Page 87 of Warrior Unraveled

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Virginia felt like she’d landed in a different world. With every new vampire she was introduced to, she wondered more and more why her own people had such prejudices against them. They seemed perfectly civilized, though at times a little rambunctious.

Haven had scared her at first when he’d entered Samson’s office, and though she’d been prepared to make herself invisible to escape, she’d quickly recognized that Haven was only reacting out of love and worry for his brother. She could sense the trust between all of them like glue that held them together as one big family. Just like her own race, sworn to defend each other against their common enemy.

While a meeting was hastily organized, Virginia stood next to Wesley in the corner of a large conference room.

“Sorry about my brother earlier.” Wes shrugged. “He practically raised me after our mother was killed by a vampire, and sometimes he still acts like my father. Older brothers can be a pain in the butt sometimes.”

“Your mother was killed by a vampire? Then how can you and your brother work with them? I mean, knowing it was one of their kind?” It was unfathomable to her.

Wesley’s kind smile didn’t falter. “Would you say the same if it had been a witch who killed my mother, or a human? Or a Stealth Guardian who killed another Stealth Guardian? You can’t condemn an entire race for the actions of one individual. It’s not fair to blame others for what he did. He alone was responsible, not his friends, not his family, and not other members of his species.” He sighed. “The vampire who killed her did it to protect his own race. He thought it was for the good of his people. I can’t fault him for that. He’s a good man. He did what he thought was necessary.”

“You know who he is?”

Wes nodded.

Stunned, she asked, “Didn’t you want to take revenge? To do to him what he did to your mother?”

“An eye for an eye? Yes, I wanted that. When I was young and foolish. Both Haven and I wanted to avenge her. Haven became a vampire slayer. He killed many. I would have too, but I wasn’t very good at it. Haven constantly had to help me out of one jam or another. But no matter what he or I did, it didn’t give me the peace I sought. This was before I understood the reason why my mother had to die. Only then was I able to make peace with myself.”

There was a sadness in Wesley’s eyes that she wished she could wipe away. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. Things happen for a reason. My mother was possessed with lust for power. She robbed me and my siblings of our powers, hoping to harness the Power of Three for herself. Hamish and I never knew that we were witches. And Katie…” A pained looked crossed his face. “The vampire kidnapped her to make sure the Power of Three could never be resurrected. For a long time we thought Katie was dead.” He suddenly smiled. “But we found her. And Scanguards helped us. My mother’s attempt to steal our power was foolish. Had the vampire who killed her not taken action, she would have destroyed the world as we know it. And I would have never become the man I am today. Nor would my siblings be as happy as they are now: bonded to their vampire mates.”

“You truly bear no ill will toward the vampires?”

“They’re my family now. They would die for me. And I for them.”

Virginia swallowed away the lump in her throat. Such honor. Such pride. How could she have ever mistrusted this man? Every bone in his body spoke of truth. Of peace. And of love.

“Wes,” she murmured.

“Hmm?”

“What you said in the garage when we arrived…”

“Yeah?”

“Did you mean it?”

His baby-blue eyes sparkled even brighter than before, or maybe it was just the way the light from the ceiling reflected in his irises.

“Why don’t we talk about that later when we’re at my house?” He made a motion with his head. “I’d rather not be overheard by my colleagues.”

She cast a look at the vampires who’d started filling the room, and saw indeed a few who were now turning their heads.

“I get it.”

“Besides,” Wesley added and leaned closer, “there’s something I wanted to ask you about that golden shimmer.”

Her breath hitched. She’d known that he would eventually ask. But was she ready for it? Was she ready to give that much of herself to a man she barely knew? Even if that man was turning out to be everything she’d never dared to hope for. Could she take that risk?

“Don’t look so scared, babe,” Wes whispered. “It’s just a question, not the Spanish inquisition.”

Easy for him to say. In fact, everything seemed so easy for Wesley: the way he’d introduced her as his girlfriend to Blake and John, the way he possessively held her hand, not caring if anybody saw it, the way he seemed to accept this fledgling relationship between them. As if it were entirely natural and normal. When she knew that it was anything but. They were from different worlds. There was so much they didn’t know about each other. So much baggage in both their lives. Yet it appeared that Wesley had managed to throw off the shackles of his past and find a way to live freely. Could she achieve the same thing with his help? To free herself of her guilt and finally accept that everybody made mistakes?

Wes squeezed her arm, and Virginia nodded. “Okay, we’ll talk later.”