Warrior (Relentless #4)(238)

My Mori reached out to its mate. Across our bond, Sara’s Mori answered.

Her hands began to stroke my face again, and her voice came to me as clear as if she’d spoken out loud.

I don’t know if I can bear this. I’m not as strong as you thought I was, Nikolas. I’m so lost without you.

The pain in her voice was too much to bear. I couldn’t move, but I had to let her know I was coming back to her. I imagined how it felt to hold her in my arms, and then I sent that warmth and love to her.

Oh, Nikolas.

Sara, I called.

Nikolas?

My chest tightened. She’d heard me.

I’m here, Sara.

Oh God, I am going crazy, she moaned.

Feel my face, Sara, I ordered softly.

Her warm hand pressed against my cheek. She sucked in a sharp breath and bent over me until I felt her warm breath on my face.

She jerked upright. “He’s alive!”

“No, Sara, he’s gone,” Tristan said in a voice rough with emotion.

Sara moved. I didn’t know what was happening, but Tristan yelled, “Jesus Christ, he’s breathing.”

“Get the healers,” Chris shouted to someone. “We need to move him inside.”

Someone lifted me and carried me indoors to lay me on what felt like a bed. I felt Sara beside me the entire time.

I’m here, Nikolas, she called.

Healers arrived, and I was poked and prodded. The only touch I needed was Sara’s, but I couldn’t tell them that.

After a few minutes, Sara screamed, “Just help him, goddammit!”

I’m not going anywhere, Sara, I said to calm her fears.

If you do, I’ll never forgive you.

A needle pricked my chest. Warmth spread quickly through me and my foot twitched.

“He’s suffered some trauma around his heart, but nothing that won’t heal,” said one of the healers. “He should wake up soon. He’s very strong.”

“Yes, he is,” Sara said.

Someone covered me with blankets, and Chris said, “You two are definitely meant for each other. I don’t know which one of you is more stubborn.”

“Him,” Sara replied. She sat beside me on the bed and took my hand.

A jumble of emotions poured through the bond, and I knew she was crying. I forced my hand to move and cover hers as I sent reassurance to her.

Shhh, don’t cry.

She sniffled. Then you better hurry up and get better, because I’m a bit of a basket case right now.

I tried to smile. I’d heal a lot faster if I could hold my mate.

She let out a small sob and lay down beside me with her head on my chest. Peace washed over me. The only thing that could make this better was being able to hold her.

“Is this real?” she whispered hoarsely. “Because if I’m dreaming, I never want to wake up.”

It’s real. I’m here, moy malen’kiy voin.

“How is this possible? I felt you die.”

There was so much to explain to her. You killed the vamhir demon. My Mori just needed time to recover. You brought me back.

She began to cry once more. “Please, don’t leave me again.”

I lifted my arm slowly and wrapped it around her. “Never,” I promised as I pulled her close.

She cried herself to sleep not long after, and I was happy to lie there and hold her as my strength returned.

Chris came in to check on us and to let me know we’d leave when I was recovered enough to travel. With so many warriors there and the Master dead, there was no fear of any vampires who might have escaped coming back.

Plus, Tristan had to make arrangements for his sister’s body. I didn’t need to ask what shape he was in. My happiness dimmed when I thought about the grief my friend must be feeling.

“Who killed her?” I asked Chris quietly, not wanting to wake Sara. “Please tell me Tristan didn’t have to do it.”

“You don’t know? Shit, of course you don’t.”

“Know what?”

He raked a hand through his hair and pulled a chair up to the bed. “It was Sara. When we got here, she and Elena were fighting. From the look of the place, Sara had already killed a bunch of them.”

He let out a puff of air. “We were stunned when we walked in and saw Elena. But Sara was so calm it was eerie. Elena took off, but she couldn’t outrun Sara.”

“Sara caught up to her?” I’d given her my strength and speed, but even I couldn’t run down a Master.

“Let’s just say Sara’s Fae side came out to play. I thought you in a rage was scary, but you have nothing on her.”

Sara whimpered in her sleep. I stroked her face, and she quieted.

I looked at Chris, who was smiling at us.

“You mated, didn’t you?”

I kissed the top of her head. “How did you know?”

“Only a mated female can get that pissed off. And my little cousin gives the word a whole new meaning.”

“Tell me.”

“Like I said, Elena ran, but Sara didn’t chase her. She transported like the faeries do, and Elena ran right into her.”

“You’re serious?” My mouth was hanging open, but I didn’t care.

He laughed. “I couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried. Sara and Elena were out on the lake behind this place. We went after them, but Sara put up a wall of ice around her and Elena. We tried to get inside, but we couldn’t even put a chip in it. It had to be full of Sara’s magic or Elena would have been able to punch through it.