Page 14 of Warrior Unraveled

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Virginia let go of Wesley’s arms.

They’d arrived at their destination. But she needed a few moments to steady herself—and not because of the ride in the portal. As a Stealth Guardian she didn’t experience the disorientation that humans and other creatures seemed prone to when traveling this way. However, touching Wesley, something she’d been forced to do to transport him with her, had sent a tingling feeling from her palms through her entire body. A not at all unpleasant tingling feeling. And that unnerved her.

His muscles had tensed under her touch, and she’d felt their strength. Despite the fact that he wasn’t as strong as she, it was clear that this man took care of his body, trained it to gain physical strength that didn’t automatically come with being a witch. Stealth guardians, demons, and vampires, yes, their physical strength was part of their nature. But a witch’s body wasn’t much different from that of a human. Only their knowledge of magic made them dangerous. Of course, within the walls of the Stealth Guardians’ compounds, magic couldn’t exist.

Then why did she feel as if she was under his spell whenever he looked at her with those baby-blue eyes? Did he have other powers, powers she had no defenses against?

“Something wrong?” Wesley asked all of a sudden.

“We’re here.” She jerked her thumb behind them, where the portal had already opened.

“Thanks for the ride.” He smirked and turned around to leave the portal.

She was glad for it, because his words had conjured up an altogether different kind of ride, a ride that involved her straddling a naked witch. And the image made her cheeks blaze with fire. Forcing the thoughts out of her mind, she exited the portal.

Wesley stood in the corridor, waiting for her.

“Funny,” he said and shook his head. “No alarm. It went off like gangbusters when I used the portal the first time.”

Virginia nodded. “Because you used it alone. The presence of a Stealth Guardian overrides the alarm.”

“Interesting.”

Hmm. Maybe she shouldn’t have told him that. Too late. Not that he would be able to do anything with it. He couldn’t very well overpower her or any other member of her species and force that person to operate the portal for him.

“So, where are we?”

“At the council compound.”

“And where’s that?”

Virginia scoffed. “Do you really think I would tell you? Only the Stealth Guardians know its location. Not even their human mates are privy to that information. So I’m sure as hell not gonna give it to you.”

Wesley shrugged as if it didn’t matter to him. “Just making conversation.”

She didn’t believe that for a second. “Sure.” Then she tilted her head toward one of the corridors. “This way.”

He turned, but waited until she was next to him, before he started walking. Knowing that any escape attempt would be futile, she didn’t insist on having him walk ahead of her. She could watch him just as well from the side. At least this way, she wouldn’t have to look at his tight backside, which filled his pants in a way that should be illegal.

The walk was a short one, two corridors, two flights of stairs, and they reached the double doors to the council chambers. In front of it, a warrior was standing sentry. He nodded at her, a sign that he recognized her.

Virginia stopped a few feet away from him. Wesley did the same. “Is the Council of Nine assembled?” she asked.

“Yes, Counselor Robson. They are ready for you.” He stretched his hand out. “Any electronic devices, please.”

Without hesitating, she pulled her cell phone from her pocket and handed it to the guard. When he looked at Wesley, Virginia shook her head. “The prisoner’s phone has already been confiscated. It’s still at the compound we came from.”

The guard nodded and placed Virginia’s device into a niche next to the double doors. The cell phones of the other council members lay there, too. It was a security measure: no recording devices were allowed in the chambers, so the council members could speak freely.

The guard opened the double doors. “Go right in.”

Virginia nodded to him, then motioned Wesley to enter with her. The door shut quietly behind them.

When they entered the council chamber, the councilors were talking quietly amongst themselves. Now, all their murmuring ceased, and eight pairs of eyes landed on her and her prisoner.

“Primus,” she said. “Fellow council members.”