Page 76 of Warrior Unraveled

“But Leila is human. Are you sure she’s alright?” he asked instead.

Aiden smiled. “I’m touched that you care so much about my wife’s wellbeing, but I assure you, she’s more than alright.” He looked away, and Wesley followed his gaze and saw Leila smiling back at them.

“Do you mind if I congratulate her?”

“Go ahead.”

Wes made his way through the well-wishers. Leila looked at him.

“I’m very happy for both of you.” He reached for her hand, and she allowed it.

“Thank you, Wesley. If you really want to do something for me, a couple of pancakes would be great.” She gifted him with a wide smile.

“Come, I’ll make you some fresh ones,” he said and took her elbow, when somebody bumped into him from behind. He lost his balance and stumbled forward, toward Leila. She caught him, and in the process of steadying himself, his hand slipped to her stomach. There was no noticeable bump yet, but there was something else he picked up. Though he wasn’t a hundred percent certain, since the contact had been so brief.

Wes straightened.

“Everything okay?” Aiden said behind him.

Wes nodded, but didn’t turn, and instead looked at Leila. “Leila, I know this might sound like an odd request, but do you mind if I put my hand on your stomach?”

“Why?” Aiden walked to stand beside his wife, though he didn’t put his arm around her like he normally did when Wes saw them together.

“I noticed something about the pregnancy when we bumped into each other just now. I want to make sure.”

Leila and Aiden exchanged a look, then Leila nodded. “Okay.”

Wes looked at Aiden, making sure he too was giving his permission. A barely perceivable nod told him it was fine, so Wes laid his palm on Leila’s stomach, then closed his eyes and concentrated.

A moment later he opened his eyes and removed his hand. “I can hear two heartbeats.”

“Of course, mine and the baby’s,” Leila said.

Wes smiled and shook his head. “Two heartbeats coming from your womb. You’re having twins. Congratulations.”

“Twins?” Leila murmured and looked at her husband. “Oh, Aiden.” It looked like she wanted to put her arms around him, but she didn’t, and neither did he.

“Come on, Aiden, what is wrong with you today? Aren’t you even gonna hug your wife?”

Aiden sighed. “Could somebody please explain to Wes why I can’t do that?” He looked around. “Logan?”

“Sure thing,” Logan immediately said and put his arm around Wesley’s shoulder, leading him toward the living room.

“What is all this?” Wes asked, getting a little annoyed about all the secrecy.

“Listen, maybe Virginia should explain this to you, but clearly you guys aren’t at that stage in your relationship yet,” Logan said carefully and rather quietly.

Wes lifted an eyebrow but didn’t contradict him.

“Anyway. Between couples there’s sex and then there’s sex the Stealth Guardian way.”

“The Stealth Guardian way?”

“Yeah. It’s intense. In their case”—Logan motioned in Aiden’s and Leila’s direction—“Aiden poured his virta, his life force, into Leila while they made love. That’s what makes her shimmer golden for hours afterwards. But what it also does is make her climax every time he touches her.”

“But everybody else hugged her, and I touched her too.”

“It only happens if the person touching her is the same one who gave her his virta.”