Chapter 4: King

Beast slithering beneath my skin is not a good sign. No human should affect me this way. I know who she is and that's not who I expected. My control among Shadow Warriors is legendary. With the smell and taste of her father in her blood I shouldn't react this savagely. Church was a good man who I owe a great debt and there's no reason his bloodline should spike my anger. If anything, it should calm me simply because she's female. I grind my teeth and force Beast to recede. It matters not that she's Church's daughter. Our kind judges a person on their own merit. If the U.S. government thought to sway us by sending her, they're wrong. Maybe it's the Federation's never-ending manipulations that have Beast on edge.

The woman follows at least ten feet behind me. It does not speak well for her backbone. I glance at the soldiers waiting by the vehicle. Even though they remain stoic, I know they're disturbed about my interaction with the woman. All accept Beck. He displays his displeasure by crossing his arms and widening his stance. I wouldn't be surprised if he begins tapping his foot like a crabby old woman. His response is nothing new. I'll be listening to his pissing and moaning all night. I glare at him and his eyes slide away. I'm King, his alpha, and holding eye contact for too long comes with a penalty.

His gaze settles on the woman and a low growl leaves my throat before I contain it. Beck's eyes snap to mine and then quickly glance at the surrounding area. This display of aggression is abnormal and my men know it. All eyes shift away from me and the woman.

There's a reason Marinah is here and forming an attachment is not part of the plan even if I owe her father a debt. We may kill her and if it happens, I'll be the one handling the deed. The men don't condone killing women unless absolutely necessary. Women and children have that effect on Shadow Warriors as a whole. Yes, I'll pull the trigger if needed to save one of my men from doing it. We've set up safeguards to keep her unaware of our secrets. That doesn't mean something won't slip past our defenses and remove her safety net.

Labyrinth moves to the vehicle and holds open the back door. He's pretending to be civilized and I almost laugh. The lummox has never held a door for anyone in his life. Beck and Nokita jump on their motorcycles. The woman moves past me and slides into the seat. Her skirt rides up her long legs, giving me a view of her white panties. If the U.S. wished to entice me, they should have had her leave the undergarments at home. Again, I cut off that thinking. She may not live through the day.

The fact that she's freakishly tall for a woman stunned me when she first exited the plane. She has a warrior's build and doesn't know how to use the gifts she was born with. Her uncoordinated fall proved it. I could mold her into a deadly fighter if I had the time or inclination.

After she scoots to the far side, I fold my body into the seat. We prefer the freedom of motorcycles. I conceded to traveling in the car only for the benefit of the woman I thought they'd send. This female would fly free on a bike, short skirt and all. I may need to make the time to take her for a short ride within one of the areas we've prepared for her visit.

What is wrong with me and where do these thoughts of forming some kind of friendship come from?

Beck revs the throttle and speeds around to the front of the vehicle and Nokita rides tail. The formation is habit even when we have no immediate threats to worry about. Our military training would go stale if we never used it. We are born warriors and now that our beasts are free, we will never go back to the docile men of our past. Forward or Die is our motto. It's who we are. Our hot blood constantly rages beneath our skin striving to burst free. Our human side holds it back or at least it did. Now we celebrate our beasts' reign.

The woman's scent fills the car. I know Labyrinth and Boot smell her and it angers me. With concentration I'm able to hold back another growl. The slide of Beast pulses harder beneath my flesh. This woman makes it more difficult to control him. I spent the past two weeks in beast form and did not bother with my human side. Beast likes it that way and he wants her gone. Most likely so I stop subduing him.

"I think we got off on the wrong foot or at least I did, literally." She gives an uneasy laugh that scrapes across my skin and continues. "I had no idea what to expect and honestly, I'm nervous and a little afraid," she adds.

I've been looking out the window. I turn to her and fill my lungs with her female scent. "Strange," I say gruffly. "Fear is not part of the odor you secrete." Her face flushes brighter while she holds my gaze. A sizzle of Beast energy rolls down my spine. "It is not safe for you to meet my eyes," I warn sternly much like I would scold a child. She needs to understand there are consequences for her actions.

Her gaze drops to her lap. "I forgot. My father explained it to me years ago. I will try to remember." She says it meekly, but I don't think this woman is naturally timid. Her father was strong and it's strange that his daughter would appear the opposite. A ploy maybe? The Federation has no respect for our kind and they would easily think us dumb enough to fall for their ridiculous tactics.

"You would not survive an attack from me or my men, so do not forget again," I grunt, disturbed that she's making me reconsider negotiations with the U.S.

Her head jerks up and our eyes meet for a second before she glances out the window on her side. "I'm much stronger than I appear."

This time I only grunt. Meek or not, breaking her neck would be as easy as snapping a twig.

"I was given little information about why you requested a liaison to handle the murky waters and broker a deal between our nations," she continues in a gravelly voice. "I'm hoping you'll fill me in. I have strict orders to apologize to you and your soldiers." She says all of this without turning in my direction. It's unfathomable that this should irritate me. It does. I crave seeing the lie in her eyes. Then I could kill her without remorse. Too many lies pass human lips.

"Why would you apologize?" My question is brusque and her gaze settles on mine before quickly shying away. She's playing me. Must be. I fight the urge to grab her by the back of her hair and get the answers I need.

"Those are my orders." Her voice turns regal. "I apologize on behalf of the United States Federation for the treatment of your people after the war. I'm willing to give a more formal apology, but I want you to know where I stand."

Her assumption that she can apologize on behalf of the U.S. irritates me like everything else about her. "As far as I'm aware you had nothing to do with our treatment and I won't negotiate with those responsible." That's the best answer she'll receive.

Beast rumbles again, making me grit my teeth to hold him back.

She inhales sharply and continues talking. "I understand. As the new secretary of defense, I have the power to deal with you and your people-"

She stops abruptly when Boot slams on the brakes as Beast's burning energy fills the already hot car. The straps covering my weapons are becoming too tight as I continue trying to hold Beast back. I'm desperate to get out of here, so I throw the door open before we come to a full stop and charge out.

I'm breathing heavily doing my best to hold Beast inside. "Get her out of here and no one touches her," I growl at Boot and slam the door on the woman's stunned face. The car speeds away and Nokita follows me as I shift to Beast. I am King, hums through my head as the animal takes over. Beast will kill the woman. Beast will feed on the organs of any officer of the U.S. government. The Shadow Warriors will rise victorious over our enemies.

The woman must die.