Once Forbidden(23)
Carina looked at him. “You need to go, Devlin, so I can finish this.”
Now he was confused. “What? What the hell are you talking about?” he demanded angrily. “I’m not leaving Sarah here with you!”
Carina shook her head impatiently and took a step toward him before stopping herself. “You fool!” she snapped. “Do you really believe that if I could hurt you?”
Devlin felt Sarah tense behind him. “Don’t move,” he warned her silently.
“What are you doing here, Carina?” he said carefully. Was that pain he saw in her dark eyes? He didn’t understand. Had he been wrong about her? If she wasn’t here to do Sarah harm then—“Giles? Or one of the other Elders?”
Carina sat down on the large chair next to the wall and crossed her legs elegantly at the ankles. “Just protect your woman, Devlin. I will take care of the traitor in our midst.”
Devlin shook his head. He pulled Sarah from behind him. “Sarah, this is Carina. She is one of the Elders.”
Sarah looked at the beautiful woman. “Hello.”
Carina smiled. “I see why he is so taken with you. You’re quite beautiful.”
Sarah returned the smile. “Thank you.”
Devlin held Sarah’s hand and squeezed it gently. “Carina is the vampire who changed me, Sarah. She saved my life more than a hundred years ago.”
Carina inclined her head. “As I recall, you weren’t thankful at the time.”
Devlin smiled a little sadly. “Not at the time, no. Now, though, I am.”
“So it would seem.”
Sarah watched the interaction between the two. She couldn’t compete with this woman—with this history. “Devlin?”
He turned his attention to her and smiled. “Yes, love?”
“Would you like some time alone with your friend?”
Carina smiled. “There is no need to be jealous, Sarah. I’m no threat to you. Devlin and I are friends, nothing more.”
Sarah flushed. “I just wanted to give you privacy.” Sarah didn’t like these feelings of jealousy she was feeling at all. They were totally alien to her. “I’ll go in the other room,” she decided, and suited actions to words, quickly leaving the room.
Devlin watched her walk out and sat heavily on the bed and sighed. “Talk to me, Carina. What do you know?”
“You know Bennett Wilmont?” Carina asked.
“Of course. He’s a cop,” Devlin said, his tone dripping with disbelief. “I still can’t understand why he’d want to work with humans every day as he does. What’s he have to do with any of this?”
“He’s useful, Devlin. I believe that Giles’ grandson is a Hunter. I’m having Bennett watch him.”
“Giles has a grandson that’s a member of the Hunters?”
“Yes, I believe so. But it’s for me to find out whether or not Giles is involved. Only the other Elders know that Giles even has a grandson. He wanted him kept safe.”
“Is he a vampire?”
“No, he’s not. And he doesn’t want to be. Giles accepts his decision. Although, I don’t know how Giles could not realize that he had a Hunter living in his own home, I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt until I know more. Bennett is doing some quiet investigating for me,” Carina explained.
“When did you find all this out?” Devlin asked.
“I’ve suspected for a white now. When Sarah was attacked, I was convinced. Will you give me time, Devlin? I think your Sarah is safe enough for now. Take her away somewhere and keep her safe while I sort this out.”
It went against all his instincts to let it go. This was his battle and his right as Sarah’s mate to find the one responsible for hurting her. But, if it was an Elder, it fell to the Council to handle the issue. “I’ll give you time, Carina. That is all I can promise.”
“I’ll sort it out, Devlin. You can trust me. I’m keeping a careful eye on Giles and on his grandson. I will know what they plan. I’m making arrangements as we speak.”
Devlin nodded. “I’m sorry I doubted you, Carina.”
She brushed that aside. “Just go take care of your woman, Devlin. She seems rather insecure. Make sure she knows that there is nothing between us.”
Devlin could hear the pain in her words, but there was nothing he could say. It was no more than the truth. “You will always be my friend, Carina.”
“And that is enough,” she said. “Be happy, Devlin.” With that, she was gone.
Devlin found Sarah sitting in the dark in his living room. He sat next to her on the couch and tugged her onto his lap. “What is it, love?” he asked quietly, kissing the top of her head.