Page 8 of Bound By Love
And she would have to be persistent, as it wasn’t a relationship Saber would pursue. She hoped the woman had it in her, but it would be averytough road to pave.
Saber had said Brie wasn’t going to leave those stones unattended and would remain until they were all secured into a sword. Once that happened, they would have to find the rightful owners to fully activate the stone’s power.
“Putting all the stones together caused them to react. I don’t know what they’ll do if we find their rightful possessors and their power is truly activated,” Saber muttered.
“Are you in my head?”
He gave her a rueful smile. “No, I was simply pondering something out loud.”
“Then we were thinking along the same line of things. Let’s hope getting them into the right hands will make them more powerful. Maybe our ancestors used the stones to help push the demons back… or better, destroy them.”
“I hope so, because even with those swords, we’re going to need all the help we can get to win this.”
The crunch of tires on dirt alerted them to the SUV’s approach before it came into view. A trickle of unease ran through Caro; she wasn’t ready for this.
Every vampire emerging from that vehicle would immediately know what had passed between her and Saber. It was impossible to hide the marks on their necks or the bond forged between them.
It was such a private, life-changing bond they’d created. They could never hide it as it would be apparent to every vampire they encountered.
Declan stopped the vehicle, parked it, and was the first to exit. His auburn hair glistened in the sun as he shaded his eyes against its light. He turned to survey the property before focusing on them.
“Are you ready for this?” Saber asked.
“No,” she said honestly. “Are you?”
“No.”
But he lifted his sword from where he’d set it beside the door and stepped away as he headed toward the vehicle. Caro followed as doors opened and more passengers emerged from the SUV.
She felt her connection with Saber closing as he worked to shut her out. She wasn’t sad it closed, she far preferred having her mind to herself, but the sense of loss following it astonished her a little.
As they approached, Declan started to smile before his eyes widened. He looked from Saber’s neck to hers and back again. “It seems there’s been another development.”
“There has,” Saber said and raised his sword to show the others. He wasn’t about to get into his personal life with anyone. “Caro has created a magnificent sword.”
Declan studied him before nodding and shifting his attention to the weapon Saber held before him.
“It’s beautiful,” Willow murmured.
“And strong,” Saber said.
“Of course it is,” Caro stated.
Saber smiled over her unwavering confidence, even if she wasn’t thrilled about having vampires she didn’t know on her property. Nothing would ever shake her conviction in her work.
“My name is Carolina, but you can call me Caro.”
A woman with dark brown hair that had shades of lighter brown interwoven through it approached them. Her ochre-colored eyes shone with warmth as they flitted between her and Saber.
Then they settled on the bite marks on Caro’s neck and almost bulged out of her head. She should have taken her hair down before coming out here, but it wouldn’t have mattered. They couldn’t hide their intermingled scents.
The woman held out her hands to Caro, and after a second of hesitation, Caro clasped them. She knew, without being told, who this woman was and couldn’t turn her away.
“It’s nice to meet you; I’m Brie.”
Caro smiled at Saber’s sister. “It’s nice to meet you too.”
When Brie’s attention shifted to Saber, Caro sensed her longing for her brother, but he remained rigid beside her. All signs of the man who comforted her minutes ago were gone.
