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Chapter 38: King
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2024-10-29 19:42:56
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Shifter King Chapter 39: Marinah
I jump half out of my pants when I turn from the door and see Boot standing in my room partially hidden in the shadows. "What are you doing here?" From his expression it's something bad. "My son is missing. He talks about killing hellhounds all the time. His plastic knife is missing along with his bicycle." Fear seizes me. Hellhounds are the creatures of my nightmares, and the terror I feel at even the thought of being near them almost takes me to my knees. "He would go out alone to find them?" "That's what he's done, we know it." The worry in Boot's eyes is clear. If Che runs into a hellhound, he's dead. "You need to tell King." "If I can't find Che I will, but I was hoping you would help me look." He's out of his mind. "You're out of your mind," I say out loud. "I can barely protect myself and even that's debatable." I deepen my breathing so I don't hyperventilate. "He's on a bike. How far can he get? Please, I need your help. Maylin i
Shifter King Chapter 40: King
This can't be happening. I won't let it. I bust through the doors of medical and rest Marinah on one of the beds. I don't see Axel, so I administer the antidote myself jabbing the needle into her arm. "Come on, Marinah, fight!" "It won't help, King," Axel says from over my shoulder. One look in his eyes and I want to take off his head. He doesn't know what he's saying. "It must," I shout in frustration. I take Marinah's hand and bring it to my cheek. "She's my mate," I implore my friend. "She can't die. You need to cut the poison out." "King," he says softly. "No! Screw you. Do something to save her. You can." "I can't." He shakes his head then turns and leaves the room. He's left her to die. I bury my face in her stomach and hold on. If I can hold her long enough, she can beat this. Her body shudders and her eyes open. She shouldn't be, but she's still conscious. "Hold on Marinah," I tell her. "It hurts. My body hurts," sh
Shifter King Chapter 41: Marinah
Pain slides beneath my skin, muscles tear, bones break. I writhe in madness fighting against the straps holding me down. Rage floods my veins, a killing rage that needs... needs.... The red haze pushes away all other colors, clarifying the distinct lines of each object around me, bringing them into focus like never before. I lift my head, turning the six-inch snout that's now part of me left and then right as I sniff the air and read the scent of everything and everyone in the room. "Take my hand, Marinah. Concentrate on my voice." His words are too loud and I bring my hands up to my ears and then shy away from the claws that almost take off my face. My body is no longer my own and something foreign has invaded, taking me along for a ride of terror. The words float into my clouded brain again, "You're okay. Breathe." I try to push his voice away, but I know that voice and I clasp onto it, holding it in a small part of my brain, the part that wants reason to
Shifter King Chapter 42: Marinah
"Breathe, Marinah." King talks me through the sudden rush of Kedorine 5, or K-5 as King calls it, that tries to shove itself into my veins. K-5 is the miracle that brings on the shift for Shadow Warriors and it's packed with other powerful hormones too. You can't catch it, it's not a disease, it's something you're born with, and I'm the lucky woman to be the first female Warrior in hundreds of years. "Inhale, exhale. Don't allow your beast to win. You say when she's in charge, not her." Sweat breaks out across my freshly washed skin. The red haze slowly recedes and I'm able to tug Beast back where she belongs. "I've got it," I practically wheeze through clenched teeth as the room returns to focus and my breathing slows. It takes most Shadow Warriors a year or longer to control their beasts enough to be around humans. Humans will be present tonight and I need to remember how easy they are to break. As of today, I have little control over my clawed hands and I'm lucky I hav
Shifter King Chapter 43: King
The past two days have been hell. It's one thing to watch a teenaged young man going through his first change but it's very different for it to happen to my mate. Marinah's a trouper and she's handling this much better than many Warriors do. Things happened quickly after Axel and I realized what was taking place. We've handled it many times before, though under entirely different circumstances. Usually a Warrior brings their teenage son to me and I assign them a Shadow until they are able to control themselves. They'll live with their Shadow if the mother and father prefer. If younger children are present in the house, it's a must. A new Warrior will not intentionally harm someone they love, but accidents involving unaccustomed strength, claws, and teeth happen. The most important thing is to limit mood fluctuations and stress. Tonight, just forty-eight hours after her first shift, I'm taking Marinah into a situation that ticks all the wrong boxes. Axel thinks it's a mist
Shifter King Chapter 44: Marinah
I glance at my guards standing a few feet away ready to jump in if needed. "It's time to begin." I raise Marinah's hand and kiss the backs of her fingers. "Stay with Axel." I search her eyes for just long enough to see if she's handling herself before I glance away. "I'm fine, really," she assures me. Axel nods, letting me know that he has her. I walk forward and face about two hundred people who came to say farewell to Boot. A few "hushes" sound and small talk quickly dies. "Death is always a tragedy," I say loudly enough for everyone to hear. Marinah grimaces but otherwise doesn't react. "Boot died saving his young son's life." I look to the children standing in a group and find Che. "He loved you and he was proud to call you son." Che's tears stream down his face when I continue. "You are the son of Boot, a mighty Shadow Warrior, and you are one of us as is your mother. Look around you at every Shadow Warrior here. We are your family now." I glance out at the o
Shifter King Chapter 45: Marinah
King has been in the meeting for an hour while Axel tries keeping me entertained. Our game of cards is not helping. "Trump," Axel says with a grin he can't hide after laying down a three of spades. I throw my entire hand across the room and jump from my chair. I need to hit something. Someone. Anything. "Shadow Warriors run to work off the rage and that's what you need to do." I turn to him feeling the temperature rising around me, the deep ache in my bones, and the burn of change in my blood. I need a few deep breaths before I can answer him. "I'll do anything." Before Axel can put his suggestion into action, King enters the room. "You agitated her?" he accuses Axel. "I won a trick while playing cards. She was kicking my ass." "I'm standing right here." I wave like a lunatic. "If you keep talking like I'm not in the room I may eat one of you." I add a growl to make my point. King walks over, grabs me, and smashes his lips
Shifter King Chapter 46: Marinah
A growl leaves Beck's throat and King is on his feet with his own loud growl rumbling from his throat. I'm only seeing half of this because the red haze takes over and there's no fighting it this time. The table separates King from Beck, but not from me. With powerful legs, more animal than human, I launch onto the thick wood and land inches from Beck, who is still in human form. There's nothing human left in me, I'm all Warrior. In a slow, delicate move, I slide my gigantic tongue from between huge jaws and slide it up along Beck's cheek. "Tag, you're it," I say and bring up my arm in a classic uppercut connecting solidly with his jaw. Beck flies out of his chair and I follow with a five-foot jump from the table to floor landing between his splayed thighs. I lift my now-bare foot, which is more than double the size of my human foot, hairy, and sporting claws that I'm unaccustomed to. I lift the top of my foot and lower it onto Beck's crotch adding just enough pressure to make h
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Shifter King Chapter 141: King: The Island (Cuba)
I head to the training field and beat up on all comers for the next two hours. My men look at me in fear by the time I'm through. I'm going to be a father and I should be ecstatic. All I feel is fear, and it's not something I'm accustomed to. Strangling my mate might help. A baby. We could have lost our child before I knew about him or her. My thoughts return to strangulation. My men practically fall to the ground when I head back to my room to shower. Thankfully, Marinah found another place to be. I need time before I deal with her. I shower, dress in fresh clothes, and I leave the room. Labyrinth's body is in his quarters. His funeral will be tonight along with the Shadow Warriors lost in the Federation's attack. Beck, Nokita, Cabel, and Alden stand outside Labyrinth's door, their faces somber. "Marinah is with him," rebukes Beck. He's angry he didn't go with us and it's not his death. Marinah made the right decision on who she took on our mi
Shifter King Chapter 140: King
Marinah picks up Labyrinth and tosses him over her shoulder like he weighs forty pounds and not three hundred and forty. The black dress is in tatters, only covering parts of her massive form. Mrs. Barnes opens groggy eyes, and I set her on her feet. I give her one minute to find her balance. "Move," I order when her time's up. She cries and sniffs and squeals, and sniffs some more while she tries to run. Her bravado is gone. The pointed heels of her shoes become a problem. With a growl, I pick her up and flip her over my shoulder the same way Marinah holds Labyrinth. Her shriek is music to my ears, but we don't need the noise so I slam my hand down on the backs of her exposed thighs. She shrieks once before she decides silence is best. We run without stopping and make it to the rendezvous point in thirty minutes. Mrs. Barnes crumples to the ground when I try to place her on her feet. She can rest here and wallow in her bad fortune. Alden doesn't take his eyes from the presiden
Shifter King Chapter 139: Marinah
The room turns my stomach. Starvation, death, and helplessness fill the world while these people hold parties, laugh, drink alcohol, and pretend they live in a different time. Several men smile at me inquisitively as I slowly stroll around the room. I give them assessing smiles, meeting their eyes. "You belong," I repeat internally. It's twenty minutes before President Barnes enters-his wife on his arm. I'd forgotten about her. She's a scientist as well as first lady. Her hair is perfectly manicured, her head held regally as if the world belongs to her. Diamonds drip from her throat and her wrists. She lives in a different world. I never liked her and for the most part, she stayed far away from the government's workings. For some reason whenever I saw her, I felt like a lab rat. I can now put my finger on my feelings. I respected them back then. I'm disgusted now and detest everything the Barneses stand for. No, I don't like the woman. A small ache goes through me
Shifter King Chapter 138: King: Federation Territory
Six hours later, minus braids, and practically bald, we're settled on the plane. The look on Alden and Labyrinth's faces match mine. We are unrecognizable as Warrior with our shaved heads. I'd rather dress in pink. "You would think your power was in your hair the way you whiny babies are handling this," were Marinah's exact words. Personally, I was resigned to my fate and remained stoic, hoping one of the men would talk her out of it. Her alpha stare came into effect, and she chopped a section of her braids off with her sword. The men followed suit, giving me sad puppy dog eyes while we sheared our heads. Beck kept his mouth shut from that moment on. If Maylin hadn't saved the day and trimmed up the mess we made, the lot of us would have needed to go completely bald. I run my hand over the prickly stubble. Cutting our hair was necessary for Marinah's plan to work. Her hand lands on my opposite arm. I pull her close so she rests her head on my shoulder. "Sleep," I whispe
Shifter King Chapter 137: King
Seven Warriors lost their lives. We have several humans in uncertain condition but so far none have died. I locate the wives of two of the men. They know their mates are dead, but I want them to understand as the wife of a Shadow Warrior, they will be cared for. The looks on their faces say it all. There is nothing comforting about death. "Will it ever end?" I think to myself after leaving. I don't have answers. When we came to the island, our plan was to take over for a short time. The people put up little resistance. Starved and short on medical supplies, they needed us as much as we needed them. Once the world was settled, we would give the island back to its people. On days like today, I don't see it happening. Beck finds me as soon as I return to the citadel. "We have a problem at the shipyard, and Nokita is asking for you." Of course we have a problem at the shipyard. I change course. The sun blazes down on us as Nokita explains what parts he ne
Shifter King Chapter 136: Marinah
I wake up in the warm cushion of King's arms. He's awake and staring at me. "How is the soldier?" I ask groggily. He knows who I mean. "She survived. Axel performed surgery on one wrist and put both in casts. What do you plan on doing with her?" My heart is heavy. "I'm not sure." I roll so I'm facing King. "I couldn't kill her. Even Ms. Beast couldn't do it." "Hmm." He almost has me smiling, but then I remember the pain of losing our men. "How many of our people died?" "Your people. Seven Warriors, no humans." I ache at the news. "Who?" King recites the names. It hurts. Two of them have families. One just became a new father. I sit up partially. "The men need us. What are we doing in here?" King locks his arms around me again and pulls me back into bed. "You can read your grandmother's journal, but you are not leaving this room until you're healed. It's not up for discussion." I want to argue. His hard, calculating e
Shifter King Chapter 135: King
I pace outside Axel's office while he treats Marinah. He kicked me out and blocked the door an hour ago. Mate, Beast rumbles. I glance at the door in anger, deciding if I should break it down or not. I'm sitting in the infirmary while medical teams work on Warriors and islanders. I should care but my focus is Marinah. Earlier, when the fighting stopped, Marinah held her Nova form and didn't revert to her Beast. I approached her slowly. It took a few minutes before she stopped ripping the soldiers apart. I saw when awareness entered her eyes. She had no idea what she'd done. A moment later, she toppled over. I thought she would change form, but it never happened. There was so much blood from the soldiers she killed, it took a few minutes to figure out she'd been shot. I rushed her to Axel's infirmary. Before throwing me from the room, he found two bullet wounds, one in her shoulder, one in her side, and an additional knife puncture in her other side. I came
Shifter King Chapter 134: Marinah
A shadow falls over me, and I look into King's huge jaws. "You need to shift. I'll loosen your straps." His clawed hands are slightly clumsy when he unfastens the buckles. He runs a sharp claw along the bare skin on my back when finished. "One kiss and we'll take up where we leave off when this is over." He says it like we're going on an excursion through the park. I appreciate the light comment. I'm wound up so tight, I don't think I can breathe. Now he wants a kiss and I can't think of anything more delicious. I morph in his arms, growing in height, expanding in girth, and turning a flavor of ugly only a mate can appreciate. With my fangs in the way, I kiss him because he loves me in whatever form I take, and I love him. My radio spits, "The artillery on the ships is keeping our planes back, but they've got one crippled ship so I'm changing the plan if my alpha approves. I'm tracking the sub and want to take it out." "Go for it," I yell as another explosion rocks
Shifter King Chapter 133: Marinah
Energy spikes through my blood as we travel the winding roads. I feel alive. There's nothing left of the frightened young woman who clung to King on the back of his bike, holding on to a man she didn't trust. That man, beside me now, is the reason I'm an entirely different person. My hands open and close on the motorbike's handlebars in anticipation of the coming fight. Hellhounds are one thing, but humans are the real enemy-thinking, plotting, murdering humans. Bloodlust fills me. I'll kill them all. We hit the city and weave through the winding side streets at breakneck speed. I love the powerful rumble between my thighs, the tilt of the bike when I take corners, and the feel of wind against my face. Who knew I would turn into a biker chick? We glide through the open metal gates, abandoning the bikes, and head to the roof of the citadel at a full run. I shift to human form while Shadow Warriors and humans scramble out of our way. We crash through the roof's door and cha
