I RESTED MY head against the cushioned back of the chaise lounge chair and turned my face toward the sun, letting its warmth soak into my skin. The sounds of the birds and the ocean reminded me of home and when I closed my eyes, I could almost pretend I was back in Maine.
I missed home. But not as much as I missed Nikolas. He and the others had left the estate three days ago so I could move around freely without hurting one of them. They had rented the property next door, but they might as well have been on the other end of the state. Would they have to stay away until my training was complete? Aine said my control was a lot better now, and I didn’t know if I could bear being separated from them that long.
“You look much improved today, Cousin.”
I opened an eye to peer at Eldeorin who had the annoying habit of appearing in front of me instead of walking up like everyone else.
“I wish you wouldn’t do that.”
He chuckled and bent down to kiss my forehead. Faeries were an affectionate bunch, and I was still trying to get used to their ways. Over the last three days, I’d spent a lot of time with Eldeorin and Aine, regaining my strength and learning to control my power again. They were patient and kind teachers, and very good at cheering me up whenever I got emotional. That happened a lot after I found out they had sent all the Mohiri away so their demons would not disturb me. I’d been pretty upset until Eldeorin had explained that this was the best way to speed my recovery. After that, I spent hours every day practicing with my power and getting back the control I’d built up over the years.
“I came to tell you I am leaving for a few days now that you are recovered. I will be back in a week or two to begin your training.”
“Training?”
Eldeorin gave me a look of fond exasperation. “If you are determined to live in the human world you must learn to use your power to protect yourself. Aine and I will teach you what you need to know.”
“Does that mean I have to stay here? For how long?”
“How long depends on you.” He winked mischievously. “Until then, Cousin.”
Just like that, he was gone. I grumbled under my breath and closed my eyes again. What kind of training did he have planned for me? I was eager to learn more about my power, but I hated being kept in the dark.
A yawn escaped me, and I let the ocean lull me into a light sleep. I hadn’t slept well the last three nights, and I found myself napping throughout the day when I wasn’t working with Aine and Eldeorin. What I wouldn’t give for just one good night’s sleep.
“Sara.”
“Hmm?” I turned my face toward the voice that sounded so achingly familiar. “Nikolas?” My eyes opened and for a second I thought I was dreaming when I saw him crouched beside my chair. Before he could speak again, I threw myself at him, wrapping my arms tightly around his neck and knocking him backward. He ended up on the grass with me lying on top of him. I raised myself on my elbows and drank in the sight of him. His surprise over my attack passed, and he gave me a lazy smile that made my stomach do flips.
“Miss me?” he asked in a low, rough voice.
There were no words to describe what I’d been through the last three days. Emotion choked me until I couldn’t speak, and I did the only thing I could.
His lips were warm and firm and they parted under mine, our breath mingling as I explored his mouth. The taste, the smell, that could only be Nikolas, invaded my senses, and I trembled as my Mori reacted to him. After a minute, his hands came up to frame my face, and he took possession of my lips with a hunger that made my head spin. Fire raced through my veins as the kiss consumed me.
He whispered my name and brushed his lips against the corner of my mouth, my nose, my eyelids. I melted under the tender assault. Then he pulled me down so my cheek lay over his heart, and wrapped his arms around me. I tried to get my heart rate and breathing back to normal, and I smiled when I felt his heart racing as well.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” he said huskily. “I should go away for another week.”
I lifted my head and scowled at his satisfied expression. Before I could make a retort, someone cleared their throat a few feet away.
“Maybe I should come back later,” Chris said in a voice laced with laughter.
Nikolas’s gaze didn’t leave mine. “Good idea.”
“Where is she?” Jordan called. A few seconds later, she said, “Oh. Well I guess she’s feeling better.”
“Come along, Jordan. Let’s give these two some time together.”
“But –”
“We’ll see you two later,” Chris said and then I heard him lead Jordan away.
Nikolas’s hand came up to brush away the hair falling around my face. “You look tired.”
“I haven’t been sleeping well.” I rested my cheek against his chest. “Are you really here?”
He kissed the top of my head and held me close. “Yes.”
I closed my eyes, content to lie there wrapped in his arms and breathe in his scent. I didn’t care that we were lying in the middle of the lawn or who saw us. Three days ago, I’d feared I would never be able to touch him again. I wanted to hold onto him as long as I could.
“Aine said you’ve been working hard to get your control back. Looks like she was right.”
“She and Eldeorin are so good to me.” I sighed deeply. “Eldeorin said I have to start training next week.”
“Yes, he told me that.”
“He didn’t say how long it would take.” I bit my lip. I couldn’t expect Nikolas and the others to hang around here indefinitely, and the thought of being here without them put a damper on my happiness.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
He rolled us until we were lying side by side in the grass. Then he put a finger under my chin and forced me to look at him. “You are a terrible liar. Tell me what’s bothering you.”
It was hard to think straight when he was so close and looking at me with such tenderness. “I was just wondering how long I’ll have to be here. I know you have responsibilities and I don’t expect…”
His smile made me forget whatever I was going to say. “I’m not going anywhere. I may have to leave for a day or two sometimes, but I’ll come back.”
“Oh.”
“You thought I’d leave you after the chase you led me on?”
I took a deep breath. “I’m sorry I took off the way I did. I was upset, but I should have talked to you instead of running away.”
His hand toyed with my hair, sending delicious shivers down my back. “I’m sorry too. I handled the whole thing badly. I saw how upset you were, and I should have known you would run.”
A smile played around my lips. “You did know. That’s why you had the twins follow me everywhere.”
“A lot of good it did.” His smile matched mine. “At least Seamus and Niall won’t be making any more wisecracks about how you never would have given them the slip in Maine.”
“How long did it take you to find them and realize we were gone?”
“About thirty minutes. Then we spent the next thirty scouring the woods.” He frowned. “How did you two get past all our sentries?”
“Jordan didn’t tell you?”
“She said she was going to let you tell that story.” He arched an eyebrow. “Well?”
I plucked at a blade of grass. “You promise you won’t get angry?”
“I think we’re beyond that after everything else that’s happened, don’t you?”
I told him how Jordan and I had left Westhorne, and he stared at me in disbelief. All traces of humor left his face when he heard how we’d changed in the mill and hiked to Derek’s to buy the car. To his credit, he didn’t comment on it, but I could tell he wanted to.
“Then you drove to Boise to pick up Roland and Peter.” His brow creased. “What was in Salt Lake City? Jordan and the others wouldn’t tell us much about it.”
“A friend who set me up with a laptop. You traced Roland’s and Peter’s cell phones there?”
“Yes.”
“You almost caught us at our hotel and we had to take off.”
“I know, and I spent the better part of a day searching for you there. Why did you go to Albuquerque?”
“How did you know we were in Albuquerque?”
He gave me a smug look. “You aren’t the only one with resources. Although, I have to say yours are impressive to help you get as far as you did with us on your trail.”
“Aren’t you full of yourself?”
He laughed softly. “I do have some experience in this area.”
“What? Chasing runaways… orphans?” I almost said “girlfriends” but I stopped myself.
“Among other things.” He gave me an impatient look. “Are you going to tell me why you went to New Mexico?”
I sighed. “Madeline was there. We were so close, and we just missed her. But we got a good lead that she was headed for LA.” I met his gaze. “Now it’s your turn. How did you know we went there?”
“Let’s just say that when a vampire as old as Stefan Price is killed, news travels fast. We’ve been hunting him for years, but he’s always managed to evade us.” His eyes darkened. “When we heard a rumor that he was killed by a girl warrior who looked suspiciously like you, we went to Orias’s place to check it out for ourselves.”
“You know Orias?”
“Everyone knows Orias. He’s a powerful warlock, but he usually stays under the radar.” Nikolas fixed me with a hard stare. “For some reason he couldn’t mention the names of the warrior and her friends or where they’d gone.”
I lifted my hand. “Warlocks are a strange breed.”
He caught my hand. “Tell me the truth. Did you kill Stefan Price by yourself?”
“Roland and Jordan helped, but I did kill him.”
“With your power?”
“That and one of Jordan’s knives.”
He exhaled deeply. “And then you went to LA, and you met the faerie at Adele’s club.”
“You know Adele, too?” My jaw clenched at the thought of him anywhere near the gorgeous succubus.
“Jealous?”
“No.”
He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed my fingertips, sending a thrill through me. “Adele is well-known in the Los Angeles underworld, and she has given us helpful information in the past.”
“I bet she didn’t tell you that she and Madeline are pals, or that Madeline goes to visit her once or twice a year.”
His eyes widened. “She told you that?”
It was my turn to be smug. “I told you I was close to finding Madeline.”
Footsteps alerted us that we were no longer alone. “Um, what are you guys doing down there?”
I looked up at Roland, who wore a knowing smirk. “What does it look like?”
His grin grew. “Looks like you got started without the mistletoe.”
“Mistletoe?” I glanced from him to Nikolas. “It’s Christmas?”
“Christmas Eve,” Roland said. “And we’re getting ready to decorate the tree. You two coming?”
“We’ll be there in a few minutes,” Nikolas answered.
“Right.” Roland walked away.
Nikolas rubbed my arm. “You’re quiet all of a sudden.”
“I can’t believe I forgot Christmas.” Our first Christmas together.
His gaze softened. “You had more important things on your mind.”
“But I don’t have gifts for anyone.” Knowing Jordan, she had already been on a shopping spree. I knew Nate and Tristan would have presents for me as well. And Roland and Peter. “I need to –”
Nikolas moved suddenly, and I found myself pinned on my back beneath him. The intensity of his gaze made my stomach flutter wildly. “Are you going to run away from me again?”
I swallowed hard. “No.”
“Then that’s all I want.”
“Oh,” I said breathlessly, unable to stop staring at his mouth inches away.
“There is one other thing.” He closed the distance between us and his lips found mine again.
* * *
Jordan tossed me a sly look as she hung an ornament on the tree. She’d been wearing a Cheshire grin ever since Nikolas and I had joined everyone in the living room twenty minutes ago.
“What?” I demanded.
She leaned around the tree toward me. “You look thoroughly kissed. I don’t know whether to hate you or high-five you.”
Heat filled my cheeks. “You can tell that?”
Her laugh made the others look our way, and she lowered her voice. “You obviously haven’t looked in a mirror. You’re practically glowing.” She reached over and plucked a blade of grass from my hair. “You and I are having a chat later, and you are not leaving out a single detail. That is, if he lets you out of his sight.”
I peered through the branches at Nikolas, who stood by the window talking to Chris and Tristan. As if he felt my eyes on him, Nikolas looked my way, and his gaze warmed me from across the room. This was a side of him I’d never seen, and I was finding it hard to focus on anything else with him nearby. My thoughts flew back to his kisses, and I put a hand to my mouth absently. His mouth quirked as if he knew exactly what I was thinking, and I pulled my gaze from his before my face burst into flames.
Jordan threw a rope of garland at me. “Am I going to have to take a water hose to you two again?”
I made a face at her and hung my last ornament on the tree. “He’s different, less intense.”
“He hasn’t taken his eyes off you since you came in. If that’s less intense, I’d hate to see him worked up.”
“I mean he’s not as fierce as he usually is. He’s hasn’t yelled at me once for taking off.”
She moved closer. “Almost losing your mate-to-be would affect anyone, even Nikolas. I’m sure he’ll be back to his old charming self soon enough.”
“You’re probably right.” I glanced surreptitiously at Nikolas again then turned toward the couches where Nate sat talking to Roland and Peter. Roland had called his mom a few days ago, and she hadn’t been pleased with either of them. He’d had to promise her that he and Peter would go home after Christmas. I was happy to get to spend Christmas with them, and I tried not to think of them leaving.
“The tree looks nice,” Nate said when I sat beside him.
I admired the tall Christmas tree. “It’s a lot bigger than ours.” The holidays had always been quiet at our place with just the two of us, and it was strange to be spending Christmas Eve with so many people. I looked around the room and my heart swelled. Most of the people I cared about were in this room, everyone except Remy, Desmund, and Greg. At least Remy and Greg were with family. It saddened me to think of Desmund spending Christmas alone, but he had volunteered to stay behind in case there was another attack on Westhorne.
“I wonder what they’re all doing back home,” Roland said. Christmas was big in the Knolls, and many of the families there celebrated together.
“Probably eating Nan’s cookies,” Peter replied longingly.
I couldn’t help but feel a little homesick, too. “California is nothing like Maine; that’s for sure.”
Nikolas came over and sat on my other side. He reached over and took one of my hands in his as if it was something we did every day. “We’ll go back there someday when this is all over.”
I tried to ignore the warm tingle his touch sent up my arm. “If this is ever over. I guess we can assume the Master knows I’m no longer at Westhorne.”
Tristan took a seat across from us. “Judging by the reports out of Los Angeles I’d say that is a safe assumption.”
“How bad is it?” This was the first I’d heard any news about LA since I’d awakened from my week-long sleep.
“Over twenty attacks on humans in the last week that we know of,” Tristan said grimly. “The council has dispatched three teams to the area to deal with it.”
“Twenty attacks?” My stomach knotted thinking about all those poor people.
“If the vampires weren’t killing in Los Angeles, they’d be killing elsewhere,” Tristan said. “This is not your fault.”
“I wonder how they knew we were in LA.” Roland pondered. “The vampires we ran into didn’t live to tell anyone about it.”
“What vampires?” Nikolas asked in a deceptively calm voice as his fingers flexed slightly around mine.
Jordan, Roland, and Peter suddenly became mute, leaving me to explain. “We, um, might have run into a couple after we left Blue Nyx.”
Chris had been leaning against the fireplace mantle, and he straightened to stare at me. “You killed the vampires in the alley? So you were at the club that night?”
“We saw you come in with those other warriors. Eldeorin glamoured us so we could get away.” I looked at Nikolas, who was not happy. “Why weren’t you with Chris that night?”
“I was there, just a little too late by the sound of it. We got word that two girls were attacked at a hotel, and I went to check it out.” His brows lowered into a scowl. “What happened with the vampires?”
“We were driving back to the hotel when we came across three vampires attacking some people.” I waved at Roland, Peter, and Jordan. “They killed them. I didn’t even fight.”
Chris rubbed his chin. “We found the vampires, but no human bodies, just a dead mox demon.”
“That’s because they were attacking demons, not humans.”
Tristan frowned. “You rescued demons?”
“A vrell demon and his friend. They were harmless.”
Nikolas exhaled slowly. “You don’t endanger yourself for demons, no matter what kind they are.”
“Not all demons are bad, you know,” I argued. “The guy who gave me the laptop and helped me track Madeline is a vrell demon. He’s actually a very nice guy.”
Jordan spoke up. “We’ve learned that it’s easier if you don’t argue with her about this.” I glowered at her and she added, “And I guess Kelvan is cool… for a demon.”
“And the vampires?” Nikolas prodded.
Jordan dared a look at him. “They weren’t that old, no match for all of us.”
Nate spoke up. “I thought Sara didn’t fight them.”
“I didn’t go near them. I shot one with a crossbow and the boys took him out.”
Chris gave me a dubious look. “A crossbow?”
Roland barked a laugh. “Yeah. He started mouthing off to her and she shot him right between the legs.”
“Sara has wicked aim with that thing,” Jordan told Chris, who was the best archer at Westhorne. “She definitely should start training with one.”
“What happened to our weapons anyway? Did we leave them at Greg’s uncle’s place?” I asked her.
“You honestly think I’d leave that sword behind? It would take more than a few vamps to separate us.”
“What I would like to know is how vampires knew you were at that apartment in the first place,” Nikolas said. “How well do you know that human who was with you?”
“Dude, don’t even go there,” Roland warned him.
“Greg is one of my closest friends from high school, and he would never do anything to hurt me.” I tried to pull my hand away, but Nikolas refused to let it go.
“Greg’s a solid guy,” Roland said. “He used to watch over Sara like she was his sister. I can’t see him betraying her.”
“Especially after she saved his life,” Peter added.
Nate nodded. “I always thought Greg McCoy was trouble, but he did seem to care for Sara.”
Jordan pursed her lips thoughtfully. “It could have been one of those demons at Draegan’s. They all knew Sara was playing Draegan for the blood contract, and one of them could have known who Greg was and where he was staying. I wouldn’t put anything past that bunch.”
Nate’s voice wavered a little when he spoke. “It’s a good thing you called Nikolas when you did. I don’t want to think about what would have happened to you all if he hadn’t been there.”
“Promise us you won’t take off like that again,” Tristan said. He had hugged me so tightly when I had come in and then told me he was saving the scolding for later.
“I promise,” I replied sincerely.
We were interrupted by the arrival of Heb bearing a tray of finger foods to tide us over until dinner. The dwarf set the tray on the wide glass coffee table, and Roland and Peter immediately dug in. My stomach rumbled, reminding me I hadn’t eaten since that morning.
Nikolas released my hand and leaned over to pile some food on a napkin, which he placed on my lap.
“Thanks,” I whispered self-consciously, feeling the others’ eyes on us. I picked up a canapé and nibbled on it. It was smoked salmon on a little round of toast, and it was delicious. My stomach growled again, wanting me to eat faster, and I plopped the whole canapé in my mouth.
“So what happens now?” Roland asked between bites of food. “Are you all going home?”
Tristan shook his head. “Sara has to stay here to train with the faeries. Jordan and I will return to Westhorne after Christmas. Nate too, unless he wants to stay here.”
Jordan didn’t try to hide her dismay. “I thought I could stay here with Sara.”
“Sara will be busy training, and Nikolas is staying with her. You need to continue your own training.”
“But I can train here with Sara,” Jordan insisted.
I looked from Tristan to Nikolas. “I have to do faerie training and Mohiri training?”
“We’ll pick it up where we left off,” Nikolas said with a gleam in his eyes.
Chris chuckled and winked at me. “I smell payback.”
“You want me to stay, right?” Jordan asked me. “We can train together.”
“Yes.” I couldn’t imagine her not being here after all we’d been through together.
Tristan leaned forward to pick up a canapé. “We’ll see. I’m not sure of the wisdom in keeping you two girls together. You seem to have a remarkable talent for attracting trouble.”
“At least no one could ever accuse us of being dull,” Jordan quipped. “Besides, Nikolas will be here. How much trouble could we get into?”
Everyone but Jordan and I burst out laughing. Chris smirked at Tristan. “You might want to think about sending a unit here for backup.”
Tristan nodded. “You may be right.”
I folded my arms. “Everyone’s a comedian.”
* * *
It was almost midnight when Nikolas walked me to my room. We stopped at my door and I was loath to say good night to him, but too shy to ask him not to go. The thought of being alone with him made my stomach flutter, especially after the way he’d kissed me on the lawn, but I didn’t think I was ready to take it beyond that. Sometimes it felt like I’d known him forever, and other times I felt like I didn’t know that much about him. I knew Nikolas the warrior, but how much did I know about Nikolas the man? From the very beginning, there had been nothing normal about our relationship, and part of me wished we could do something normal like go on a real date and get to know each other like regular people did.
I turned to face him, but before I could speak, he tugged me to him and enveloped me in his warm embrace. I rested my forehead against his chest, savoring his closeness. As tired as I was, I could have stood there like that all night.
“It’s late. You should get some sleep,” he murmured against my hair.
“Stay.” The plea came out before I could stop it and heat flooded my face. “I don’t mean…”
He lifted my chin and dropped a light kiss on my lips. “I know.” Opening the door, he ushered me into my room. The soft click of the door behind him did funny things to my stomach, and I faced him uncertainly.
His soft chuckle took me by surprise. “Get ready for bed. I’ll just stay until you fall asleep.”
I released the breath I was holding, and went to pull a T-shirt and a pair of shorts from the dresser. Excusing myself, I closed myself in the bathroom to change. When I came out, I didn’t see Nikolas at first and I thought he’d left. A sound made me turn, and I found him standing by the balcony door.
His eyes moved over me and he raised an eyebrow. “I wondered what happened to that T-shirt.”
I fingered the hem of the shirt I’d stolen from him and shrugged to hide my blush. “It’s really comfortable.”
He walked toward me, and I retreated until the backs of my thighs hit the bed. Reaching around me, he lifted the covers. “In you go.”
I climbed into bed, and he pulled the covers over me. Then he kicked off his shoes and stretched out on top of the comforter. His arm lifted, and I scooted over to lay my head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around me and I sighed, happier than I’d been in weeks.
“Nikolas?” I said after a few minutes of comfortable silence.
“Hmm?”
“Why haven’t you yelled at me for leaving Westhorne?”
The hand that was toying with my hair stopped. “Do you want me to yell at you?”
“No, but you’re taking this too well.” Jordan’s words came back to me. “Are you being nice because I was sick?”
His chest rumbled. “Yes, but don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll give me more reasons to yell soon enough.”
I smiled because he was probably right.
After another minute of silence I felt him sigh. “I was furious when I found out you’d left, and all I could think about was what could happen to you out there. I always want to keep you safe, but after the attack I couldn’t think of anything but getting you away from there. I’m sorry I made you feel like you had no other choice but to leave. I want you to be able to come to me about anything.”
“I’m sorry I left the way I did. I was upset about the attack, and all I wanted to do was fight back.” I breathed deeply. “It hurt when you and Tristan said you were taking me away to hide, especially after people were hurt and killed because of me.”
“You’re not responsible for what happened that night.”
“I know, but it’s impossible not to feel guilty when some of my friends were killed by vampires who were after me. And I knew it wasn’t going to stop and they’d keep coming. Sooner or later, someone I love will die and I can’t live with that. I had to do something to try to end this. I should have told you what I knew about Madeline instead of going after her without you. I kept telling myself I could find her and that she’d run if she saw the Mohiri. But the truth is I needed to be the one to find her. I needed to feel like I was in control of my life again.”
He was quiet for a moment. “You’ve spent most of your life taking care of yourself, and I’ve spent mine protecting others. It’s not easy for either of us to go against our nature. I didn’t realize how much I was pushing you to change yours until you left.”
“And now?”
Another sigh. “I won’t lie to you. I’m not going to try to take you away, but I can’t stand to see you in danger either. You’re a fighter, but I’m an experienced warrior, and I’m going to do what I have to do to keep you safe.”
“I understand why you feel so protective, but you have to see that I’m not helpless.”
“I never thought you were helpless. I just don’t think you’re ready to face what’s out there.”
My chest squeezed as I realized the futility of our conversation. I didn’t want to argue with him on our first day together since my illness, so I didn’t say anything.
I didn’t realize I was pulling away from him until his arm tightened around me. “Let’s not fight,” he implored softly.
My body relaxed against him again, and he kissed the top of my head. “You should go to sleep. I don’t want Nate and Tristan shooting me dirty looks tomorrow when you can’t stay awake at Christmas dinner.”
A yawn came upon me. “You’ll stay until I fall asleep?”
“I’ll stay until I hear snoring.”
“I don’t snore.”
“Like a motorboat.”
I poked him in the ribs with my finger. “I do not snore!”
He laughed and captured my hand, holding it against him. “Okay it’s more like a kitten purring. Did I ever tell you how much I like kittens?”
I had no reply for that. I fell asleep with a smile on my face.
