Once Forbidden(20)
She frowned. “But how— Devlin, I didn’t let anyone in. I swear I didn’t.”
He walked to her quickly. “Shh, I know, love. I know. But someone did.” He showed her the door, where the safety chain was still firmly in place.
Sarah paled. “Oh God, what is going on? Are there vampires trying to kill me? What have you dragged me in the middle of, Devlin?” she asked.
Devlin frowned. As much as he wanted to blast her for blaming him—she was right. This obviously had something to do with him. The only one who knew that he was with her was Carina. “Carina!” he snapped.
Sarah frowned. “Who is Carina?”
“She’s the one that changed me, Sarah. She knew about you. Hell, she told the Elders about you.”
“An old girlfriend?” Sarah said. “Someone almost killed me because an old girlfriend is upset about me?” She was confused. He’d never mentioned another woman to her—though of course, he’d had lovers over the years.
Devlin walked to her and pulled her into his arms. She stiffened and he cursed. “She’s not a girlfriend, Sarah. She’s never been my lover,” he said quietly.
Sarah looked up into his eyes. “But it was a man, Devlin. A woman didn’t attack me.”
Devlin frowned at that. “It still could have been a Hunter. The Elders have suspected for some time that there were a few rogue vampires with them. A vampire let him in, Sarah. For all I know, it could have been a human she’d entranced.”
Sarah pulled back from him. “You mean that a vampire can force someone to try and kill for them?”
“Yes” he said quietly.
“And you’re sure it was this Carina?” Sarah asked carefully.
Devlin released her to pace. “Hell, I’m not sure of anything, Sarah—except that I’ll find whoever is responsible. Is there anything you need? We need to keep moving.”
Sarah shook her head. “I’m staying here, Devlin. I can protect myself.”
“No, Sarah. You can’t. Not against Carina. She’s an Elder. She’s got more power than you do.”
Sarah sat heavily in a chair. “Why would she be after me?”
Devlin knew he’d have to explain to her. “Sarah, Carina saved my life. I was in a carriage accident and near death. She changed me to keep me from dying.”
Sarah waited, watching him. There was something he wasn’t telling her, she was sure of it. When he said no more, though, her temper frayed. “Well? What did you do?”
Devlin sighed. “It was years before I forgave her. But I could never be what she wanted. I think she loved me, but I never returned the emotion,” he admitted.
Sarah laughed bitterly. “But you were angry when I was upset? When you know what it’s like to wake up and…I guess it doesn’t matter now. So, this is nothing more than a woman scorned?”
Devlin considered that. He’d known Carina for a long time. He couldn’t make himself believe she’d be so viscous. “I just don’t know, Sarah. But I need to find out.”
“Isn’t there somewhere safe I can go?”
“No, not until you’ve learned more. You’d be in constant danger. For now, you’ll need to stay with me,” he said. “I’m sorry, Sarah, that you’re in danger now.”
“So, what are we going to do now? Go find this woman? This Carina?”
Devlin nodded. “In a manner of speaking. It’s time for you to meet the Elders anyway. For now, we’ll play it by ear. I need to talk to her alone.”
Sarah stood up and walked to him. “I don’t think I can handle this, Devlin.”
Devlin took her in his arms and kissed her. “You can, Sarah. Damn it, you walked into a burning building to save the life of a child. You can handle this.”
Sarah’s eyes darkened with passion for a moment, but she shoved the words away. “I’m not brave, Devlin. I’m not the woman you think I am.” She didn’t know that he’d even known how she’d been burned. “How did you know how I was burned?”
“We don’t have time for this now, Sarah. We have to go to the Elders.”
Sarah touched his cheek, relenting. There would be time later for questions and for them to learn about each other. “Are you going to be in trouble for what you did?”
He laughed. “Do you really think that I care, Sarah?”
“There’s so much we need to talk about, Devlin,” she whispered achingly. “I feel so confused.”
“We’ll have time later to talk, love. For now, let’s keep us both safe,” he said. “Take my hand. Don’t think of where we’re going, just let me take you again.”