Blood Warrior by H. D. Gordon

sort of realization.
    “I assure you she will be fine. I’ve been instructed to keep watch over you all tonight and I don’t take my duty lightly.” It was both a reassurance and a warning.
    I looked him up and down, as if I was sizing him up, and a slightly amused expression crossed his handsome face. I gave a slight nod and he reached around me, slipping a key card into the room door and pushing it open. I stepped inside and caught the door before he closed it.
    Before he could protest, I held up my hand. “I just… um… what’s your name?” He hesitated, as if deciding whether or not to tell me. Then, he said, “Kayden,” and shut the door.
    I walked into the room and found that it was like a small apartment. It had a small kitchen, a living room, and a bedroom with a connecting bathroom. The furniture was tasteful and comfortable; unsurprisingly, it was all decorated in gold and red. Much to my delight, it also held a large, flat-screen T.V. I didn’t feel like I needed any more entertainment for the night though, so I moved into the bedroom and threw myself across the bed, muttering
    “What have I gotten myself into?”

Chapter 19
    I woke up early the next morning and helped myself to a shower. Then, I went to my backpack and pulled out a clean pair of jeans and a black, V-neck, long-sleeved shirt. It was probably a little warm for the long sleeves, but I figured it was important to cover up my tattoo considering the reaction it got last night. I found a blow dryer in the bathroom and set it to my hair. After I was reasonably presentable, I went to the small kitchen in search of food. I found pop-tarts and an apple and devoured them in record time. As I was throwing out my apple core, a knock sounded at the door.
    I glanced toward the bedroom, where my sword was resting on the nightstand.
    When I didn’t feel an overwhelming urge to pick it up, I walked over to the door and threw it open.
    Kayden stood outside the door, looking just as wonderful as he had the night before. And just like before, I got that strange yet wonderful feeling that his presence seemed to invoke. He must have left to change and shower at some point, because he had on a gray tshirt and jeans. And it looked good on him. He seemed a little tired but alert. He was also looking at me. I was glad I decided to do my hair this morning.
    I propped a hand on my hip and feigned a sigh. “You know, I’ve got a camera if you want to-“
    “Just come with me,” he interrupted, shaking his head.
    “Where are we go-“
    “Alexa!” Jackson and Nelly appeared down the hallway and I stepped outside my room, shutting the door.
    Nelly ran to me with a look of relief. Jackson stepped beside me and lifted me off my feet in a hug, then kissed my forehead. “Morning, beautiful,” he said.
    I glanced over to see that Kayden was watching us.
    “Morning, Jack.”
    Jackson grabbed a lock of my hair and ran his fingers through it, then stepped back so he could look at me. “Wow, you look gorgeous this morning.” I was still looking at Kayden, who was looking at Jack. I couldn’t distinguish his expression, but for a second I thought I saw a little animosity behind his eyes. I decided I must have imagined it because a split second later, it was gone.
    “Umm… thanks,” I said, pulling my eyes away from Kayden. I gave Jack a smile, then turned to Nelly. “You okay?”
    She nodded, no need to ask me what I meant, she knew I was just worried about her.
    “We’re going to see the Council this morning,” Nelly said. She looked nervous, and I couldn’t say that I blamed her.
    I spun around and looked at Kayden, who was staring straight ahead. “Hey, buddy, this Council, they’re not going to, like, sentence us to death or anything like that, are they?”
    He raised an eyebrow and one side of his mouth pulled up ever so slightly. “No, why would you think that?” I shrugged and he continued, “They will bring in a Searcher to distinguish your