Warrior Unraveled

by Tina Folsom

  The voices in the chamber grew louder, reaching a fever pitch. Virginia jumped up, trying to get the others’ attention.

  She didn’t succeed.

  Because something else caught everybody’s attention first. Strobe lights suddenly flashed overhead, followed by a loud shrill sound, which drowned out the conversations in the room.

  A computer voice followed. “Intruder detected. Security breached.”

  “Fuck!” Virginia cursed.

  The alarm continued. “Intruder detected. Security breached.”

  Everybody jumped up.

  “Initiate security protocol!” Barclay ordered.

  The double doors flung open and two guards charged in. “Demon attack!”

  “Is that confirmed?” Virginia yelled at the guard who’d spoken, running toward him.

  “Confirmed.”

  “How many?”

  “We don’t know yet,” the guard replied, as the second guard issued orders. “Council members, to the portal, now!”

  “Quickly!” Barclay shouted.

  It was essential that the Council of Nine survive the attack, but Virginia had been a warrior for too long. She couldn’t just run. She had to stay and fight.

  “You go,” she said to Barclay. “I’ll make sure the witch pays for this!”

  Barclay grabbed her arm. “You don’t know that this is his doing.”

  “Wake up, Primus! Nobody’s ever breached our defenses before. And the moment I bring this witch here, the demons attack? That’s no coincidence. I’ll make him pay, even if it’s the last thing I do.”

  Virginia ripped free of Barclay’s hold and charged out of the council chamber. Guards were swarming the corridors, running in one direction. She raced past them, veered off into the next hallway, then barreled down one flight of stairs, toward the cell.

  She’d let her feelings—her irrational physical attraction to a damn witch—cloud her judgment like a fogged mirror. She’d been ready to volunteer shadowing him to find out what he was up to. She’d been prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt. But she had no doubts any longer.

  Somehow, Wesley Montgomery had led the demons to their stronghold.

  And for that he’d pay with his life.

  Virginia ran faster, hoping she wasn’t too late, hoping the demons hadn’t already freed their accomplice from the lead cell.

  As she approached, she heard Wesley’s voice echoing in the corridor.

  “Hey! What’s going on there? Somebody get me out of here!” he yelled through the slit in the door. “Can anybody hear me?”

  “I can hear you,” she murmured to herself. “Don’t you worry. I’ll take care of you.”

  With one hand she pulled her dagger from the sheath at her hip, with the other, she unlocked the door and yanked it open.

  “Thank God it’s—” His voice died mid-sentence, his gaze pinning the dagger in her hand. “What the fuck?” He stumbled backward, farther into the cell.

  “You led the demons to us! You’re dead, witch!” She lunged at him, following him into the lead cell. A mistake, she realized immediately, but she was armed, and he wasn’t, and if she was quick about it…

  “Virginia, don’t!” Wesley yelled, throwing his arms up in defense, blocking her dagger.

  Shit! She should have had no trouble killing him with one well-aimed thrust.

  But the lead in the cell was already starting to drain her supernatural powers. No matter. She would still kill him.

  Again, she lunged at him.

  ~ ~ ~

  Wesley ducked sideways. Virginia meant business. She really wanted to kill him. The dagger in her hand said as much. And if that wasn’t enough, her eyes spewed pure venom.

  “Shit, Virginia! I don’t wanna hurt you!” Though he had to defend himself.

  “But I wanna hurt you!”

  He walked backward, and like two fighters in a ring, they started circling each other. Somehow he had to get her to listen to him. Before she managed to drive that dagger into his flesh.

  “Please, Virginia. I’ve done nothing.”

  “You led the demons to us. It was you!” she hissed. “It couldn’t have been anybody else. I don’t know how you did it. But you did.”

  “No! I would never hurt you or your people. You have to believe me.”

  “Liar!”

  She charged toward him, and he had no choice but to act. He deflected the dagger by raising his arm and pushing against her, driving her back. The move was surprisingly easy, as if she wasn’t trying very hard. Why wasn’t she using her supernatural powers against him? She could have easily smashed him against the wall and pinned him there, slit him open with her dagger without much effort. What was holding her back?

  When she jumped toward him again, he managed to grab her dagger hand, wrapping his hand around her wrist and thus disabling her. She tried to pull free of him, but failed.

  That’s when it hit him: the lead cell. Aiden hadn’t wanted to enter it either. What had he said? Something about the lead draining his energy. Wes realized it then: being inside the cell was weakening Virginia. It meant he had a chance.

  “Fuck, Virginia! Stop this. I’m not gonna hurt you.” How could he when he wanted nothing more than to kiss her?

  “You betrayed us!” She glared at him. “You’re a dead man!”

  She kneed him in the balls, a move he hadn’t seen coming.

  “Ugh!”

  He doubled over. Clearly, even in her weakened state, she was still a respectable warrior.

  He’d lost. Shit!

  Maybe he should have heeded his boss’s warning. But he’d been cocky, thinking his charm could get him out of any jam. Apparently not. He was about to die at the hands of a woman he lusted after. What irony!

  When he heard a sound, he lifted his head to look his killer in the eye. But Virginia was spinning around, looking toward the cell door. A figure darkened it.

  “Fuck!” Virginia cursed.

  Though Wes couldn’t see the guy’s face, he saw two green lights flickering where his eyes had to be. An altogether different kind of green than the flecks of emerald in Virginia’s eyes. An unnatural green. He’d spent sufficient time with the guardians at the Baltimore compound to know that those were green demon eyes—the only outward sign of a demon.

  Virginia was already charging toward the attacker, dagger in hand. The guy was massive. And while Virginia wasn’t exactly petite, but tall and clearly a well-trained warrior, she was weaker inside the cell. It was evident. Which meant he had no choice but to help her defeat the demon—or they would both die.

  “Crap!” Wes grunted and barreled after her.

  In the dim light of the cell, Virginia was exchanging blows with the demon. It was immediately clear that her enemy was stronger. Somehow Wes had to try to divert the demon’s attention from her so she could slip past him and draw him outside, where she’d be stronger. He could only hope that once outside the cell, her strength would immediately return, or they’d still be fucked.

  “Hey coward, fight somebody your own size,” Wes yelled.

  The taunt made the demon whirl his head to glare at Wes. With a dismissive huff, he turned his attention back to Virginia. The second’s distraction hadn’t done anything to improve her situation. She could barely keep her attacker at bay, kicking him, trying to land blows and thrusting with her dagger hand. To no avail. The demon landed punch after punch.

  “Shit!”

  With a yell akin to an Indian war cry, Wesley jumped and kicked his leg high up where it connected with the demon’s forearm, preventing him from thrusting his dagger into Virginia’s chest. But instead of losing his grip on the weapon, the animal pivoted and lunged at Wes.

  “Ah fuck!” Wes dove to the left, out of the demon’s path not a second too soon, tumbling and rolling. He found his footing again a moment later and spun around, arms wide, legs in a fighting stance, but the demon had already lost interest and charged toward Virginia again.

>   Wes watched the demon fling her against the wall and go after her.

  Somewhat dazed, Virginia tried to land on her feet but failed. Her dagger clattered to the stone floor and she lunged for it. The demon got there first, his foot landing on the dagger’s hilt.

  Virginia lifted her head, staring up at the demon. “Shit.”

  “Ah fuck it!” Wes grunted and jumped the demon from behind, wrapping his arms around the guy’s neck in an attempt to choke him. But the asshole was too strong. Wes could only hold on for dear life while the demon tried to shake him off.

  “Get out of the cell, Virginia! Run!” he yelled, just as the demon managed to pry Wesley’s arms off him and fling him into a corner.

  Immediately, the demon ran straight after Virginia, who was racing into the corridor.

  With the door clear of any obstruction now, light from the corridor briefly reflected on something on the floor. Wes snapped his head toward it. The dagger. Virginia hadn’t managed to take it. And without a weapon, she wouldn’t have a chance against the demon.

  Wes staggered to his feet and snatched the dagger, then charged out of the cell.

  What he saw nearly stopped his heart. The demon had Virginia pinned to the floor. She was struggling, kicking and punching to save her life, but her attacker’s dagger was getting closer and closer to her neck. How much longer could she hold him off?

  Wes lunged at the demon, aiming his foot at the demon’s head, kicking it like David Beckham. The demon’s head snapped to the side, and the momentum flung him sideways, lifting him off Virginia. But Wes knew the guy wasn’t defeated yet. He jumped onto him and plunged Virginia’s dagger into the demon’s heart. Twisted it. Drove it deeper.

  “Go to hell!”

  Breathing hard, still on top of the demon, who was gurgling helplessly now, Wes saw green blood spill from the wound. Disgusted, he jumped up before the vile liquid could stain him.

  Without taking his eyes off the dying demon, Wes asked, “Are you okay, Virginia?”

  He heard her getting to her feet and chanced a look at her. She seemed unhurt.

  “Talk to me, Virginia.”

  She walked toward him, unsteady at first.

  “You killed the demon.”

  Wes stared at the creature. He wasn’t moving anymore. No sound. No breath. Just green blood staining the stone floor, the hilt of the dagger sticking out from his chest.

  “Yeah, he’s dead.”

  “Why did you kill him?”

  Wes tossed her a questioning look. “What the fuck?”

  “If this is a ruse to make me trust you…”

  “A ruse?”

  “Yeah, to save me from a demon so I’ll believe you’re not working with them.”

  For an instant, he stood there frozen in stunned disbelief. Then he shook his head and raised his arms in defeat.

  “You know what, Virginia? I’ve had it. I’m at the end of my wits. Go ahead, kill me. Do whatever you want to me, because clearly, no matter what I do—save your hide, risk my life for you, or whatever else—you’re never gonna believe me anyway. Just put me out of my misery.”

  Suddenly she grabbed him and pressed him against the wall, pinning him there.

  He met her penetrating gaze, trying to read her intentions. “Virginia?”

  “Shut up, witch!”

  Her lips were on his a split second later, paralyzing him. For a moment, he couldn’t even react, too surprised was he by her action. But then his instincts kicked in, and he wrapped his arms around her, holding her to him. He kissed her hard. Then he separated his mouth from hers.

  “Name’s still Wesley.”

  He didn’t give her time to respond. Instead, he slanted his lips over her mouth and took what he’d wanted from the moment he first laid eyes on her. Her lips softened under his demand and parted to accept his invasion.

  Virginia was different from what he’d expected. The tough warrior with the will of steel was gone. In its stead was a woman who molded her tantalizing body to his as if her life depended on it. As if she submitted to him without question.

  Her lips tasted of hunger, her tongue of need, and her breath of desire. With every slide of his tongue against hers, with every swipe against her teeth, every press of his lips to hers, the fire inside him intensified. He’d kissed a lot of women, slept with more than he cared to remember, but rarely had a woman ignited such need in him. Or roused his cock so rapidly. Because, boy, was he hard.

  Wes slid his hand down to Virginia’s leather-encased ass and jerked her against his hard-on, needing to show her what she did to him. She moaned into his mouth, a reaction he welcomed. Maybe she was finally accepting that he had no intention of hurting her. That his intentions were of an entirely different nature and involved them being naked and clinched in an altogether different battle: the battle of who would make whom come first.

  And why not start with their clothes on? Determined to make this headstrong redhead surrender to him in every way, Wes grabbed her ass with both hands and rubbed his cock against her center. Even through her leather pants he could feel her heat.

  Virginia was more passionate than he’d expected, even for a redhead. She was fire personified. Hot to the touch. Sizzling hot. Nothing could stop him now. He didn’t care what it took, but to make Virginia climax in his arms was his mission now. It didn’t matter that they were in a corridor, with a dead demon lying at their feet, where anybody could come upon them. He couldn’t waste this opportunity. He had to show Virginia that she could trust him. And what better way to do that than by showing her what pleasure he could bestow on her?

  Beep-beep-beep.

  The high-pitched sound nearly pierced his eardrum.

  Beep-beep-beep.

  “Evacuate,” a computer voice announced from somewhere in the ceiling.

  Virginia stopped moving against him and ripped her lips from his. “Shit!”

  7

  Virginia gave Wesley a quick shove, forcing him to release her. She’d been about thirty seconds away from climaxing, and it had taken her nearly two seconds to realize what the beeping sound meant—so dazed had she been.

  “What’s going on?” Wesley asked, his eyes darting up and down the corridor, then back to her. “Virginia, what is that?”

  “Self-destruct. The compound’s gonna blow.” She grabbed his arm and dragged him with her. “Run!”

  “Fuck,” he cursed, and raced alongside her down the long corridor.

  “We have to make it to the portal,” she said, motioning to where the corridor intersected with another. “This way!”

  “Evacuate!” the computer voice repeated.

  “How long do we have?” Wes asked as they charged into the next corridor.

  “I don’t know. Maybe thirty seconds.” Barely enough time to get out.

  Just then, the computer voice announced, “Fifteen seconds till detonation.”

  “Guess it’s fifteen seconds,” she corrected herself. Even less of a chance to make it.

  “And there I was worried we didn’t have enough time,” Wes responded dryly.

  “Down the stairs!” Virginia yelled.

  She raced ahead, Wes on her heels. When she reached the landing, she didn’t even break her stride and lunged toward the wall only ten feet away.

  “Ten seconds till detonation,” the computer voice taunted her.

  The only thing identifying the portal was an ancient dagger carved into the stone wall.

  “Nine,” the countdown continued.

  She slammed her hand onto the carved dagger and felt heat build beneath her palm.

  “Eight.”

  The portal recognized her, yet everything seemed to take longer than usual.

  “Seven.”

  She looked over her shoulder, seeing with relief that Wes had reached her.

  “Six.”

  Finally, the wall disappeared. The portal was open.

  “Five.”

  Virginia grabbed Wesley’s arm and dra
gged him inside with her.

  “Four.”

  “Whatever you do, hold onto me. Don’t let go,” she urged him.

  “Not a chance.”

  She willed the portal to close, but for some reason it didn’t. “Shit!”

  “Three.”

  She concentrated again, taking a deep breath this time, trying to clear her mind.

  “Two.”

  Suddenly, it was dark around them. She heaved a sigh of relief. The portal had closed.

  The next sound was muffled, but even through the closed portal, she could still hear it: “One.”

  She felt Wesley grip her more tightly, one arm around her waist, one holding on to her bicep. Ignoring his presence for a moment, she willed her mind to concentrate on their destination. Away from the demons, away from the compound that had been compromised.

  The explosion hit with such power that the walls of the portal shook. She was flung in the air. Wesley’s arm around her waist slipped. Panicked she reached for him, slung both arms around him to hold on to him. She felt him do the same, wrapping his arms around her like a vise.

  Another explosion rocked the portal. Cracks split the stone walls.

  “Shit!” she cursed.

  Then the entire portal seemed to be lifted into the air, tossed around like a pebble in a rockslide. All she could do was hold on to Wesley and hope they survived.

  Fucking demons! If she could, she’d charge right into the demon’s lair and slaughter every single one of them.

  “If we’re gonna die, just wanted you to know that I’ve never had a better kiss,” Wesley suddenly said.

  Tears welled in her eyes and despite their perilous situation, she managed to bury her face in the crook of his neck. “Oh Wes, I—”

  The feeling of sudden freefall cut off her words and made a scream burst from her lips.

  “Aaaaaahhhh!” Wes yelled.

  The impact knocked the wind out of her and ripped her out of Wesley’s arms. She’d landed on hard rock, groaning in pain. At least it meant she was alive.

  “Wesley?” She lifted her head, searching for him.

  He lay only a few feet away from her. He, too, had landed on rocky ground. It was dark, though a glimmer of light shone through a crack in their stone surroundings. Were they still in the rubble of the council compound? Or had they made it out? She tried to get her bearings, but the explosion had clearly destroyed the entire compound and left only a pile of rock.