Warrior

Chapter 13-2

I checked the time on my phone as I walked toward Nate’s. He had invited me to dinner, but that was two hours away. He was doing a bit better lately, but he still looked like he wasn’t sure what to do with his life now. Maybe I’d drop by early and –

My Mori fluttered.

The air left my lungs, and I froze mid-stride. Not a minute had gone by since that day on the cliff that I hadn’t longed to feel that sensation again. But when the heart wants something so bad, the mind will play tricks on you.

I took another step.

Nothing.

Two more steps.

My Mori shifted and pressed forward. Solmi?

My heart began to race. In seconds, I stood outside Nate’s door, my hand on the knob. I opened the door and inhaled sharply as her essence surrounded me, filling the empty place inside me.

My Mori’s cry of joy was followed by a fierce surge of possessiveness as it sensed our mate. It was all I could do to stay in control as I walked down the hallway to the kitchen.

I stood in the doorway and stared at the girl sitting on a chair with her arms cradling her head on the table. Her long chestnut hair spilled across her arms, hiding her face, but I’d know her anywhere.

She stirred and lifted her head. “How did he take –?”

Her eyes met mine, and I forgot how to speak.

“Nikolas,” she whispered.

My chest constricted as a storm of emotions battered me. She’s home; she’s safe, I said half to myself and half to calm the demon straining to get to her. Holding on to my control by a thread, I spoke more sharply than I meant to.

“Where were you?”

She flinched and hugged herself. “Don’t look at me like that. It’s not like I stabbed myself and jumped off the damn cliff!”

Her pain hit me, and my Mori ceased its struggle. In the next heartbeat, I was on my knees in front of her, touching her face and drowning in her shimmering green eyes.

All these weeks, I’d thought of the things I’d say to her when I found her, but I forgot every one of them when she burst into tears. I gathered her to me and wrapped my arms around her shaking body. Burying my face in her hair, I breathed in her scent and felt my world right itself again.

Her sobs became quiet hiccups, and still I couldn’t let her go.

“Pozhaluysta, prosti menya,” I pleaded hoarsely. “I promised to keep you safe, and I didn’t. I’m sorry.”

“No.” She pulled away, and I forced myself to let her go. “If you hadn’t shown up when you did, Eli would have…”

“Don’t think about that.” She’d suffered enough at the hands of that bastard. I wasn’t going to let him torment her from the grave.

My shock over her sudden reappearance began to wear off, leaving one burning question. Where had she been all these weeks?

“We’ve been searching that area ever since you disappeared. Where were you?”

“Seelie,” she answered quietly.

My brows drew together. I could not have heard that right. “Come again?”

“Turns out I have friends there.” Her teary smile was like the sun, driving away the darkness that had hovered over this place since she’d disappeared. “It’s kind of complicated.”

“Why does that not surprise me?” Something told me I needed to sit for this one, so I grabbed the closest chair and pulled it over in front of hers.

“Well, let’s have it. I’m dying to know how a Mori demon ends up in a world where no demon would dare to tread.”

She smiled. “Well, it all started the day I met a sylph… Actually no, it started before that with my great-great-great-great-grandmother.”

I stared at her, and her mouth turned down.

“Look, I told you it was complicated.”

“I’m sorry.” I had no idea what she’d been through in the last three weeks, and the last thing I wanted to do was cause her more distress.

She chewed her lip. “I’m honestly not sure where to start. Just before I met you, a sylph came to visit me.”

My mouth fell open, and she nodded. “I know. Believe me, I was pretty surprised to see an elemental outside my house. She told me her name was Aine, but she never said what she wanted. We talked for a few minutes about my healing power, and then she left.”

Her eyes darkened. “I remember falling off the cliff and hitting the water, and then I woke up in a bed in a strange room with vines on the walls and a dirt floor. Aine came in and told me I was in Seelie. She said some selkies found me in the water and called for her help. Aine said only Fae magic could heal me, so they had to take me to Faerie. I-I guess I was in pretty bad shape.”

I knew the exact moment they had taken her. I’d never forget how it felt when she vanished in that cove.

Nate came into the kitchen as she spoke. He had the look of a man who had been given a miracle and was afraid to believe it was real. I knew exactly how he felt.

“Aine told me my great-great-great-great-grandmother, Sahine, was undine. Sahine chose to become mortal, and married a human. Only females can be undine, and all of her descendants were male and human – until me. That’s where my healing power comes from. I inherited it from Sahine.”

My mind spun, and it was all I could do to hide my shock. Sara was part Fae? She had Fae magic and a Mori demon inside her. How was that possible? I’d seen a demonstration of her magic when she’d healed Roland. A demon could never withstand that kind of power. Yet somehow hers had.

Things I’d puzzled over began to make sense. In particular, Sara’s unprecedented control of her Mori. She must use her power to keep the demon subdued without harming it. I wondered if she even knew she was doing it.

It also explained why she didn’t appear to feel our bond like she should. I didn’t know what this would mean for us. With proper training, she could become comfortable with her demon. Or she might never open herself up to her Mori.

“Aine didn’t want me to leave Seelie,” Sara said, jerking me from my thoughts. “She said demons won’t be happy to have a half Fae around.”

Nate paled in alarm. “You didn’t tell me that part. Does this mean you’re in more danger?”

“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.”

The line went silent for a moment. “Is she…?”

“She’s back, Tristan. She’s safe.”

“What?” His voice shook. “How…? You found her?”

“She came home on her own. I’ll explain it when I see you. It’s not something we can discuss over the phone.”

“Is she okay?”

I laughed gruffly. “She’s perfect, and I’m bringing her home.”

Tristan exhaled. “The plane will be there in a few hours. I’ll notify the Council that I’ll be a day or two late for the meetings. I wish I could cancel my trip,” he said regretfully.

We both knew he wouldn’t. The Council oversaw crucial Mohiri business, and they couldn’t put their job on hold because too much depended on them. The safety and prosperity of our people came above the personal lives of the Council members. It was a vow they took when they joined the Council.

“We’ll stay here tonight and leave tomorrow,” I told him. “Sara returned only an hour ago, and she’s dealing with a lot. She needs a night with Nate.”

“He’s welcome here as well.”

“I told them that, but he wants to stay in Maine. He’ll visit during the holidays.”

“I look forward to meeting him,” Tristan replied sincerely. It sounded like he was typing on his keyboard. The man was always busy. “I’m sending word to the pilot to change his flight plan. Do you have enough security there tonight?”

“I’m calling Erik’s team back from Boston as backup until we get on the plane. Chris is in Portland, so he can be here in an hour. I’m also going to ask Maxwell to provide protection. Two of her werewolf friends are already inside with her.”

“Are you sure it’s safe for her to stay in the apartment after what happened?”

I looked down at several blackened spots on the landing, a burnt offering from the last unwelcome person who tried to enter the apartment.

“The building is warded with troll magic, so it’s the safest location for her tonight.”

“Troll magic,” he repeated in wonder. “My granddaughter is an extraordinary person. I’m eager to get to know her.”

“Yes, she is.” My smile dimmed. “I need to tell you she’s still not ready to meet her Mohiri family. She needs a little time to adjust first.”

“I understand,” he said sadly. “I only want her to be happy.”

“We’ll make sure she is.”

He cleared his throat. “Does Sara know yet about the bond?”

I rubbed my jaw. “No. I’m going to wait until we get to Westhorne and give her some time to settle in first.” I needed to think of the best way to broach the delicate subject with her. She trusted me and I believed she cared for me, but was she ready to see me as more than a protector and a friend?

“That’s a wise idea,” Tristan said. “I know you’ll do what is best for her.”

“I will,” I replied roughly. I would do whatever it took to ensure her happiness.

“Well, I need to call the Council and inform them I’ll be late because my granddaughter is coming home,” he said, and I could tell he wore a wide smile. “I’ll see you and Sara tomorrow, my friend.”

“Tomorrow.”