Page 56 of Shadow

Beast rumbled at her audacity, his displeasure simmering just beneath the surface. I pulled him back, keeping him in check.

Cabel tried to smooth things over with a casual laugh. “It’s okay, Mar. It was only a small love tap. He wouldn’t hurt me.” He gave her a quick hug and kissed her cheek, but the tension lingered.

I knew better than to provoke his Beast by showing his wife any interest. Mating rage was unpredictable, and we had all learned to tread lightly around newly mated couples. Even after years of being off the farm, allowing our human side to rule, we were still figuring out the balance when it came to mating. Caution was the only answer.

From the corner of my eye, I watched Cabel circle Mary, grabbing two glasses from the cupboard. When he moved to fill them at the sink, she stepped in, taking the glasses from his hands. He shrugged, relenting with the easy patience of a manwho knew better than to argue with his mate, and returned to the table, sitting across from me. A moment later, she set water in front of him first, then me; a clear sign of her husband’s importance over mine.

I didn’t reach out to take the glass from her, mindful of the danger even a brief touch could cause. Cabel’s fingers tightened around his glass when she stepped too close, and I avoided her gaze, lowering mine to the table. She moved back to the stove without lingering

“Thank you,” I said quietly, hoping to earn a sliver of goodwill.

Cabel let out a low grumble but looked sheepish when I arched a brow at him. His eyes dropped to the table. “I updated you on the crops yesterday. Nothing’s changed. So, what brings you here?”

“Woman trouble,” I said, surprising us both by making the admission in front of his mate. For years, Cabel had been my go-to for all things Beast, human, and the mental complexities of dealing with both. It had been hard to do without him, and Beck was not exactly someone you shared personal insights with.

Cabel caught on quickly and arched an eyebrow. “The Federation woman?”

“Yes, that woman. She’s not what I expected, and she’s nothing like you’d think Church’s daughter would be.”

“How so?”

“She can’t walk a straight line without tripping. I’ve got her training with Boot to keep her out of my way. Maybe it’ll give her a small chance if she ever has to fight. I’m not holding my breath on that front.” I took a sip from my glass, my gaze shifting to the door. “The bigger issue is Beast. He doesn’t like her.”

“Hmm. But you do?” he asked, his skepticism clear.

I raked my fingers through my braids and regretted it instantly. This gesture was a tell, a sign of indecision, and notsomething I was known for. I made solid, quick decisions. I didn’t fidget. Running my hand over the facial scar was different and it showed that I was willing to consider both sides when warranted.

“I like her, even though I don’t want to,” I finally said.

“Then why doesn’t your Beast agree?”

“That’s the problem, isn’t it? I have no idea. And it’s not just dislike. He wants her dead.” I wondered why I was even saying this out loud. “Then there’s the issue of trusting her enough to let her go back to the Federation.”

At those words, Beast gave his trademark rib-cracking growl. I kept my expression neutral. No way was I letting Cabel see my internal struggle. Pushing Beast back, I let my hand drift to my shoulder, absently rubbing the ache.

“You’re injured.”

“Bite.” I lowered my arm, brushing it off. “Found five hellhounds last night. They’re surfacing faster. We’ll need to increase patrols. Make sure your men are aware.”

“We took one out last night.”

I nodded, unsurprised. Cuba had a grim history. Castro had executed thousands, and the regimes before him had been responsible for hundreds of thousands more. It was only a matter of time before we confronted the reality of mass graves. Helping the Federation wouldn’t resolve our challenges here, but isolation wasn’t a long-term solution either. We knew there were survivors scattered across the globe, and even in the U.S., there were people who had avoided government aid.

“If we can forge alliances with the humans on the outskirts,” I said, “we might be able to keep the Federation in check and avoid the risk of another war between us.”

Cabel considered my words, but he remained silent.

“I’m thinking of sending a hundred Warriors to the U.S. with Marinah.”

“That’s a low number,” he remarked, scratching his chin thoughtfully.

“They don’t know how many we have, and I don’t want to tip our hand. For now, the fewer the better.” Saying it out loud felt right, like pieces of a puzzle clicking into place. I hadn’t gotten the information I needed from our man inside the Federation, and I had to face the fact that it might not happen. Beck tended to bluster and needed time to process ideas before coming around. Cabel, on the other hand, listened and provided sound advice. Right now, I just needed to think aloud and work through the possibilities before bringing a decision to my council.

I glanced at him. “If married life hasn’t made you too soft, maybe you’d like to pick up a sword and remind me you’re not entirely wimpy yet.”

Cabel’s eyes flicked to mine, then slid away, a slow grin spreading across his face. “I think I’ll take you up on that. With your bum shoulder, I might actually stand a chance.”

“Not in hell,” I replied, standing up. “Thanks for the water, Mary. I’ll return your man in one piece.”

---