Page 20 of Shadow

“Hear me out,” I said.

She sucked in a breath, her lips pressed into a thin line, but she stayed quiet.

“When it comes to fighting hellhounds, Shadow Warriors have the upper hand. We’re stronger, faster, and better at killing them than any human could ever hope to be.”

“I won’t argue that,” she replied.

I grunted, unimpressed by her calm demeanor. She had no idea what she was really talking about.

“The Federation sent you here for a reason,” I continued. “I’m assuming they asked you to spy on us. Count our numbers, assess our weapons, and report back. I remember your father saying you were good with numbers.”

A flush of pink rose from her neck to her cheeks, confirming my suspicion. I raised my hand again to silence her before she could respond.

“Don’t bother lying,” I said flatly.

To my surprise, she shook her head. “I wasn’t going to lie. You’re right about all of it.”

Her honesty caught me off guard, but she needed to understand the gravity of her situation. I leaned forward, keeping my voice low. “It’s my job to kill you if you discover our secrets. I could lie and tell you we don’t have any, but we’d both know that’s not true.”

She stiffened slightly, her hands resting tensely in her lap, but I pressed on.

“You may not have a single fighting bone in your body,” I added, resisting the urge to tell her that if her inability to fight was real, I could change it. “But youareintelligent, and that makes you dangerous.”

I waved a hand around the room. “This facility is all you’re allowed to see for now. You won’t meet more than a few of our people, and you’ll stay far away from anything of importance.”

I threw my next words out like the threat they were. “If you discover our secrets, it’s my job to kill you, and I’ll do it without hesitation. I don’t like humans, and my Shadow Warriors feel the same.”

I placed my hand flat on the table, then slowly curled it into a fist. Her eyes tracked the motion, her expression cautious.“Don’t give me a reason to kill you. Who knows who they’ll send to replace you?”

She fidgeted slightly in her chair, her lips pressed into a thin line, and I assumed my warning hit its mark. But then she lifted her head, and the fire in her eyes caught me off guard.

Her voice lowered. “If death is all you have to threaten me with, let me assure you, I didn’t expect to survive this trip.”

The honesty in her voice was unmistakable, but she didn’t stop there.

“Is this my room?”

“No,” I replied curtly.

Her jaw tightened. “Do I have a room, or are you planning to throw me back into the one that nearly killed me?”

I resisted the urge to smile at her defiance. “I’ll show you to your room,” I said. “It’s likely more comfortable than what you’re used to back home. Guards will be posted outside your door whenever you’re inside, and they’ll escort you when you leave unless I’m with you. You have access to this floor and the one below. The pool, however, is off-limits.”

I paused for emphasis, catching her gaze before her eyes shifted away. “There are areas outside these walls I might take you to,ifI have the time. But understand this. You won’t leave here without me. Not all of my warriors can be trusted with you, and the ones I’ve selected to stay within these walls are here because I trust themnotto kill you without my permission. That said, you’ll never have to worry about them receiving that order.”

I stepped closer, my voice dropping. “Because if it came to that, I’d handle it myself.” I think this was the third time I’d uttered the words, but I needed her to understand it wasn’t a joke.

She shivered theatrically, wrapping her arms around herself. “You had me atkilling methe first time you said it. I’mfull, I’m exhausted, and I’d really love to go to my room now so you can stop with the intimidation.”

The woman had balls.

Chapter Nine

Marinah

The room, under most circumstances, wouldn’t have been anything special. But after years of sleeping on a narrow cot crammed into a small room with three other women, it felt like a luxury suite. The bathroom alone, though only half the size of the one I had just left, was amazing. And running hot water? That was downright decadent.

King had spent far too much time tonight telling me he’d kill me. I had seen the look in his eyes, his cold fury, and I had no doubt he meant it. In fact, I’d have bet good money he’d enjoy doing it. Yet, for some strange reason, I was no longer afraid. Maybe it was the exhaustion, or maybe I had just been under so much stress lately that the fear burned itself out. Odds were, after a night’s rest, my nerves would return in full force.

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