Warrior (Relentless #4)(63)

Another growl.

She shifted, settling her hands in her lap. “I know I said that Remy was my first friend here, but you were always my best friend. The best times of my life have been with you and Peter. Remember when we used to have slumber parties, and Brendan let us camp out in the hayloft that one time? We told ghost stories until we were all too scared to sleep, and we ended up sneaking back into the house after everyone else went to bed. Or the time you nipped some of Brendan’s whiskey, and we got drunk for the first time. I never touched that stuff again.”

Someone chuckled softly, and I looked behind me at Brendan who smiled fondly at Sara.

She continued to speak in warm, gentle tones, remembering humorous stories from their childhood and all the mischief the two of them and Peter had gotten into. Every now and then, someone else would smile and nod, and I saw how rich and happy Sara’s childhood had been, despite all she had suffered.

“Roland?”

The wolf’s yellow eyes were fixed on Sara. He whined, making me realize how quiet he had become. He no longer growled or struggled to break free. He was as enraptured by her voice as the rest of us.

“You were pretty shocked to learn about Remy, weren’t you? But he’s not my only secret. Remember the other day after the marina when I said there were things I had to tell you about me? Do you want to know what it is – what I can do?”

Secret? Marina? What was she talking about? What else could she possibly be hiding?

She got to her knees and moved toward the wolf.

In a second, I had her by the arm. “What are you doing? That’s an injured werewolf. He’ll rip you apart.”

Her eyes never left the wolf. “No, he won’t. You always ask me to trust you. Now it’s time for you to trust me.”

Every part of me screamed to hold on to her, to keep her safe. But her plea and the quiet confidence in her voice loosened my fingers until she pulled from my grip. I held my breath as she crawled toward the wolf, stopping just short of the mattress.

“I know it hurts a lot, but I’m going to make the pain go away now. You know I would never hurt you, don’t you?”

My whole body tensed as she reached out to touch one of the wolf’s paws.

“There you are,” she crooned. “You had me worried there.”

The wolf lifted his head and made a mournful sound before he collapsed back onto the mattress. Whatever Sara had done, the fight had gone out of him.

“Shhh,” she said softly as she laid one hand over the wound on his chest.

I held my breath, waiting to see what she would do.

After a long moment, she placed her other hand on his chest. The wolf watched her trustingly, and I wished I could see her face. What was she doing?

Her hands began to glow.

What the –? I stared, transfixed, as the white glow from her hands grew brighter. Whispers broke out behind me, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the sight before me if my life depended on it.

“I think this is going to require a bit more contact,” she said. She began to lower herself to the mattress.

I took a step forward.

A hand on my shoulder stopped me, and Brendan whispered, “Wait.”

I clenched my jaw as I watched Sara lie beside the wolf and slip her arms around his body. Her back was to us, and she looked so small pressed up against the large werewolf. My heart thudded in my chest when he wrapped his hairy arms around her. His jaws were too close to her bare throat. One bite could snap her neck.

Sara began to glow again, and this time it wasn’t just her hands. Her arms and torso emitted the same white light that grew until it nearly blinded me.

Minutes passed, and Sara and the werewolf stayed in their tight embrace, bathed in light. People whispered, some sent up prayers. All I could do was watch the miracle I knew was taking place before my eyes.

At last, the light faded, leaving Sara sagging against the wolf.

“Now you know my secret,” she said.

No one moved or spoke.

The bloody paw resting on Sara’s shoulder flexed, showing one-inch black claws. I tensed and called on my Mori speed so I could reach her if the wolf attacked.

The wolf let out a low whine. Seconds later, the paw became a human hand.

Shouts broke out behind me, and Brendan blessed himself. “Holy Mary, Mother of God!”

I went to Sara and lifted her into my arms. I stepped back as Judith rushed over to lay a blanket over Roland, whose naked chest bore not even the trace of a scar.

“Mom?” he said sluggishly before he closed his eyes and slept.

Judith’s shoulders shook as she tenderly brushed damp hair away from her son’s face.

“Is Sara okay?” Maxwell asked from the doorway.

I gazed down at the closed eyes of the girl in my arms. Was it normal for her to be like this after she did…whatever that was?

She mumbled incoherently and curled into me. The emotions that welled in my chest were indescribable.

“I think she’s just exhausted. Hopefully, all she needs is some sleep.”

Brendan nodded. “She’s earned it, poor thing. I had no idea you Mohiri could do that.”

“We can’t.”

My words hung in the air between us. Brendan’s eyes widened, and Maxwell stroked his beard thoughtfully. Behind them, people pressed as close as they dared to see what was going on in the room.