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Chapter 48: King
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Shifter King Chapter 49: Marinah
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
Shifter King Chapter 50: Marinah
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 ficti
Shifter King Chapter 51: King
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. Gra
Shifter King Chapter 52: Six weeks later: Marinah
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
Shifter King Chapter 53: Marinah
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 stu
Shifter King Chapter 54: King
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 a
Shifter King Chapter 55: Marinah
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 e
Shifter King Chapter 56: Marinah
We return to the citadel the next morning, much earlier than I wanted to. The only bright moment is the sound of small feet running through the cavernous hallways before Che barrels into me. I give him a huge hug after twirling around. He giggles and smiles proudly. "My brother should be born soon. Axel says within three days." He holds up three small fingers and my grin widens. I wipe tears from my eyes and squat down to his level. His cheeks are rosy red, his eyes sparkling as he looks at me. My heart tightens. "You will make the best brother." I slide my fingers over a slight hair-lick at the top of his head. "Che?" his mother calls from the hallway he just ran from. "Mom, it's Marinah. She came to play." Maylin, with her stomach looking large and uncomfortable, enters the foyer. I smile, but her eyes are on King. She runs like a waddling duck and launches herself at him, tears immediately falling. I might have felt sorry for her. I might ha
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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
