Warrior (Relentless #4)(48)

“I think that’s the most backhanded compliment I’ve ever gotten,” I quipped. “And I will say that you are without a doubt the biggest pain in the butt I’ve ever met.”

“The biggest pain, really?”

She grinned at me, and I couldn’t resist saying, “Yes, but I do like a challenge.”

For a long moment, she stared into the flames, and when her eyes returned to mine, I saw uncertainty in them.

“I don’t want to fight with you anymore,” she said.

Apparently, tonight was full of surprises. “I’m glad to hear that.”

Her eyes widened a little as if she’d realized what she’d said. “I haven’t changed my mind or anything. I just don’t want us to be at each other’s throats all the time.”

“You want to be friends?” I asked, enjoying the adorable look on her face as she tried to explain herself.

She wrinkled her nose. “Let’s not get carried away. How about we agree to disagree and take it from there?”

“A truce then?”

“Yes – or a cease-fire,” she suggested.

She could call it whatever she wanted, because I knew we had taken a step forward tonight. I didn’t expect it to be all smooth sailing from here, but it was progress.

I extended my hand to her. “Okay. A cease-fire it is.”

She hesitated for a second before she put her hand in mine. The familiar bolt of recognition shot through me, and I wondered if she felt it too.

Her hand pulled away from mine, and I reluctantly let her go. Take it slow, I reminded myself when I saw her tuck her hand beneath her leg. The last thing I wanted was to make her nervous and undo what we had started to build.

She hid a yawn behind her other hand, and I noticed for the first time how tired she looked. I didn’t want to leave her, but staying would be selfish, especially when she needed sleep.

Standing, I smiled at her. “You look tired. Go to bed. I’ll let myself out.”

A gust of wind shook the building, and her eyes went to the window. “You can stay in here tonight – if you want to.”

I couldn’t hide my surprise. I knew her offer was completely innocent, but it warmed me anyway.

She blushed and averted her gaze as if she was afraid I’d see more into her invitation.

“You’re already here, and it makes no sense for you to be out in that weather when you could have the couch,” she blurted. “I’ll get you some blankets.”

I stayed where I was as she jumped up and ran from the room. A minute later, she came back carrying a quilt and a pillow, and she quietly handed them to me.

“Thank you,” I told her.

She nodded jerkily. “Um, okay, good night.”

She was out of the room before I could say anything else, her nervousness thick in the air. I was happy she had asked me to stay, but I didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable about it.

“Sara,” I called after her.

She stopped and looked back at me over her shoulder. “Yes?” she asked breathlessly.

“You’re still the biggest pain in the ass I’ve ever met.”

Her smile made my heart squeeze. God, she had no idea how captivating she was, or what she did to my insides when she looked at me like that. I heard a soft chuckle as she turned away and climbed the stairs to her room.

I stretched out on the couch and fell into the best sleep I’d had in weeks.





Chapter 9





“You’ve been talking to Tristan again.” Erik gave me what could pass for a smirk when I walked into the command center he’d set up in the basement of the safe house.

I sat on a chair and rubbed the back of my neck. “How can you tell?” I replied dryly.

He barked a laugh then turned back to his computer and began studying a map of downtown Portland. “You always look like you could use a stiff drink after his calls. Is he still talking about coming here?”

“Every day.”

I understood why Tristan wanted to be here. With each day that passed, he grew more worried about Sara’s safety and more impatient to meet his granddaughter. It was becoming increasingly difficult to convince him to stay away.

Sara was slowly coming to accept who and what she was, as well as our presence in her life. Though I hadn’t spoken to her since Wednesday night, she didn’t look upset anymore when she spotted Chris or me watching over her. Bringing someone new into the picture now, especially an overly emotional grandsire, might undo the progress we’d made with her.

“Better you than me.” Erik clicked a grid on the map, and it zoomed into a section of the waterfront. His brows drew together as his eyes moved over the area magnified on the screen.

I rolled my chair closer to his. “What are you looking for?”

He leaned back and tapped his chin pensively. “Trying to figure out where all the hostiles disappeared to.”

“Still no sign?”

A week ago, the city had been crawling with demons and vampires. The last four days, we’d been seeing fewer and fewer of them. I suspected the increased Mohiri and werewolf presence had driven many of them to safer territory. I didn’t delude myself that all the vampires had left. They were laying low, most likely hoping we’d move on when there was no longer a threat to the city.