by Karen Lynch
“You’re late,” I said lightly.
“Yes, it’s been a bit crazy here today.”
The strain in his voice instantly put me on alert. “What happened? Is it Sara?”
“She’s okay,” he rushed to assure me. “There was an incident in Boise today with her and three of the other trainees.”
“What the hell was she doing in Boise?”
“She needed a day out, so I sent her and some of the other trainees with Seamus and Niall. They went shopping, and they were planning to watch movies then go to dinner.”
My hands gripped the handlebars. “What happened?”
“Lamprey demons attacked the movie theater they were in. Several humans were injured as well. Sara and the others managed to kill all the demons before Seamus and Niall got to them. No one was badly hurt, and they’ve all been treated by the healers.”
I heard what he said, but all I could think was Sara was hurt enough to need a healer.
I started looking for the first exit that would take me east to Idaho. “I’ll be there in a few hours.”
“There’s no need for you to come home,” Tristan said. “Sara’s safe. I knew you’d want to know what happened.”
“I appreciate you letting me know, but I need to see for myself that she’s all right.” It would take a horde of vampires to keep me away from Westhorne tonight.
He sighed quietly. “Just take your time. She’s asleep, and she should be out until morning.”
“Asleep? I thought you said she was okay.”
“She is. The healers wanted her to stay overnight in the medical ward, and they gave her something to help her sleep.”
If the healers wanted Sara to stay for observation, that meant she’d been bitten. Lamprey demons were vicious, and their bites could cause serious infections. The thought of her in pain made my stomach twist.
“I promise you she’s fine,” Tristan said when I didn’t speak. “I just saw her.”
“Okay.” Some of the tension left my body because I knew Tristan would not deceive me. “I’ll see you soon.”
I hung up and called Chris to let him know what had happened. We were only two hours from Longstone so I suggested he continue his trip, but he said it could wait.
It was just after eight when we reached Westhorne. Tristan met us in the main hall, and walked with me to the medical ward.
“She has an infection and a fever, but the drugs are taking care of it,” he said in a low voice as we entered the east wing.
At the door to Sara’s room, I stopped to look at the girl lying on the hospital bed. Her dark hair spread across the pillow, and damp tendrils clung to her pale face that glistened with a fine sheet of sweat. She wore a hospital gown, and her blankets were twisted around her legs. Shivers racked her slender frame, and she curled into a ball.
Solmi, my Mori cried, and I shared its anguish at seeing her in pain.
I went to the bed and disentangled the sheets around her legs. They were damp and cold, which was why she’d pushed them off her.
A healer name Margot appeared beside me with a fresh gown and blankets. Tristan and I turned away while she changed Sara’s gown and tucked the warm blankets around her shivering body. Margot checked Sara’s vitals and wiped her face with a cloth before she turned to me.
“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 y
ou 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.
“I’m going to speak frankly. I think it’s too soon to tell Sara about the bond. Can I ask that you give her a little more time? Train her and get to know each other better, but hold off on anything more serious. Just for a little while longer.”
I didn’t like anyone telling me how to handle my personal affairs, especially when it came to Sara. I wanted to tell her about us, to court her, but I’d never push her into something she wasn’t ready for.
If it had been anyone but Tristan, I would have told them to stay out of my business. But Tristan was a close and trusted friend, and Sara’s grandfather. I knew he spoke with her best interests in mind, just as he had when he asked me to leave here for a month.
“I’ll hold off on telling her as long as you don’t try to keep us apart again,” I said.
“I can’t promise I won’t be an overprotective grandfather at times, but I won’t try to come between you.” He smiled wryly. “Unless you need a referee.”
The two of us laughed because that was a possibility.
“You haven’t even been to your apartment yet, have you?”
I looked down at the clothes I’d been wearing for a day. “I had more important things to do.”
“What are your plans for this morning?”
“I’m going to get cleaned up, and then I’m planning to talk to Callum about Sara’s training.”
Tristan raised an eyebrow, and I laughed.
“I only want to ask him what they’ve worked on so far. I promise to behave.”
“When are you going to let Sara know you’re back?”
“This afternoon. Margot said she’ll sleep for a few more hours, and I don’t want to do this in the medical ward.”
“I’m sure Sara wouldn’t want that either.” He shuffled a stack of papers on his desk. “I have some business to take care of, but Chris and I are sparring at noon. Why don’t you join us? I promise to go easy on you.”
Chuckling, I stood. “You’re on, old man.”
I stopped by the medical ward to check on Sara before I went to my apartment to shower and change. I spent an hour tending to my weapons, and as I polished my swords, my eyes wandered around my living room.
I’d always enjoyed my Spartan yet comfortable home, but for the first time I wondered how it would look to a woman, to Sara. Would she find it too austere and lacking a feminine touch? Would she feel at home here with my things, and with me?
I imagined her curled up on my couch with her sketchbook on her lap, her books and drawings filling every available surface. I’d never been one to indulge in reverie, but the idea of her belongings here among mine brought a smile to my face.
* * *
When I entered the arena at noon, I was surprised to see that Tristan and Chris weren’t alone. Seamus and Niall were there along with at least a dozen other warriors, including Erik.
I walked over to Erik. “How long are you here for?”
“A week or so. I thought you were in Vegas.”
“I was. Just got in last night.”
He gave me one of his signature half smiles. “I guess even Vegas was dull after Maine, huh?”
“Like a resort vacation,” Chris quipped, joining us.
I looked toward the door as three more warriors entered. “So I take it this is not a normal sparring session.”
“Tristan thought it would be more fun to have a little competition,” Chris said. “And once word got out you were back, everyone wanted to participate.”
The arena wasn’t a large building, although the domed roof gave it the appearance of being bigger than it was. Within thirty minutes, the bleacher-style seats were half full of warriors waiting for their turn to show off their swordsmanship.
Excited whispers reached me, and I glanced at the small group of trainees crowded together near the main door. I knew Sara wasn’t among them before I looked, and I wondered if she was coming. I’d called the medical ward on the way here and found out she’d been released. After Maine, it felt strange to be in the same place as her and not know where she was.
Tristan called for everyone to clear the floor and asked who wanted to go first. When Seamus and Niall stepped forward, people laughed. The brothers often bantered about who was the better fighter, but they were identical in more than looks. A more evenly matched pair I’d never met, and neither of them would want to concede defeat.
We took a few minutes to organize the matches. As expected, more than one warrior asked to dual with Tristan and me, so we agreed to three matches apiece. An air of anticipation filled the room when Tristan called out the order of the dueling pairs, and he and I were fourth in line to dual each other.
My phone rang just as Seamus and Niall squared off. I smiled when I saw it was my parents, and I left the noisy building by the back door to walk toward the river. My mother spent the next twenty minutes talking about her best friend’s new grandson and asking if I’d met any nice girls. I didn’t tell her about Sara because I was half afraid she’d be on the next plane to the states. The last thing Sara needed was my well-meaning and determined mother swooping down on her before she even knew about us.
I walked back to the arena after we ended the call. As I neared the building I felt Sara’s presence, and I knew she was inside. My pulse quickened in anticipation of seeing her again.
I knew exactly where Sara was when I entered the building, but I resisted the urge to look at her. If Tristan was right and she was still upset with me for leaving, she wouldn’t have a warm welcome for me. I smiled, looking forward to changing her mind about that.
“You ready to lose?” I asked Tristan.
He saluted me with his sword. “Something tells me you’re going to show off for a certain young lady.”
I grinned as we faced each other. Without warning, his sword came up, and I moved to block his attack. His eyes sparkled with laughter, and my smirk told him it was the last jump he’d get on me.
I struck next. Tristan parried and deftly launched a counter attack. The clang of steel filled the air as we danced around each other.
The best swordsman I’d ever fought was Desmund, a brilliant fighter before the Hale witch had crippled his mind. Tristan was the second best. He might spend his days running a stronghold and handling Council business, but he obviously hadn’t let his fighting skills get rusty.
The only way to defeat an opponent as good as Tristan was to keep him constantly on the defensive. I thrust, he parried, and I struck again before he could recover. I knew if I let up for one second, he would take the advantage, and I had no intention of losing. The determination on his face said he was going to make me work for my win.
I feinted to my left, and he moved swiftly to block me. Our eyes met and realization dawned in his a split second before I brought my sword around and touched the tip to his chest.
Applause rose up around us as he bowed and conceded defeat.
“Lucky shot,” he joked when he slapped my back.
“You wish,” I retorted.
We moved aside to allow the next pair to take over. I glanced at Sara and saw her talking to the blond trainee named Jordan. I couldn’t see her face, so it was hard to know what she was feeling.
“You think it’s safe to go over there?”
Tristan laughed quietly. “Are you feeling brave, my friend?”
“Very.”
I knew Sara. She hated to draw attention to herself, so she’d refrain from yelling at me – for the mome
nt. Actually, now that I thought about it, this was the perfect time and place for our reunion.
“Come on then. I’m looking forward to this.”
I shouldered him as we started toward her. “You know, you’re taking an awful lot of pleasure in this, considering it was your idea for me to go away in the first place.”
“You’re right,” he replied with a barely concealed grin. “But how often does one see Nikolas Danshov get the cold shoulder from a woman?”
I was about to retort when I looked up and my gaze met Sara’s. She appeared to be fully recovered from her illness, and not nearly as impressed by my fighting prowess as her friends. A familiar fire blazed in her green eyes, igniting a matching heat in my gut. Even angry, she managed to steal my breath and make me forget everyone else in the room.
“Showing off as usual I see,” said a laughing male voice.
I stopped walking to turn to a black warrior with short dreadlocks. “I’m surprised you left your computers long enough to watch.”
Dax chuckled and held up a tablet. “I’m never offline.”
It took me several seconds to realize Sara’s presence was moving away from me. I turned to the group of trainees to find she was no longer with them.
Chagrin filled me, but it was replaced by wry humor when I saw the door close behind a girl with long dark hair. I’d counted on her not wanting to cause a scene, but I’d forgotten how good she was at slipping away under our noses. Next time, I’d have to outmaneuver her.
I smiled and saluted the closed door with my sword. Touché.
* * *
“Good choice,” Chris commented when I reached for a double burger from the buffet. “Avoid the spaghetti. It’ll be less messy when she dumps your dinner on your head.”
I laughed and looked behind me at the girl sitting on the far side of the room. Sara had her back to me, and she was saying something to her friend Jordan, waving her slice of pizza in the air for emphasis. I glanced down at my gray sweater and wondered if pizza sauce came out of wool.
I grabbed a soda and picked up my tray. “You coming?”