Page 22 of Warrior Unraveled

“We’ll figure out where we are together.” He smiled. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

“I wasn’t trying—”

“I know,” he interrupted and let go of her arm, only to take her hand and twine his fingers with hers.

For the first time in a long time she was glad not to be alone. She stopped herself short from saying so out loud. Had she hit her head or was it Wesley’s kiss that had rendered her all emotional and soft? Goddamn it, she was a warrior, not some damsel in distress! She had to get a hold of herself before she said something she might later regret.

She pointed to the boulder. “Let’s check out where that light’s coming from.” She marched toward it, Wes by her side, while she pretended not to notice that he was still holding her hand.

The rock was taller than herself by about two feet and as wide as a garage door. She slowed her steps, made eye contact with Wesley, and put her index finger over her lips. He nodded.

Careful not to make a sound, she inched around the side and peered past the boulder. A path wound its way through a formation of rocks. She looked up. The ceiling was made of stone, though she couldn’t really call it a ceiling. It seemed natural, not man-made. A tunnel of sorts.

The light came from flames that seemed to shoot through cracks in the rock. Behind her, Wesley moved and squeezed his head past her. She felt him inhale audibly, and her own nose itched at the same time.

“Sulfur,” he whispered into her ear.

She’d recognized it, too. Worry traveled up her spine. She turned her head to look at Wes and motioned him to follow her. She treaded lightly, careful not to make a sound in the cavernous walkway, her gaze vigilant. She looked for signs that might help her figure out where they were, but there were none. No markings on the walls, no runes, nothing.

The stench of sulfur grew stronger.

Somewhere in the distance she heard a rumbling. She froze instantly. Wes slung his arm around her from behind and pulled her against his chest. Before she could protest, she heard something else: footsteps. More than one person was approaching.

“This way,” Wes whispered in her ear and tried to pull her in the opposite direction.

She shook her head, twisted in his arms and pressed him against the wall, then put her hand over his mouth. There was no time to get away. If she could hear footsteps, whoever was approaching would hear theirs. Maybe they already had.

All she could do was stay where she was.

And render Wesley and herself invisible.

Just in time, as it turned out. Because the three men walking toward them weren’t human.

In the subdued light of the cavern, their eyes shimmered green. Demon green.