Page 50 of Warrior Unraveled

Wes gave her a sideways glance. “Then how do they get in contact with you when they have news for you?”

“They’re given a phone number to call, and we get in contact with them when it’s safe.”

“And the number,” Wes mused, “can it be traced?”

“No,” Pearce said firmly. “Not a chance.”

That didn’t leave very many theories that were viable. “Virginia, you said the mate of a guardian wouldn’t know where the council compound is located, right?” Wes didn’t look at her, but turned to the others, all of whom, to his surprise, were suddenly staring at him as if he’d just committed the greatest faux pas. He quickly glanced at Virginia, who was glaring at him sternly.

“Counselor Robson is right,” Aiden said, putting emphasis on the first two words.

That was when Wesley realized why everybody was looking at him as if he’d grown horns. He’d called Virginia by her first name.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, people,” Wes cursed. “What are we standing on ceremony for? We could all be dead by tomorrow for all we know. So let’s not get bent out of shape because I called Counselor Robson by her first name. I think after saving her ass from the demons, I’ve earned it.”

For a second everybody seemed to hold their breath, then Virginia looked at the guardians and said, “I suppose it makes things easier for everybody. Forget about calling me counselor.” When everybody nodded, she addressed Wesley again. “You were saying?”

“The human mates of your guardians. Though they don’t know the location of the council compound they would know the location of the compound they lived at with their mate, right?”

Both Aiden and Hamish squared their shoulders.

“What are you insinuating?” Hamish hissed.

“Our women are beyond reproach,” Aiden grunted.

Wes lifted his hands in a defensive motion. He had no intention of alienating Aiden and Hamish. “I didn’t mean to suggest that your wives would do anything to hurt you or your kind. But I’m sure you’re not the only guardians who have human mates. Any of them could be a weak link that the demons could exploit.”

“Hmm.” Hamish crossed his arms over his chest.

Aiden did the same.

Wes sighed. So much for voicing his opinion.

Manus now rose from his chair. “Don’t worry about those two. They’re just protective of their women. But since I’m objective, I can follow your logic.”

Hamish scoffed at Manus’s comment. “That’d be a first.”

Manus tossed him a shut-the-fuck-up look, then said, “So, Wes, what I think you’re saying is that it’s possible that the demons got to one of the human mates, maybe even without her knowing it, possibly by simply following her.”

“Exactly. She might not have even been aware she was being tailed. She might have inadvertently led a demon to one of the compounds, where the demon found the portal and accessed the council compound from there. Isn’t that possible? I mean can they access a portal with their powers?”

“We’re not sure. In any case, there was no alarm,” Virginia said.

“What if the demons were able to eliminate the alarm?”

“Hmm. But they’d have to have had a Stealth Guardian with them in the portal to operate it.”

Wes thought about Virginia’s assertion. She’d said as much when she had transported him to the council compound. “Is there any other way into the compounds? This sounds like a dumb question, but did you check the front door? Is there a front door?”

The guardians hesitated, then their glances turned to Virginia—looking for approval.

Finally, Hamish answered, “There are doors, simply because we can’t get humans or other creatures, witches for example, through the walls. So should we arrive at the compound in any way other than via a portal, we have to use one of the normal entrances to bring the human in. It doesn’t happen often, because humans aren’t allowed in the compounds.”

“Other than human mates,” Virginia clarified.

“Yes,” Hamish consented. “Our human mates do occasionally have to use the doors. But that doesn’t mean the demons would be able to find them.”

“Why not?” Wes asked.