Warrior (Relentless #4)(89)

“She’s almost through the worst of it,” Margot said in a hushed voice so she didn’t disturb Sara. “I’ve never seen anyone fight off a lamprey infection this quickly.”

“She’s a fighter,” I replied, relieved she was on the mend. I had a suspicion Sara’s Fae power might have something to do with her ability to fight a demon infection.

“I need to check on my other patient. Olivia isn’t healing as quickly as Sara. I’ll be back shortly.”

“I’ll stay with Sara, so you don’t need to rush.”

Margot looked surprised, but she merely nodded and left the room.

Tristan walked up to the bed. The two of us looked at Sara, who had stopped shivering and seemed to be sleeping peacefully.

“She’s tougher than either of us gives her credit for,” he said softly, his admiration evident. “She fought a lamprey demon with her bare hands after she was bitten by one of them.”

My head jerked toward him. “She killed it?”

He nodded and motioned for us to move to the other side of the room so we didn’t disturb her.

“She told me she used her Fae magic to destroy it, but she had no idea she could do that. All the others saw was an exploding demon. They have no idea what she did.” Tristan chuckled. “She’s something else. I thought to comfort her after her ordeal, and she told me Jordan was scarier than a dozen demon worms.”

“Jordan?”

“She’s one of the trainees and quite skilled with a sword. I’m glad she was there.”

I remembered the blonde trainee who made the others look like amateurs, and I was happy to hear Sara had made friends.

“I’ll leave her in your care and check in on her tomorrow. It’s good to have you back, Nikolas.”

“It’s good to be back.”

Tristan left and I settled into a chair beside the bed. Not long after, Sara began to toss and kick her covers off again. Her face grew flushed and hot to the touch, a sign of the fever burning through her.

I ran a cloth under cold water and used it to wipe her face and neck as she mumbled incoherently. I tended to her like that for an hour before she quieted again.

Margot came in to check on her, but I was already doing everything that could be done. I kept up my ministrations, and over the next few hours, I changed the blankets two more times before the fever subsided.

It was long past midnight when I sat near the bed again and laid my hand over Sara’s smaller one. She was no longer tossing, and her color looked better. Her hand clasped mine, and I laced our fingers together, smiling as she sighed and tugged our joined hands to her chest.

She murmured in her sleep, and my heart squeezed when she whispered my name. I adjusted her blankets with my free hand, letting my fingers linger against her cool cheek.

I’m here, Sara, and I promise I won’t leave you again.





Chapter 16





I left the medical ward at seven o’clock and searched out Tristan, who was already at work in his office.

“How’s she doing?” he asked when I sat in one of the visitor chairs.

“Still sleeping. Margot said she’ll have a headache when she wakes up. But other than that, she’ll be okay.”

He laid aside the papers he’d been studying and clasped his hands on the desk. “I assume the reason for this early visit is to tell me you’re back for good.”

“Yes.”

He nodded, clearly unsurprised by my statement.

“And I’m taking over her training.”

I expected an argument, but he smiled instead.

“Sara hasn’t responded to Callum’s training like I’d hoped. I think it’s because she fears her Mori. She knows you and she trusts you. Maybe working with you will help her get past whatever is holding her back.”

I thought back to the time Sara had given herself over to her demon to save the young trolls. That experience had terrified her, and she probably remembered it every time she tried to open herself up to her Mori. Someone with her level of control wasn’t going to let her guard down easily after that.

“I agree. I have some ideas for things we can try to help her.”

“Good.” Tristan leaned back in his chair. “Though I don’t think she will be too happy with her new trainer at first.”

I smiled, anticipating her reaction when she found out I was staying on and replacing Callum as her trainer. “I want to be the one to tell her.”

Tristan laughed. “Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. She’s still angry with you.”

“She’ll forgive me,” I said confidently, remembering the way she’d reached for me in her sleep.

“She will,” he agreed, “but she’ll make you earn it.”

“I have no doubt.”

He grew serious. “I still believe you leaving was the right thing to do, but I’m glad you’re back. Sara’s made some friends and she’s tried to find her place here, but she’s not happy. She misses her uncle and friends back home, and it’s clear she misses you, though she’ll never admit it. I think you’re exactly what she needs now.”

“Good, because I have no intention of leaving again.”

“I don’t think…” He paused, contemplating his next words.