Warrior (Relentless #4)(73)

Tristan’s voice was choked with emotion when he spoke again. “Could one of the vampires have taken her? Or more of al-Hawwash’s men?”

“We killed every vampire on the cliff.” I couldn’t bring myself to think we might have missed one. “One of Haism’s men is unaccounted for, a German male named Gerhard. He left Sara’s uncle at the apartment, but he never met up with Haism. Erik’s working with Dax to track him down. We need to put people on Yusri al-Hawwash to monitor his communications and activity. If he has Sara, I don’t think he will harm her. Without the troll bile, he’ll be desperate for a cure and he might think she can help him.”

“I’ll oversee it myself. The sheik and I have some mutual acquaintances,” he replied, sounding like himself again. “I’m sending everyone we can spare to help with the search. What else do you need?”

I needed to hold Sara in my arms and never let her go again. To tell her I was sorry and to beg her for forgiveness.

“Nikolas, are you still there?”

“I’m sorry. Lost in thought.” As I watched several boats head out of the harbor, I wondered if they were going to join in the search. Or the recovery effort as I knew they were calling it now.

He exhaled noisily. “How are you so sure she survived the fall from the cliff?”

“Because I know Sara. She’s strong and resilient, and if anyone is a survivor, it’s her. And…”

“And what? If you know something, please tell me.”

I rubbed my jaw, which was covered in two days of beard. God, this wasn’t something I wanted to tell Tristan over the phone. It wasn’t something I wanted to discuss with him at all, but he had a right to know.

“I know Sara is still alive because I can feel it.”

“Feel it?” he repeated slowly. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying Sara is my mate.”

“What?” He made a few sounds of disbelief. “Mate? Are you sure?”

“Were you sure when you met Josephine?” I asked.

“Jesus! I need to sit down.” I heard him sink into his desk chair. “How long have you known? Is that why she finally agreed to come here?”

I took a deep breath of the salty air. “I’ve known since the night we met. Sara doesn’t know about it yet. She was so set against having anything to do with us in the beginning. I wanted to let her get to know me and trust me before I laid something like this on her.”

“That’s good,” he said, sounding like he was still in shock. “But how is it that she doesn’t know? She should feel the bond by now, if it was there.”

“It’s there. Trust me.” I understood his surprise, but I wouldn’t allow anyone to question my bond with Sara. “I told you her control of her Mori is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I think she can’t feel the bond like other females because she is suppressing her demon. But her Mori does recognize mine, and I think on some level Sara feels it too.”

There was silence for a long moment. “I’m sorry. Nikolas. I’m not questioning your integrity. A month ago, I didn’t know I had a granddaughter, and now I find out she is bonded to you of all people.”

I started to speak, and he said, “I mean, you have never made a secret of your desire to remain single. Now after all these years you bond to an orphan, to my granddaughter. Do you…plan to break the bond?”

“No,” I said tightly. “Only Sara can break it.”

He let out a long breath. “I know I’m handling this all wrong. I can think of no one who would make a finer mate for my granddaughter.”

“Thank you.” I stared down at the rippling water. “I know she’s alive, Tristan. Wherever she is, I will find her.”

He sighed wearily. “I know you will. Now please, bring my granddaughter home.”





Chapter 13





“Nikolas, come in.”

I entered the apartment and closed the door behind me. Following Nate into the kitchen, I sat at the table as he rolled his chair to the spot across from me. I couldn’t help but notice his pale skin and the dark shadows under his eyes. He’d lost weight as well. Neither of us was eating or sleeping well these days, but he didn’t have a demon to bolster his strength.

I gave him a hard stare. “When was the last time you ate? Or slept?”

“I ate” – he looked at the wall clock in the kitchen – “five hours ago.” He avoided my question about sleep like he always did.

“Nate, you have to take better care of yourself. What will Sara say when she comes home and sees you like this?”

His green eyes, so much like hers, took on a haunted look. “Nikolas, it’s been two weeks.”

“I know.”

If he asked, I could tell him exactly how many days and hours it had been. I’d spent them searching every stretch of woods and road, every cave and cove for fifty miles. I had driven every street in Portland, praying I’d feel her presence. Our people had used every resource at our disposal, trying to find even a trace of her. It was as if Sara had vanished into thin air.

In the beginning, everyone had joined in the search, despite the tension between the wolves and the dozen or so warriors camping out in town. The pack was upset so many vampires had walked into their territory and attacked someone under their protection. Maxwell had been incensed that the two wolves he’d sent to guard Sara that day had shirked their responsibility, thinking it wasn’t their job to protect a Mohiri. Maxwell had assured me their punishment was severe. Cold comfort.