Warrior

Chapter 8-3

“It was a long time ago.” I regretted bringing it up. The last thing I wanted was to upset Sara, who had lost her father to a vampire.

“So does Madeline have any family left?” she asked, surprising me.

“She still has some living relatives; her sire, for one.”

Sara made a face. “Sire? That sounds so…impersonal.”

I sat back in my chair and smiled at her. She’d grown up as a human, so it would take some time for her to get accustomed to our ways.

“It’s just a title. Mohiri families are as close as human families, maybe more so since we do not grow old and die naturally.”

“So you and your parents all look the same age? Don’t you find that weird?”

“We don’t think of age the same way mortals do. Humans see it as a way to mark one’s passage through life. Physically, we don’t age once we reach maturity.”

Her brow furrowed, and I wished I knew what she was thinking. “So, my grand…Madeline’s father is still alive,” she said slowly. “Does he know about me?”

I thought about Tristan, who called every other day to ask about his granddaughter. “Yes, and he is looking forward to meeting you.”

I could sense her withdrawing. “He will wait until you’re ready to meet him,” I told her.

“A patient Mohiri, who would have thought it?” she replied dryly.

“A Mohiri has all the patience in the world when something is worth waiting for,” I said as she picked up our plates and carried them to the sink.

She started washing a plate. “I guess it helps that you guys are immortal, huh?”

I moved to stand beside her, and I couldn’t resist leaning in close. “So are you.”

She jumped. “Don’t do that!” she sputtered, and I chuckled at the blush that rose in her cheeks.

I took the plate she was washing and dried it, deliberately standing so close to her that our arms touched. Since the night I’d met Sara, my Mori and I had been in turmoil. Being near her helped, but it was never enough. Touching her, breathing in her scent, soothed my restless demon and me as nothing else could.

I was drying the last dish when I felt a shiver go through her, making me notice how chilly it was in the apartment. My Mori regulated my body temperature, but Sara’s demon was too young to do that yet. Without power, it was going to get cold in here. Somehow, I didn’t think she would be open to letting me warm her with my body heat, as pleasurable as that sounded.

“The temperature is going to drop a lot tonight,” I said as she reached for her flashlight. “Does that fireplace in the living room work?”

“Yes, it’s gas.”

Perfect. I headed for the living room. “Go put on something warm, and I’ll start the fire.”

“So what, we’re going to sit by the fire and roast marshmallows now?”

I smiled at the picture that presented. “You have anything better to do?” I called over my shoulder.

In no time, I had a good blaze going in the fireplace. Her retort about roasting marshmallows prompted me to check the kitchen cupboards, and I smirked when I found an unopened bag in the pantry. I grabbed the bag and two long metal skewers from a drawer, and went back to the living room. Tossing the bag on the coffee table, I sat on the floor near the fireplace and stared at the flames as I waited for her to return.

“Where did you find marshmallows?”

The delight in her voice warmed me as no fire could. “Top shelf in the pantry. Want one?” I asked, already preparing one for her.

“Yes!”

I held the marshmallow over the flames until it turned brown, and then I passed the skewer to her. “Here.”

She smiled her thanks and blew on the glob of melted confection while I roasted one for myself. We sat in companionable silence for several minutes, and I couldn’t remember the last time I had felt so relaxed and content.

When she finally spoke, her question wasn’t one I’d expected. “Have you always done this – hunting vampires? Do all Mohiri become warriors?”

“Most do, though we have some scholars and artisans,” I told her, pleased by her sudden interest. “Being a warrior is in our blood, what we are born to do. I have never wanted to do anything else.”

“What’s it like growing up there? Do you live in houses or on some kind of military base? Do you go to school or start training when you’re little?”

“We live in fortified compounds all over the world. The larger compounds look like private campuses, and the smaller ones are basically well-fortified estates. It is not safe for a Mohiri family to live outside a compound because they would be vulnerable to vampire attacks,” I said meaningfully. “Families live together, and the living quarters are large and comfortable. Children attend school until they are sixteen, and physical training begins when they reach puberty.”

She didn’t look convinced, and I wanted her to see that life with our people would be rich and fulfilling. “It’s a good life. There is a deep sense of belonging among the Mohiri, and everyone who comes to live with us is happier than they were living among humans.”

Sara grew silent and pensive, and I wondered what was going through her mind. When the phone in the kitchen rang suddenly, she rushed to answer it. Based on her side of the conversation, it was her uncle calling to check on her. I noticed she didn’t mention my presence when he expressed concern about the storm.

No sooner had she hung up from his call than the phone rang again. This time it was Roland, and based on her comments, he wasn’t happy she was alone with me.

She ended the call and came back to the living room. “Everyone’s checking up on me.”

“The werewolf cares for you,” I said, earning a glare from her.

“He’s my best friend, and he has a name, you know.”

I shrugged. “We don’t make a habit of being on a first name basis with weres, and I’m sure you know they feel the same about us. It’s just how it is.” It still amazed me how close she and the werewolves were, and how protective the pack was of her, even after discovering what she was.

Her chin lifted. “Well, I am Mohiri and I have loads of werewolf friends, so you’ll just have to get over it.”

Hearing her call herself Mohiri sent warmth radiating through me, and I didn’t realize I was smiling until she snapped, “What?”

“That’s the first time you’ve admitted what you are.”

“It doesn’t change anything,” she replied crossly. But her denial lacked the force it would have had a few weeks ago.

“It’s a start.” I smiled at her, and she looked like she was going to make a retort, but she fell silent. “What else would you like to know about the Mohiri?” I hoped her curiosity won out over her determination to have nothing to do with us.

She frowned like she was contemplating what question to ask. “Who is in charge of everything? Do you have a president or a king or something?”

“Not exactly.” I explained the Council and how they met every month to discuss important Mohiri business. When she asked if I wanted to join the Council someday, I couldn’t keep the scowl off my face. “Never. I have no time for bureaucracy and not enough patience to endure the long meetings. I am a warrior, and that is all I aspire to be.” Or it was.

“Didn’t you just say you guys have lots of patience?”

“When something is worth waiting for. I care very little for political matters.”

She gave me a knowing smile. “Something tells me that sentiment doesn’t make you popular with the folks in charge.”

“They are good at their job, and they know that I’m good at mine. We differ in opinion sometimes, but we all work to the same end.”

Her hands toyed with the pillow on her lap. “What do they think about you hanging around some town no one’s ever heard of, wasting time with an orphan instead of out doing your warrior business?”

Did she really believe her life meant so little to us? To me? “You think you’re a waste of our time?”

She shook her head. “I didn’t say I’m a waste of time, but there must be other orphans who need rescuing more than I do. And since I won’t change my mind about leaving, it doesn’t make sense to stick around.”

Being near her and keeping her safe were the only things that made sense in my life anymore, but I couldn’t tell her that. “There is an immediate threat here. We were tracking vampire activity in the area before we found you; it was what brought us to Portland that night.”

My answer seemed to satisfy her because she let it go. Then her brow furrowed slightly and she asked, “Where are you from? You have this faint accent I can’t place and sometimes I think you’re speaking another language.”

“I was born in Saint Petersburg, and I lived there for the first sixteen years of my life until my family moved to England and then America. My accent is usually noticeable now only when I’m aggravated.” Which was most of the time lately.

“And what’s Chris’s story? Is he your partner?”

“I normally work alone, but we sometimes work as a team. Christian and I have known each other for many years.” As soon as I said that, I realized it might have been true at one time, but no more. In fact, I couldn’t remember the last job I’d worked without Chris.

“Christian. It suits him better than Chris.”

My lip twitched. In truth, few people called Chris by his full name, and he preferred the shorter version. “I’m sure he’ll be pleased to hear that.”

Her eyes gleamed impishly. “Well, I aim to please.”

I made a noise between a laugh and a snort, liking this playful side of her.

Her teeth worried her lower lip. “Listen, I know you’d rather be off hunting monsters even if you guys feel like you need to be here. And I know you think I’m a pain sometimes, but –”

“Sometimes?” I gave her a pointed look.

She rolled her eyes. “What I’m trying to say is that even though you are way too bossy and you can be an arrogant ass sometimes, I guess you’re not all bad.”

Surprise and pleasure rolled through me. Her statement was hardly a declaration of affection, but it was a long way from the animosity she’d shown me a few weeks ago. She didn’t see me as a mate, but maybe she would accept me as a friend. I’d be whatever she needed until she was ready for more.

“I think that’s the most backhanded compliment I’ve ever gotten,” I quipped. “And I will say that you are without a doubt the biggest pain in the butt I’ve ever met.”

“The biggest pain, really?”

She grinned at me, and I couldn’t resist saying, “Yes, but I do like a challenge.”

For a long moment, she stared into the flames, and when her eyes returned to mine, I saw uncertainty in them.

“I don’t want to fight with you anymore,” she said.

Apparently, tonight was full of surprises. “I’m glad to hear that.”

Her eyes widened a little as if she’d realized what she’d said. “I haven’t changed my mind or anything. I just don’t want us to be at each other’s throats all the time.”

“You want to be friends?” I asked, enjoying the adorable look on her face as she tried to explain herself.

She wrinkled her nose. “Let’s not get carried away. How about we agree to disagree and take it from there?”

“A truce then?”

“Yes – or a cease-fire,” she suggested.

She could call it whatever she wanted, because I knew we had taken a step forward tonight. I didn’t expect it to be all smooth sailing from here, but it was progress.

I extended my hand to her. “Okay. A cease-fire it is.”

She hesitated for a second before she put her hand in mine. The familiar bolt of recognition shot through me, and I wondered if she felt it too.

Her hand pulled away from mine, and I reluctantly let her go. Take it slow, I reminded myself when I saw her tuck her hand beneath her leg. The last thing I wanted was to make her nervous and undo what we had started to build.

She hid a yawn behind her other hand, and I noticed for the first time how tired she looked. I didn’t want to leave her, but staying would be selfish, especially when she needed sleep.

Standing, I smiled at her. “You look tired. Go to bed. I’ll let myself out.”

A gust of wind shook the building, and her eyes went to the window. “You can stay in here tonight – if you want to.”

I couldn’t hide my surprise. I knew her offer was completely innocent, but it warmed me anyway.

She blushed and averted her gaze as if she was afraid I’d see more into her invitation.

“You’re already here, and it makes no sense for you to be out in that weather when you could have the couch,” she blurted. “I’ll get you some blankets.”

I stayed where I was as she jumped up and ran from the room. A minute later, she came back carrying a quilt and a pillow, and she quietly handed them to me.

“Thank you,” I told her.

She nodded jerkily. “Um, okay, good night.”

She was out of the room before I could say anything else, her nervousness thick in the air. I was happy she had asked me to stay, but I didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable about it.

“Sara,” I called after her.

She stopped and looked back at me over her shoulder. “Yes?” she asked breathlessly.

“You’re still the biggest pain in the ass I’ve ever met.”

Her smile made my heart squeeze. God, she had no idea how captivating she was, or what she did to my insides when she looked at me like that. I heard a soft chuckle as she turned away and climbed the stairs to her room.

I stretched out on the couch and fell into the best sleep I’d had in weeks.