"This is your real home?" Marinah asks."Yes."We walk up the path to the steel front door. I reach around her and open it."Unlocked?" she questions."Unlocked."The entry is large, tiled, and cool compared to the temperature outside. I hit a switch by the door and turn on the generator. We use wind and solar power on the island. When I'm away for a long time, I disconnect the batteries to allow them to totally drain so they last longer. I walk over and open the large bay window that leads to a balcony overlooking the water."You live here?" Her eyes are huge as she takes in the view. She then stares at me perplexed. "It's like... normal."I smile. "As normal as things can be right now.""Then what is the Federation doing to take the U.S. back to 'normal'," she says with air quotes, her sudden anger prevalent."They're not. They use fear to keep the people in line. It's been a tactic used for years." Several emotions slide over her face-disbelief is the most prevalent. She ha
I stare at the apparition in the mirror. It's not a monster really, it's me in my Warrior form. My eyes are the same, but nothing else is identifiable. My snout is the most unattractive thing I've ever seen. I smile into the mirror and almost back away when my teeth gleam with saliva. Lifting my arms, I place my fingers over my breasts. They're no longer hanging, they're part of chest bone, hard, almost like they're metal-plated. The short hairs covering my face and chest could be slightly more revolting, I guess. I take a few steps back to examine the entire picture.I'm Marinah the Warrior, and for the first time in my life, this body feels... perfect."Okay, Ms. Beast," I say reluctantly. "It's time for you to go back inside and stay there until you're needed again."Nothing. The ugly beast continues to stare back."This is serious business. I like you, but I don't have proper clothes for you. I'll get that taken care of and then you can come out and play again," I promise in a
I take three thick black volumes of Shadow Warrior history back to my bedroom. The leather is old and supple, the smell that of antique books, which stirs warm fuzzies in my belly.King gave me a short tour of his home after we left the underground section and also showed me my room. He hasn't kissed me since we arrived and he's given me a separate room. I'm trying not to feel disappointed, but it's a lie. I want to be in King's bed no matter how wrong it is. Technically he's still an enemy of the Federation. And technically, I don't care. He obviously needs time to decide if we should sleep together and I wouldn't appreciate being rushed, so there's no way I'll rush him. I also won't beg.I pick up one of the worn volumes and open it.In the beginning, there were two.In the beginning, one male, one female.In the beginning, no war, no famine.In the beginning, love.Within a short time, I'm enthralled. It's like reading a science fiction novel even though I know these events h
What the heck did Boot teach her? Half a second later I find out. She rolls on top of me and wraps her legs around my waist. This should be good. She raises her hands and leans in. She can't hurt me in this position, but I want to see what she tries.Slamming her palms against my ears is not what I expected and the pain momentarily stuns me. She gains her feet while I'm trying not to die and beckons again with that same little wave I gave her. "Need more, baby?" I ignore the silence around us knowing she's showing me up. If I could claim her right here and now, I would. The men might not know she's Warrior, but word has spread that she's my mate. None will interfere.I gain my feet. "Bring it," I challenge.She strikes with her left hand and swings her right foot in a side kick. I don't back off, I move in closer so the strike is ineffective. She continues her forward momentum and punches with her left fist. I turn my head at the last minute, avoiding the blow. Grabbing her arm, I j
King's blow knocks me against the wall, rattling my brain. I land on my feet and spring back using my frustration to power the left hook I throw at his head. I don't connect, but it was a setup for the right uppercut that hits his jaw.We're both bloody. And the sexual frustration I'm dealing with takes me past the point of caring about a little blood. Each morning, noon, and night, King kisses me like I'm the air he breathes and then the jerk walks away seemingly satisfied. I've done everything except flat out ask him to have sex with me. And this has been our game for six frustrating weeks. Living together and not giving into the things we want has been a lesson in patience. Even bloody, I'd take him right here, right now.Mate."Yes, mate," I tell Ms. Beast. The beast inside me isn't a separate entity. She just acts like one and King was right-it's far easier to keep her in line when I think of her as a different person inside me. Ms. Beast talks, complains, and causes pain when
The tell-tale signs of King's beast darken his eyes. "I touch you every day," he says stubbornly.I must make him understand. "You kiss me, you hold my hand, you beat the shit out of me. I'm talking about sex. Are male Warriors deformed or something?"His lips quirk with humor. I saw him naked once and I know there is absolutely nothing wrong downstairs. "I was waiting for you to beg," he tosses out to irritate me.A few seconds pass before I realize he's joking. I'm done with jokes, evasion, and living a celibate life. "King. Make love to me." It's a demand that I could never have made before I discovered my power as a Warrior. I can't take having him around me another minute without a deeper connection. And I mean that to include ever bad pun imaginable. He takes a few seconds to contemplate my words before answering. "Now?" he asks calmly. "Or would you prefer to be wined and dined first?"I may need to kill him. "Now," I grind out to the most stubborn, sexy man on the planet.
Marinah is in my arms, in my bed, and asleep with one leg thrown over mine and a pillow covering her head. The small fingers of her right hand lay possessively on my chest and it's been like this for hours. When I move, she uses me like a pillow and realigns herself for maximum comfort.It's late, sometime around three in the morning."Marinah," I whisper. Her answering grumble makes me smile. "I want to go hunting."Her lax body instantly goes rigid. "For hellhounds?" she asks huskily from beneath the pillow.I pull it away and her mass of hair is covering half her face. Pushing the strands back, I kiss her nose. "For hellhounds."She flies out of bed and shifts seamlessly before I remind her she should put her pants on first to avoid ripping her legs up with her claws that she's still a little clumsy with."Damn claws," she growls and I laugh before getting out of bed and helping her dress.I'm wise enough to get my pants and gear on and help her with hers before I shift. She'
He proved it three times-once before the shower and twice afterward. We slept until almost noon and only Beck's pounding on the door got us out of bed.The thing about Beck is I'm not even sure if he likes me. Oh, he gives me a cursory hello each day. He isn't rude, he just doesn't speak to me and I ignore him the same way. The situation just feels awkward whenever he's here. King leads Beck to the table in the next room and I prepare a meal.Famished isn't quite the word I'm looking for when my stomach growls and lets me know I've been too long without food. Hungry, ravenous, and starving don't do the trick either. My large intestine is eating my small intestine and there should be a word for that. Food on the island is one of my favorite things about my new home. Needing meat like a second leg and never gaining weight helps too."Marinah," King says from behind me as I lift a large pan to the stovetop. I glance his way. "Would you sit with me and Beck so he can explain a few thing
Marinah is working with Ruth, who's making incredible progress. There hasn't been a complaint about the child in weeks. She follows Marinah around like she's her personal guard. The sword Marinah gave her always on her hip and her hand on the pommel daring anyone to threaten her instructor."King," Beck calls. "We have urgent news from the northern outpost."Here we go. It's been too quiet. "I'll grab Marinah. Have the men join us in the conference room in five." I don't ask what the news is because it's Marinah's job. Beck should have gone to her first, but that's something she needs to deal with. Eventually things will fall into place. When I took over after my uncle's death, it was the same way. Shadow Warriors expect a leader and sometimes knocking heads is the best way to lead them.I enter the gym, and Ruth is holding her sword with trembling arms, sweat rolling down her brow, and a stubborn set to her jaw which reminds me of Marinah's determination when she first trained. The
They were laughing at me, and I don't blame them.I simply can't lead hundreds of men, scratch that, Shadow Warriors. I have no idea what I'm doing. I replay the entire meeting in my head. They're like children, and I can't believe I need to point them in a direction and tell them what to do.Stupid.And King's gone through this for years.Labyrinth mentioned Cosway, and it reminded me I need to check on her. I begin my search and eventually give up and ask one of the door guards. He points me to the outside courtyard. I find her there, playing with the kittens."Pretty butterfly," she says when she notices me.She's a rather pretty butterfly herself now. Soap, water, and good food make her look younger. Someone also took a chisel to her teeth. I'd place her in her mid-twenties. "Hi, Cosway. Do you mind if I join you and play with the kittens?"She pushes the calico in my direction, and I grab him before he scampers off. "He likes the pretty butterfly.""I like him," I say, cra
Marinah's avoidance doesn't bother me. She needs time to think this through. What she doesn't understand is, she's a leader and she's strong enough to lead the Shadow Warriors. I remember my doubts in the beginning. They ate me alive. The difference is Marinah has me at her side. I won't let her flounder.Axel begins testing the whistles after I give him Marinah's orders. I inform my guard that Marinah doesn't have meetings or training planned for today."You told her?" asks Beck."She took it as well as expected.""That bad?""It could have been worse." And the earthquake that took down San Francisco in 1906 could have been worse too."You want us twiddling our thumbs?" asks Labyrinth.The man's a lummox and I don't count dexterity as one of his pluses so I doubt he could. "Until we have our orders, go for it."He nods, lifts his hands, and twiddles those monstrous thumbs. That's when Marinah walks into the conference room. The men come to attention immediately, and it hits me
She handles it better than I expected. It's been three days, and she refuses to mention a word about it. Like I said, better than expected. Before coming here, Beck asked if she understood what's happened. He laughed when I asked if he was planning to tell her. His exact words were, "Throw me in a pit of hellhounds first."Wise man.It's four incredible days of bliss before she decides to voice her concerns. We're in bed in the early afternoon, after enjoying uninterrupted adult time. "I can't be a leader," she says with her head lying on my chest and her body half on mine. "I've just commanded my first unit. Leaders need experience.""They do.""How the heck do I gain experience? No, wait. I don't want that kind of experience. They're your men, King. Don't do this to me. You can't." Her fingers dig into my hip.Very softly, I tell her the truth, "They're your men now.""It won't work." She slams her fists on the bed beside me. I fight a smile. Now is not the time. "You can't pos
It took hours to get everything in place. I enter our room, and Marinah is sleeping. I quickly pack a bag for us both. She sleeps through it. I'm tired, but nothing will keep my alone time with Marinah from happening.Beck is attending the funerals in my absence. It's the only thing that made me hesitate with this mad scheme.Beck put me straight. "You take this time with your mate. You have more problems than simple mating rage. When you come back, you get the hellspawn, and I'm taking Missy away."I hope Marinah will forgive me when she misses Ryan's funeral. His loss hit her hard. I still remember the first Shadow Warrior who died under my command. It doesn't get easier.I collect everything we need and wake her. "Remember I told you I'm kidnapping you," I say when I'm sure she's awake."I think," she mumbles groggily.I scoop her into my arms. "It's happening."With the two bags tossed over my shoulder, and my mate in my arms, we leave the room. "I need clothes," she finally
King places his arm around my shoulders, and we walk back to the outpost together. He tells me none of the humans in the outpost died, so I know Ruth and Missy are okay. But Ryan. He took my place and died because of it. Was he right? Should I have gone instead? I'll never know that answer, and it will haunt me forever.This is what King deals with. He takes every Shadow Warrior life personally. Now I know what it feels like. I lift my shoulders. It won't be easy, but I'll learn to live with it. We walk through the outpost gates, and Ruth spots me and starts running.Two feet away, she comes to a dead stop. "You're... huge. And bloody, cool."From beautiful to huge. This isn't looking good. "Yeah, I guess I am.""Are you meaner?"Oh, this child. "I hope not."Her lips curve downward and her eyes go stubborn. "Then it's not that cool.""She stabbed the general with her claws until there was nothing left of his face," Labyrinth tells the unimpressed child."You did?"I hope the
I lose track of Marinah after she takes off for the vehicles holding the rotary guns. She figured out what Smythe had planned. My men are ready to enter the fight. We circle the area where Marinah is taking on the rotary guns and leave our position. We've flanked the enemy on all sides. Many begin running toward Marinah, trying to get away, but I don't have time to think about the danger she's in. Beck's men are inside the outpost now, holding back the hellhounds. There are a few stragglers, and my men draw their swords and cut them down.The Federation soldiers realize they aren't winning and begin laying down their weapons. A hellhound about twenty feet from me grabs one stupid man. His muffled screams stop when the hound chews his face off. I charge three hounds with my sword, cutting them down as I run. Half my men point their rifles at the surrendering soldiers who have decided being shot is a quicker way to die than being eaten by hounds. They are no longer placing their weapons
I lift my glasses again. Now I can see Beck and Cabel moving. I turn to the outpost and for the first time see General Smythe. I lick my lips. He won't be getting away this time. To hell with questioning him. If given the chance, I'll take his throat.Humans are stationed along the high wall on the inside of the outpost. The hellhounds will easily go up and over. Missy will have those unable to fight secured underground in one of their bunkers. Beck and his men will go against the hellhounds to stop them. Labyrinth's job is to take on the Federation soldiers.Knowing some Federation soldiers are here by force unsettles me.Kill, Ms. Beast whispers at my reticence. Yes, kill. If they are willing to kill civilians, including women and children, they won't be leaving here alive. My resolve is set, and I'm impatient to fight. Everyone is in place, and nothing is going on that I can see.The Federation waits ten more minutes, and then everything happens at once. The hellhounds are unl
Cabel meets us outside the outpost walls and leads us to a large group of Warriors. The tension in the air is thick. Missy told us that more than a thousand soldiers have joined the Federation camp about two miles away. This morning, the soldiers began collecting their belongings. They are leaving or attacking, and the former doesn't seem likely.King speaks in hushed tones so our voices don't carry in the still night. There isn't a breeze, but it's chilly. I prefer warmth. It's times like this that I really miss our island. Pushing the thought aside, I listen to King. I need my head clear and thinking of home won't help.We have close to four hundred warriors versus a thousand Federation soldiers. If it weren't for the hellhounds, this would be a piece of cake. There's no way Smythe isn't leading this force. Is he unaware the Shadow Warriors have aligned with the outposts? Spying in the new world isn't as it once was. You need eyes now, not satellites. The Federation is building up