Revealed by April Zyon

wrong, but it’s a definite possibility I’ve
been considering.”
    Riley frowned.
“Is that why Gaius is with you? To help in case there’s an attack? Did he have
help too?”
    “He came with me
in case we found the monsters waiting at the sanitarium. Now, I’m very glad he
is with us. I’m terrified that there’s a fight coming.” His arms tightened
around her, and he kissed her neck. “I can’t lose you.”
    “I can’t lose
you either,” Riley whispered. “I never want to be without you.”
    There was
another squeeze from his arms before he let her loose. “Rest, Riley. We need to
get some sleep. Morning will come all too soon.” He moved to set the glass and
cloth on a bedside table. Once she was under the blankets, he turned off the
lamp and joined her. Pulling her into his arms again, he tucked her close,
pressing a kiss to her temple.
    “Goodnight,
Hector.” Riley yawned once more. “I love you.” She stroked his chest. Then her
eyes closed and she dropped off into sleep without another word.

Chapter Six
     
    They’d been
driving since seven that morning. Hector had gotten her up early, fed her, and
they’d hit the road. Only twice did they stop, and only so she could use the
facilities. In the last twenty minutes both Hector and Gaius had become
increasingly tense.
    “We’re in the
home stretch,” Gaius said. His words sounded like a warning. But the look
Hector shot her was definitely cautionary. Which meant they were getting close
to the Mountain and a possible attack.
    Riley moved so
that she could place her hand on Hector’s shoulder and squeezed. She was in the
backseat now, both men loaded with weapons. “Whatever it takes,” she whispered.
“I trust you. I know you’ll get us there.” There was a question she was dying
to ask, but she didn’t know how.
    He turned in his
seat, a hand coming up to cup her face. “What? I can see the question in your
eyes, Riley. Ask it, sweetheart.”
    “Why is it that
they haven’t attacked you guys before now? Why didn’t they attack you and Gaius
on your way out? Why haven’t they attacked anyone going out, just when you are
coming back in with a VV?” She had been told the entire story about the vestal
virgins, about how they completed the men and so on.
    “As I said, our
numbers are few now. We’re hardly a threat to them anymore. Oh, we can still
put up a damn good fight, but they’ve been whittling away at us for a long
time. The vestal virgins, though, there’s a prize worth having. To turn
something so pure, the protector of a guardian’s soul, to their side. Power,
pure and unadulterated power.” Hector shot her a look and shrugged as he
continued, “They know that without our vestal virgin, we’re fucked. While there
were a few in the early days who got a pairing with a human, it petered out
after a while. We figured the Fates had rearranged the game board, and now we
know it to be true. The problem is—the monsters and evil all know that if they
can turn a vestal virgin to their side, they are many steps closer to full,
world domination.”
    “That’s
terrifying.” Riley shook her head and bit her lip. “I would never turn to the
darkness,” she promised. “I would never let you either. I need you here in the
light with me. You’re my guardian, my warrior, but I’m your protection from the
darkness. I’m the soft to your hard, and I’m taking that to heart. Especially
now. So, chin up, bucko. You got me now.”
    Hector kissed
her. “It’ll be fine. They can’t have you. Not now, not fucking ever. Sit back,
Riley. We still have a ways to go before we get to the Mountain. Sit back,
buckle in, and be ready just in case.”
    “Okay.” She did
just that, closing her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she shifted slightly, opened
them again, and watched the passing scenery. Feeling the joy from Hector that
she was in his life, she smiled. She was happy too. Very happy.
    “You see it?”
Gaius barked suddenly, about