Warrior (Relentless #4)(77)

“No,” I stated with firm conviction. “Because we will keep her safe this time.”

“So she’s safe here?”

I turned to face Nate. “I have not lied to you since we met, and I won’t start now. Until we track down Eli’s master, Sara is not safe anywhere except with the Mohiri.”

He frowned. “But what if –?”

“I know you don’t know much about us, but Sara has family among the Mohiri and they would never harm her. And you would be welcome there as well.”

Sara’s hand touched mine, sending warmth up my arm.

“Really?” she asked hopefully.

Nate shook his head, and her smile disappeared. “Thank you, that is very generous,” he told me regretfully. “But I can’t just pick up and leave. I have a new book coming out and a book tour to plan. And truthfully, I don’t think I would be comfortable living among people who all look like twenty-year-olds.”

“But you could be in danger if the vampires come back,” Sara argued fearfully.

“Everyone – including the vampires – thinks you are dead,” Nate replied. “If they were coming back, they would have done it by now.”

I nodded. “He’s right. As long as we get you out of here before anyone discovers the truth, Nate should be safe.”

“But I just got back.” Tears glittered in her eyes when she looked at him. “I don’t want to leave you.”

“I don’t want you to go, but I would feel better knowing you’re safe,” he said in a reassuring voice. “And it’s not like we can’t talk on the phone whenever you want. I’ll even come for Christmas if the Mohiri celebrate it.”

“We do, and Thanksgiving too,” I told them. Her eyes widened, and I smiled. “We are not as different as you think we are.”

I watched the play of emotions across her face before she averted her gaze. Even then, I could sense the struggle within her.

Standing, she walked to the window, and I noticed her thin yellow dress and bare feet for the first time. They made her seem smaller, almost fragile, though I knew she was stronger than she appeared. She was afraid to leave what she knew behind, but she would do it to protect the man she loved as a father.

She set her shoulders and spoke without looking away from the window. “I’ll go.”

I sighed inaudibly as relief washed over me. “You’re making the right decision.”

“I know.” Her voice barely rose above a whisper. “Why do the right things have to be so hard?”

Nate looked at me and gave a slight nod in her direction. I’d admitted weeks ago to caring for his niece, but the man was no fool. He could see there was more between us.

I walked over to stand beside her, just close enough for our arms to touch. “Do you trust me?”

She had to tilt her head to look up at me. “Yes.”

I laid my hand over her smaller one on the counter. “It’ll be different, but you’ll like it there once you get used to it.”

She loved being outdoors, and I couldn’t wait to see her reaction to the mountains and woods around Westhorne. After seeing her overflowing bookcases upstairs, I had a feeling she was also going to like the library Tristan had spent years building.

“You’ll be able to talk to Nate and your friends as much as you want, and they can visit you there. You already know Chris and me, and you have Mohiri family as well.”

Her hand tensed. “Madeline’s father? I don’t think I’m ready to…”

“Don’t worry. He understands, and he’ll give you all the time you need.”

It would hurt Tristan not to be able to be there for her when she arrived, but his granddaughter’s happiness was more important to him.

She was quiet for a moment. “You and Chris live there too?”

“Yes, when we’re not on a job.” For the last few years, I’d been on the road more than I was at Westhorne. Suddenly, the idea of spending more time at home was very appealing. I’d talk to Tristan about that when we got there.

Our eyes were drawn to the window when a familiar blue car screeched to a stop outside. Roland and Peter jumped out, and we could hear their feet pounding on the stairs.

Sara let out a sound that was between a laugh and a sob and ran to meet them in the hallway. I smiled as they burst through the front door and Roland swung her up into a rib-crushing hug.

My Mori growled at the sight of another male touching Sara, even though it had accepted Roland as her friend.

“I need to make a call. I’ll be right outside,” I told Sara as I moved toward the front door. I was reluctant to let her out of my sight so soon after getting her back, but I could see she was close to being overwhelmed by everything.

I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, allowing my guard to drop for the first time since I’d walked into the kitchen. I let out a shaky breath as I looked up at the cloudless sky.

Thank you.

My chest felt light when I took out my phone and dialed Tristan’s number. He was heading to the Council meeting in India today, and I hoped he hadn’t left already.

“Nikolas, you just caught me,” he said when he answered. “I was about to walk out the door.”

I didn’t beat around the bush. “I have news.”