding gift to you will be her. You will be very thirsty after the change. Her blood will be our wedding drink.”

My stomach lurched. If she managed to do what she said, the vamhir demon would take over my body. I’d be trapped as it killed Sara, and the last thing she’d see was my face as it drained her. I’d spend the rest of my life in hell.

Sara, you need to get out of here. Use your power, I pleaded. I could get through what was to come if she was safe.

I can’t. They drugged me again.

“Take her out of my sight until the ceremony,” Elena ordered. “Everyone leave us. I wish to be alone with my groom.”

The two vampires dragged Sara away. She struggled against them and called my name.

Fight, Sara. Try to use your power. You’re stronger than they are.

Her screams rang in my ears after she was gone. I closed my eyes and prayed.

God, please give her the strength to survive this.





Chapter 46





Elena knelt and released my shackles. “I think I’d like our reunion to be somewhere a little more private. Wouldn’t you like that too, my love?”

Not waiting for an answer, she picked me up as if I weighed nothing and carried me from the room. At the end of the hallway, she opened the door to what had to be her private suite, based on its size, opulence, and the heavy shutters over the windows.

She laid me on the canopy bed, and I tested my strength, which was slowly returning. If I’d been taken alone, I’d wait until was I strong enough and try to fight my way out. Or at least cut the head off the snake. But I couldn’t risk Sara’s life. There had to be a way to get her out of here.

“Alone at last.” Elena knelt on the bed beside me and forced my arms above my head. Cold metal closed around my wrists as she secured me.

She sat back on her heels and ran a hand across my chest. “I love my children, but being a parent can be so unbearably tedious at times. I do what I can to amuse myself. I’ve lost count of the lovers I’ve had.”

She smiled. “Are you shocked to hear that? Even women have needs, Nikolas. I prefer the blood of human girls, and I like my males strong and virile. But not one of my lovers could ever compare to you.”

Her hand slid down to my stomach and trailed along the top of my jeans. I swallowed down my abhorrence of her touch. The longer she was distracted with me, the longer she’d leave Sara alone.

“I want you,” she murmured, kissing my jaw. “But as much as I enjoy a reluctant male, I want you willing when we consummate our bond. It’ll be so much more pleasurable for us both.”

“How can there be a bond without our Mori?” I asked as if I cared, when all I wanted to do was keep her occupied as long as possible.

She waved it off. “When two people are meant to be soul mates, the bond will always be there. You’ll see.”