Warrior

Chapter 14-1

Chapter 14

I heard a soft gasp from the back seat when we pulled into the hanger. Sara had been quiet during the drive from New Hastings, and Chris and I had left her to her thoughts. Now, she leaned forward to stare through the windshield at the jet waiting for us.

“You guys own a plane?” she asked incredulously.

Chris chuckled as he put the SUV in park. “I told you we would travel in style.”

She made a face. “I thought you meant we’d be flying first class.”

“We are. Every seat on the jet is first class.” He unbuckled his seat belt and reached for his door. “And look, no lines.”

She sank back against her seat. “Roland and Peter are not going to believe this.”

I smiled at the wonder that had replaced the unease in her voice. Getting out of the vehicle, I opened her door. “Come on, they’re waiting for us.”

She slid out and walked to the jet steps. At the bottom, she hesitated a moment, and then she grasped the handrail and entered the jet.

“This is amazing,” she breathed when I followed her inside. She sank down in the wide window seat in the first row and ran her hands over the soft leather arms. “I figured you guys had money, but this is unbelievable.”

“It’s your money too.” I turned back to the door. “I’m going to help them load your things, and then we’ll take off.”

“Okay,” she said quietly, and I could hear the nervousness she was trying to hide.

Five minutes later, everything was onboard, and Chris, Erik, and I climbed into the jet. Chris and Erik went to the back, and I let the pilot know we were ready for takeoff. Then I took the seat next to Sara.

“Can you tell me where we’re going now?” she asked.

“Idaho.”

“Idaho?” She frowned. “I don’t know much about Idaho except they grow potatoes.”

I laughed. “Westhorne is about an hour north of Boise, close to the mountains. We don’t grow potatoes, but we have lots of trees and rivers. The closest town is Butler Falls, which is five miles away.”

“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.

“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.”