Warrior (Relentless #4)(80)
“I thought Claire was going to be here.” Tristan had said he would have the female warrior greet Sara, to help put her at ease.
“Something came up, so Claire asked me to step in.”
Callum addressed Sara. “Claire said to tell you she would give you the grand tour tomorrow. Now, why don’t I show you to your room?”
My Mori growled.
“I’ll show her to her room,” I said brusquely.
I ignored the surprised looks Callum, Seamus, and Niall gave me. It was no secret I didn’t fraternize with orphans or trainees unless I had to. But I had no intention of explaining my actions to them or anyone else.
Sara looked from Callum to me. “Is everything okay?” she asked.
Chris moved to her other side and shot me a warning look. “Just a little misunderstanding,” he told her. He looked at Callum. “What room is she in?”
Callum looked like he was about to say something and thought better of it. “Third floor of the north wing. Last room on the left.”
I laid a hand on the small of Sara’s back. “Come with me. Chris and the others will bring your things.”
When she didn’t move away from my touch, my Mori calmed and the tension left my body. We entered the building, and I heard her soft intake of breath as she looked around. I supposed compared to her home, the main hallway might seem a bit grand with its marble floor and chandelier.
Most people were at dinner, so we didn’t encounter anyone as we ascended the stairs to her floor. I knew the trainees lived in this wing, but I’d never been up here until now.
At the end of the hallway, I opened the door and flicked on the light.
“Welcome to your new home,” I said as she entered the spacious room and looked around.
She walked to the window, and her expression told me she was more impressed by the mountain view than by her luxurious accommodations.
“It’s very nice,” she said quietly.
Chris entered the room, followed by the other warriors, all bearing boxes and suitcases. Seamus had to duck under the door frame with the three boxes he carried. He set the boxes in the small living room and observed the load they’d brought up.
“How much clothing does one wee lass need?”
Sara smiled. “Those are books, not clothes.”
“Like we don’t have enough books here.”
“These are my books.”
For a moment, I saw sadness in her eyes, but she shook it off. “Thank you for bringing up my things.”
Niall slapped his twin on the back of the head and gave her a playful bow. “Anytime, lass.”
The others left and I found myself alone with her. She looked around as if she wasn’t sure what to do next.
“Are you hungry?” I asked.
“A little.”
I knew she was lying. She hadn’t eaten on the flight and had to be starving. “They’re serving dinner now. Would you like to join me?”
Relief flashed in her eyes, and her smile sent warmth through me.
“Do I have time to change and clean up a bit?”
“Take all the time you need.” I walked to the door. “I could use a bit of cleaning up too. How about I come back for you in half an hour?”
“Okay.”
I closed the door behind me and headed for my apartment to shower and change. My chest felt light for the first time in weeks, and I looked forward to our first evening together at Westhorne.
I knew Sara was homesick and missing her uncle and friends. I’d do everything in my power to make her happy here and to help her transition to her new life.
Knowing Tristan, he had already made preparations for her Mohiri education, and I needed to let him know I intended to be involved in her training. I’d still do my job, but I planned to spend more time at Westhorne. Sara was my first priority now, and her happiness came above all else.
*
“Half Fae,” Tristan said for about the fourth time since he’d shown up at my door thirty minutes ago. I wondered if I’d worn that same shocked expression when Sara told me her story.
“Now you know why I didn’t want to tell you over the phone.”
He let out a long breath. “How is it possible for a demon to survive surrounded by Fae magic? From what you’ve told me about her healing the werewolf, her magic is already quite strong.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. She must use her Fae magic to keep the Mori under control without harming it. That’s how she’s been able to survive all these years, where anyone else would have gone insane. That’s also why she doesn’t feel our bond like she should.”
I’d had a lot of time to think about Sara’s Mori on the flight from Maine, and I believed once she learned not to fear her demon, she would open herself up to it.
“Incredible.”
I smiled. “Yes, she is.”
“I wish I could have been there to meet her today. How is she doing?”
“Good. We had dinner, and then Claire came by to show her around. Sara said she was going to call Nate when she got back to her room.”
The dining hall had been almost empty by the time we arrived, and we’d had a nice quiet meal. Chris had joined us, and though I would have preferred to have Sara to myself, I knew seeing his familiar face made her more comfortable.