Warrior (Relentless #4)(79)

“Wow, it sounds isolated,” she said dejectedly. “I guess you guys like your privacy.”

“We do, but you’ll find it’s not as isolated as it sounds. I think you’ll like it there.”

The jet pulled out of the hanger and taxied to a runway. Sara’s hands gripped the arms of her seat as she peered out the window. When we took off and the landing gear left the ground, her eyes closed tightly. I hid my amusement. Was the girl who had fought vampires and tamed hellhounds afraid of flying?

“Don’t like to fly?”

She made a face. “Ask me that in a few hours.”

“First time?”

“Yeah.”

“Relax and enjoy it.” She’d lived a sheltered life in New Hastings, and this was just one of so many firsts she would experience over her lifetime. I wanted to be there for them all.

She looked out the window and became quiet as she watched Portland grow smaller. She’d been quiet on the ride from New Hastings too. Her brave face couldn’t conceal her pain and turmoil from me as we’d driven away from everything she knew. I wished I could ease her hurt, but I knew she had to go through this, to accept what had to be done in order to move on to her new life.

The last twenty-four hours had been hard on her. She’d come home thinking she’d been gone two days, only to discover it had been three weeks and everyone she knew thought she was dead. Not just dead; they’d had a memorial service for her.

Before that information had time to sink in, she’d had to start packing her possessions for her move away from everyone she cared about. Roland and Peter had stayed to help. I’d given them and Nate space to spend their last night together, while I made arrangements for our travel.

My Mori and I were so happy to have her back that neither of us had minded sleeping on the couch while the boys stayed upstairs with Sara. I’d lain awake for hours, listening to their soft murmurs, and long after the apartment had grown quiet, I’d heard her tossing restlessly in her bed.

The pilot turned off the seat belt sign. I unbuckled mine and turned to Sara. “Would you like something to…?”

My voice trailed off at the sight of her closed eyes and slightly parted lips. Her face was paler than normal and shadows rested beneath her eyes.

My heart constricted. A day ago, I didn’t know if I’d ever see her again, and now here she was sleeping peacefully beside me.

She shivered and I fetched a blanket from a storage compartment to cover her. Unable to leave her, I grabbed a book from my bag and sat beside her to read. It was a futile effort because I could barely focus on the words with her so close.

When she shifted in her sleep and turned toward me to rest her head on my shoulder, I gave up all pretense of reading.

By the end of the flight, she was lying across the wide seat with her head on my lap, letting out an occasional soft snore that made me smile. I’d flown all over the world, but no flight had ever been as pleasurable as this one.

When the plane began to descend, I gently lifted her into a sitting position. Something told me she would be embarrassed if she awoke to find herself lying on me. She must have been exhausted, because she didn’t stir until the jet touched down in Boise.

The jet taxied into the hanger where a cargo van, a white Ford Expedition, and four warriors waited for us. We exited the plane, and I introduced Sara to Seamus, Niall, Ben, and Ambrose before they set to loading her things into the van. Then Ben, Ambrose, and Erik climbed into the van while the rest of us piled into the SUV.

Sara fell quiet again, sitting between Chris and me in the back. As we drove through Boise, Chris pointed out buildings and landmarks and kept up a light banter until she relaxed.

It was almost dark when we reached Butler Falls and took the turnoff for Westhorne. I watched Sara’s face when her new home came into view. Her eyes moved over the large stone building, which had lights shining from many of the windows, to the snowcapped mountains rising behind it. Tristan and I had chosen this location when we set out from Virginia to form a new stronghold over one hundred and fifty years ago, and we had worked side-by-side to help build the place that was now our home.

“What do you think?” I asked.

She gave me a small smile. “It’s prettier than I expected.”

Chris grinned. “What did you expect – barracks and barbed wire?”

“Close,” she admitted, and laughter filled the vehicle.

We pulled up to the front entrance of the main building, and I felt Sara tense beside me when the door opened. I expected to see Tristan even though he’d told me he would give Sara time to settle in before he introduced himself.

A dark-haired warrior appeared in the doorway and walked down the steps to the SUV. Callum had come to Westhorne a year ago, and I’d heard he was an excellent trainer. I spent so much time away that I didn’t know him all that well.

I exited the vehicle, and Sara climbed out to stand beside me. Callum nodded a greeting to me and looked at Sara.

“Sara, welcome to Westhorne,” he said in a Scottish brogue, extending his hand to her. “My name is Callum, and I’m here to help you get settled in and to answer any questions you have.”

Sara smiled and shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Mine, my Mori rumbled unhappily.

I took a step forward, half blocking her from Callum’s view.