Chapter 90

Wes opened his eyes and looked up. It took several seconds for him to focus and figure out where he was. The soft breathing beside his ear reminded him that he wasn’t alone. With a smile, he turned and looked at Ann. She was devastatingly beautiful in her sleep, and he was the luckiest man in the entire solar system.

A thud vibrated through the boards. He froze and waited because it knew it would happen again.

Ann jerked up and gasped. “Is it falling down?”

He grinned and leaned over and kissed her. “No. Worse.” Shifting the blanket and several articles of clothing out of the way, he flipped the hatch open and then leaned up on his elbow to look at the ground. Standing beneath them was Leland.

He smiled. “Wes.”

“Leland.” Wes grinned back at him. “What time is it?” He had no idea where his phone was.

“Six thirty.”

Wes scowled at him. “Why are you up this early on a Saturday?”

Leland gave him a blank look. “The Brothers want to do a light spell around the lake this morning, so we’re not driving people out tomorrow morning.”

“Oh.” Wes looked at Ann. She was sitting up and hugging her shirt to her chest. He looked down at him again. “I’m required?”

Leland’s grin wasn’t friendly at all. “Yes. You Are.”

Ann moved over and leaned her head over the hole.

“Morning, Ann” Leland thankfully didn’t smile.

“Good morning, Leland.” She brushed her hair back from her face.

“Teegan and Kat are still sleeping if you want to sneak back and grab a shower.” He did grin this time.

“Oh. Thank you.” She moved away from the hole.

Wes looked down. “I’ll be at the beach in fifteen. Grab coffee.”

Leland saluted him and then turned and walked away.

Wes closed the hatch.

“How did he know we were here?”

Wes looked around for his shirt. “This is where we were when we weren’t where we were supposed to be.”

Ann hissed out a breath. “Too many words.”

Reaching over, he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer. “This is not the wake-up I would have liked.”

“I agree with that.” She kissed his mouth softly and then looked around. “I guess there’s no room service here.”

Wes laughed. “Oh, there’s probably an old bottle of water in the trunk and an expired granola bar.”

She shook her head. “No. That’s good. I’ll go forage in the kitchen while you do—” She frowned. “What are you doing?”

We found his shirt and tugged on it to get it out from under his legs. Turning it around, he found the right way. “We’re going to cast around the lake so those without magic feel the inclination to be anywhere but here.”

“Oh. That’s smart.” She leaned back and pulled her leggings on. With a smile, she tucked her underwear into the pocket of her jacket. “All of you are doing it?”

He sat there in just his shirt, wishing he could stay here just a little longer.

As if she could read his thoughts, she looked at him and smiled.

He sucked in a breath. “Yes. All the brothers, including Leland, Mitch, and myself. The more makes it a stronger barrier, no gaps.”

“Do you need more bodies?”

He sighed and watched her put her shirt on and pull it down. “No. You rest that amazing power of yours until tomorrow.”

She pulled her hair to the side and ran her hands down it like she was sorting it back into place. “Okay. I’ll make some sort of breakfast then for when you get back.”

As if on cue, his stomach grumbled. “I’m starving.”

She laughed. “So am I.” She crawled over to him. “No more tree house retreats without bringing snacks.” She kissed him.

“Deal.” he sighed again. “Have you seen my pants?”

She got up on her knees, looked around, and then pointed. They were sitting on top of the stand Leland had made when he was fourteen. “You’re lucky they didn’t catch on fire.”

He leaned back and grabbed them. “They didn’t, but I think I did a few times.” He turned the leg right side out and lay down to put them on. She sat there biting her lip. “What?”

“I’m a little put off with Leland right now.” She smiled. “I thought a slow wake-up would have been fun.”

Wes snorted. “He’s annoyed because he was woke up, so he’ll annoy anyone that tries to sleep.”

She chuckled. “Dare him to wake up Teegan like that.”

“He’s not a stupid man, just an annoying one.” Finding his jacket, he put it on and then grabbed his shoes. “I’ll go down first, so you don’t have to jump to the ground.”

She looked at the hatch. “Next tree house has a lift.”

Wes laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind.” he opened the hatch and started down.

“Wes?”

He popped his head back up. “Yeah?”

She smiled and lay down on the floor so her face was near his. “Do you think we’re going to pull this off?”

He smiled. “I know you are.”

She studied him for a moment and then kissed him.

When he reached the ground, he stretched and then looked up. “Ann?”

“Coming. I’m just putting the blanket away.”

He laughed. “Housekeeping will deal with it later.”

She leaned over the hole and smiled at him. “Maybe we can sneak back here later?”

Wes nodded. “I’m sure we’ll find the time for that.”

She smiled again and then moved away and started coming down the ladder.

As Wes watched her, he realized that they were actually together. This wasn’t some sort of fantasy like countless others he’d had about her. They were a couple—a magically bound pair. Reaching up, he took her by the waist and lifted her to the ground. He’d move hell and earth to keep her safe, so John Norman and those with him had better stay out of it tomorrow, or Wes would be breaking every vow he’d ever taken when he joined the Brotherhood.