I took a gulp of air and approached Nikolas. A few feet from him I could feel hot waves of fury rolling off his body. “Look, Nikolas, I’m perfectly fine, see? Okay, I’ve looked better, but that’s beside the point.”
He didn’t respond or move, and I could see something feral, something savage behind his eyes as they locked with mine. Cold fingers tickled the back of my neck, and my Mori stirred restlessly. What am I supposed to do now?
“Touch him,” Tristan called softly, and I had to stop myself from spinning around to gape at him.
“What?”
“Take his hand. Trust me.”
My stomach twisted nervously as I moved until no more than a foot separated us. Without taking my eyes from Nikolas’s, I reached out and placed my hand inside his. The instant we touched, my fingers twitched as a warm tingle ran through them. Then they were crushed as his hand closed around them in a painful grip.
“Ow!” Tears sprang into my eyes, and I smacked him hard in the chest with my free hand. “Let go!” When he didn’t respond, I reached up and slapped his cheek. “Nikolas, snap out of it! You’re breaking my hand.”
He released my hand, but before I could nurse my bruised fingers, he pulled me against him and wrapped his arms around me so tightly I could scarcely breathe. His whole body trembled, and I could feel his heart thumping furiously beneath my cheek. My fear was swept aside by an overwhelming need to comfort him, and I wriggled my arms free to wrap them around his waist. “Hey, it’s okay. I’m here,” I whispered, rubbing my hands against his back. My own traitorous heart sped up at his nearness, and I could not help thinking about the last time I touched him. This is not the same. There would be no repeat of the other night.
Minutes passed, during which his trembling faded and his heart rate slowly returned to normal. I was about to ask him again if he was okay when his arms loosened and fell to his sides. I took a cautious step back and looked up at him. His face was still hard, but at least he no longer had that crazed look in his eyes. The anger seemed to have burned itself out.
Tristan came up behind me. “Nikolas, we need to get Sara and the others home.”
Nikolas looked at him over my head and nodded.
I looked from him to Tristan, waiting for one of them to explain what had just happened. Tristan gave a slight shake of his head, and Nikolas did not seem inclined to speak to me at all. My gaze fell on Terrence, who still looked half scared to death, and then on Jordan, who watched us with more curiosity than fear. What the hell was going on, and why was I the only one who seemed confused?
This time when I moved to go around Nikolas, he did not try to stop me. I didn’t look at anyone else; I just started walking toward the driveway where our SUVs were. Physically I was fine, but my emotions were a wreck. I needed answers, but right now I needed some space.
I heard footsteps behind me and knew it was him, but I didn’t stop until I reached the two black SUVs parked at the end of the driveway. I tried the back door on one and it was unlocked, so I got in and sank wearily onto the leather seat, not caring about the vampire blood I was getting all over it. I rested my head against the headrest and closed my eyes while I waited for someone to come and drive me home.
Muffled voices carried to me from outside, and it sounded like people were arguing. I tuned them out until the door across from me opened and Tristan got in. At the same time, Seamus and Niall took the front seats and Seamus started the vehicle. I turned my head toward Tristan, who looked tired for the first time since I’d met him.
“Where is Jordan?” I asked him.
“She’ll follow in the other vehicle. Do you want me to get her?”
“No, that’s okay.” Jordan was most likely having the time of her life bragging to the others about her vampire kills, and I wouldn’t ruin her fun. I wished I could join them, but I was too freaked out by whatever it was that had just happened with Nikolas.
Tristan placed a hand over mine on the seat. “I’ll explain it to you at home.”
No one spoke on the drive back to the stronghold, which told me that whatever Tristan was going to tell me was probably something I was not going to like. When we got there, the first person I saw was Nikolas, standing outside the main entrance, waiting for us. He didn’t say anything, but he wore a scowl and I could feel his eyes on me as we passed him.
Inside, Tristan tried to bring me to the medical ward, and I refused, insisting I was not hurt. All I wanted was a shower and some answers, in that order. But when I started for my room, Tristan said it was best if I came with him to his apartment instead. Something in his expression told me it was best not to fight him on this one.