Warrior (Relentless #4)(57)

“There’s nothing we can do to stop the trolls if they rampage,” I said. “If we don’t hear from Sara’s friend soon, we need to get her out of here. The trolls will only go after people who’ve been in direct contact with their young. It sounds like they know Sara, but I won’t risk it.”

“She won’t go quietly.”

I watched her talking to the troll. “I know, but it’s too dangerous for her here. Someone sent a damn Hale witch after her, Chris. I have no idea how she got away from him.”

He followed my gaze to her. “You think she’s holding out on us?”

“I hope not, but then I never expected to meet a troll today either.”

Sara’s phone rang. She spoke to the caller for several minutes, and when she hung up, her eyes shone with excitement.

“I got the address of a place in Portland where they might be keeping Minka, Creah, and Sinah. They’re planning to fly them out tomorrow on a private jet.”

She jumped to her feet. “Come on, we have to go before it’s too late.”

I stepped away from the window. “Chris and I will go. I think we can handle whatever kind of security they have in place.”

“I’m coming, too,” she said. “I got them into this nightmare, and I’ll get them out.”

“Forget it. It’s not going to happen.”

There was no way I was taking Sara anywhere near that place after today. The thought of her facing another Hale witch, or something even worse, made my gut clench.

She crossed her arms defiantly. “Stop telling me what to do. I’m going whether you like it or not.”

“Like hell,” I shot back, letting my fear for her get the best of me. “I’ll tie your little ass to that chair over there if I have to.”

Her face flushed angrily. “You can kiss my –”

Chris grinned and put himself between us. “I don’t think this little debate is getting us anywhere. As entertaining as it promises to be.”

My eyes stayed on Sara. “There is no debate. She stays here.”

I expected her to yell at me. She tried a new argument instead.

“All right Mr. I-Know-Better-Than-Everyone-Else, what will you do when you find them? I bet they didn’t teach you in warrior school how to handle a bunch of frightened troll kids.”

Nice try. “Your troll friend will come with us.”

“And who will stay here with me while you guys are on your rescue mission?”

“The werewolves should be able to keep you safe here for a few hours.” Once I called Maxwell, this place would be crawling with pack.

“Really? And what happens if that witch finds us again?” she replied. “Wouldn’t I be safer with a bunch of warriors, two werewolves, and a troll?”

The troll came up behind her and gave me a solemn look. “Sara come. I keep her safe.”

My resolve wavered. The troll was better protection for her than all of Maxwell’s wolves together. He was clearly loyal to her, and the fierce promise in his eyes told me he would guard her with his life. I didn’t want to take her to Portland, but I didn’t want to leave her behind either. This way, I would keep her close by without driving myself insane worrying about her safety.

“You do not leave his side.”

“I won’t,” she promised happily.

I exhaled sharply. “Let’s go.”

Outside, Sara followed Roland and Peter to their car. She motioned for her troll friend to come with them, but he shook his head.

“Oh, I forgot.” She glanced at Roland. “Trolls don’t like cars.”

“How fast can he run?” Peter asked, eyeing the troll dubiously.

Sara and the troll smiled as if sharing a private joke. “Don’t worry. He can keep up.” She hugged the troll and got into the back of the car.

Chris walked to his bike. I moved toward mine, but changed my mind and tossed Chris my keys to grab my stuff. I wasn’t ready to let Sara out of my sight after what had happened earlier.

The three of them looked surprised when I opened the door and got in, but no one said anything. Sara looked around expectantly, and I said, “Chris will follow us.”

She nodded stiffly and turned away to look out the window, still upset with me for trying to make her stay.

A smile played around my mouth as I studied her profile. She drove me crazy, challenging me at every turn. She was also one of the few people who refused to back down from me. God must have had a good laugh when he decided to bond the two of us. One thing I could be sure of: life with Sara would never be boring.

We drove for a few minutes before Peter turned in his seat and gave Sara an expectant look.

She answered with a frown. “What?”

“Really? That’s all you have to say about the troll who was just sitting in your living room?”

She smiled and her expression softened. “I met Remy not long after I moved here to live with Nate, before I met you guys. I used to go exploring down by the old lumber mill, and one day he saw me and just decided to show himself to me. He was only a year older than me and pretty adventurous for a troll.”

Adventurous was a gross understatement. Trolls did not associate with many species, let alone befriend them. According to her story, her friend Remy had to have been no more than nine years old when they met. Knowing how protective trolls were over their young, I found it hard to believe the elders had let him out alone and then had permitted him and Sara to continue their friendship.