Page 23 of Warrior Unraveled

8

Wesley wanted to curse. Two things prevented him from doing so: Virginia’s hand pressed over his mouth, and the knowledge that should he utter a sound, they were as good as dead. Because it was now clear as glass where they’d landed: the Underworld.

The few days he’d spent with the guardians at the Baltimore compound had given him a general understanding of the world of the Demons of Fear and what role the Stealth Guardians played in it. The rest he could piece together by himself.

Sulfur—not just the smell of it, but also the thin yellow layer that covered portions of the walls and ground—lava rock, and guys with glaring green eyes. Yep, welcome to Zoltan’s Underworld. From the frying pan into the eternal fire. His day had just taken a turn for the worse. He could only hope that Virginia’s powers worked down here, and that she was able to cloak them so the demons would just walk by. Surely that was her plan, even though he didn’t feel any different, and he could still see her. But there was no time to ask her and get any reassurance. All he could do was stand there like a potted plant and hope for the best.

Not his favorite pastime.

Though he wasn’t going to complain about one thing: Virginia’s body pressed to his, her soft fingers on his lips. While this was no romantic embrace, at least knowing that she was trying to protect him made him feel somewhat better about the situation.

Holding his breath, Wes watched the three demons approach. They carried daggers in their hands and on their hips, their clothes not dissimilar from that of any guerilla group: brown or dark green cargo pants, shirts with plenty of pockets for knives, weapons, and whatnots, jackets with even more pockets, heavy boots to kick the shit out of anybody or to crush a rodent beneath their soles.

Apart from their eyes, they looked humanoid. Just a bunch of average, everyday human scum. And that’s exactly what they had been before turning demon—Aiden had explained it a few days earlier. Committing an evil act in the name of the demons turned a human’s soul so dark that the demons could make it theirs, thus turning the human into a demon.

Wes shuddered at the thought.

When the demons were only a few feet away, Wes instinctively put his arm around Virginia’s back, drawing her even closer—as if he could protect her that way. He knew he couldn’t, but it didn’t stop him from holding her tight.

Without even glancing at him and Virginia, the demons marched past them. Wes turned his head to watch them disappear in the other direction, but he didn’t dare breathe until finally, after an eternity, he couldn’t hear their footsteps anymore.

He looked back at Virginia, and realized only now that she’d taken her hand off his mouth.

She swallowed hard. “We’re in the demons’ domain.”

“No shit,” he murmured back, keeping his voice low. “What are we gonna do now?”

“Well, you tell me!” she snapped and freed herself from his embrace. “I didn’t do anything to bring us down here. You must have done something when we were in the portal.”

“What?” he ground out. “You were driving! So don’t put this on me!”

“You must have done something. No member of our race has ever entered the Underworld.” She glared at him in suspicion.

“Well, that’s rich! I saved your ass back there in the compound and—”

“So what was your plan? Deliver me to the demons?”

“My plan?” He grabbed her and pressed her against the stone wall. “My plan was to fuck you, okay? My plan was to strip you naked and sink my cock into you until neither you nor I could move another limb. When will you get that into your pretty little head? I’m a man, and I’ve got the hots for you. Maybe that’s stupid. Maybe it’s gonna cost me my life. But, by God, I have no ulterior motive other than getting into your pants!” He released her and pushed back from the wall. “And now I want to get the hell out of here before those fucking demons find us and kill us!”

“So you really—”

He cut her off with a glare.

Virginia nodded quickly. “Fine, let’s find a way out. Maybe you can start pulling your weight by using your witchcraft.”

“My witchcraft?” He frowned. “But—” That’s when it struck him. He looked around. No runes anywhere he could see. The runes carved into the walls, floors, and ceilings of the compound had bridled his witchcraft, but down here, he saw nothing that prevented him from accessing his powers.

He grinned. “Excellent!” He suddenly noticed how Virginia inched away from him. Scoffing, he rolled his eyes. “One of these day you’re going to learn to trust me.” He offered his hand, palm up. “Haven’t I laid my cards on the table? The only thing you have to fear from me is me trying to kiss you again. Other than that, you’re safe.” He smirked.

A blush rose to her cheeks, then she placed her hand into his.

“Can you keep us cloaked?”

She nodded. “Yes. I’ll have to touch you. I could do it with my mind, but it takes more energy. And I’d rather save it in case we’re discovered and need to fight.”

He raised an eyebrow, grinning. “I have no problem with you touching me.”

Now it was her turn for an eyeroll.