Page 62 of Guardian

“We need to go back to San Francisco,” Logan said.

“No,” Manus replied.

They were already moving, before Logan could ask his friend where they were headed. For once he didn’t protest. Manus wouldn’t go through the hassle of saving him only to catapult him into the fire.

After a few seconds, Logan felt his body still and he knew they’d arrived. The portal’s door opened and Manus stepped out first, Logan followed. He glanced around.

“You brought me to Baltimore?”

“Safest place right now. Nobody will assume that you’re hiding out in your own compound.”

“And the others?”

“They’re all in agreement. We’re a team. We don’t leave anybody behind. Even if that person is irrational.”

He ignored the jab. “But Winter. She’s still in San Francisco. The council will find her.” And he wouldn’t be there to protect her.

Manus rolled his eyes once more. “I’m not an amateur. Come on.”

~ ~ ~

Winter paced in the great room that connected with a modern kitchen. She wasn’t alone. Enya, the Stealth Guardian woman who’d whisked her away from San Francisco, was with her—whether as her protector or her prison guard, Winter hadn’t yet determined. Nobody had said much to her though they’d treated her kindly, not applying any force on the trip to this compound, as they called it. Nevertheless, she felt like a prisoner.

Frustrated she turned to Enya. “I need to know what’s going on. Where is Logan?”

Enya tossed her the kind of look she’d give a child who was asking Are we there yet? for the hundredth time. “We’re working on that.”

“What does that mean?”

Enya’s jaw tightened visibly. “It means we’re working on it, okay? Now why don’t you eat something or watch TV, and stop pestering me with questions I don’t have the answers to?”

Before Enya looked away, Winter recognized something in her eyes, something that belied her dismissive words.

“You’re worried about him, too, aren’t you?”

Enya pivoted and narrowed her eyes. “Well, gee, you are a psychic!” Her words dripped with sarcasm.

“Enya, why are you so hostile toward me? I haven’t done anything.”

“Oh, haven’t you?” She braced her hands on her hips. “No, little Miss Innocent didn’t do anything other than seduce Logan into betraying his race! And to think I was on your side when I heard the council voted to kill you!” Enya huffed angrily. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? Do you? Logan could be executed for this. And it’ll all be your fault.”

“They’d need to find me first.”

Winter’s gaze shot to the person who’d spoken. “Logan!” He was entering the kitchen, Manus on his heels.

Logan locked eyes with her, and Winter’s heart began to pound. He marched right toward her and pulled her into a tight embrace. “You’re safe.”

“You’re welcome,” Enya mumbled behind him.

Releasing Winter from his embrace, but keeping his hand on her lower back, Logan looked at his compound mate. “I owe you one, Enya. I owe all of you.”

His words seemed to pacify her somewhere, because she said, “Well, we couldn’t let them just take you away from us. Imagine the workload if we had to pick up your share too.”

“Truth,” Manus added and slapped Enya on the shoulder. “And you know how lazy we are.”

The door suddenly opened and more people streamed into the room. She’d met one of them before: Hamish. But the other two men and two women were strangers. As were the two toddlers who ran past the adults and charged into the room, giggling and chasing each other. Children were the last thing she’d expected to see in this place.

Logan looked at Winter and said, “I think it’s time for introductions. The important people first.” He snatched the toddlers, one with each arm and lifted them up. “What are you two still doing up? It’s the middle of the night. Shouldn’t you be sleeping?”