Page 6 of Shadow

Hot blood raged beneath our skin, forever straining to break free. Our human side kept it contained, or at least it used to. Now, we reveled in the supremacy of our beasts.

The woman’s scent saturated the enclosed space of the car, curling into my senses and igniting a slow, simmering anger.

I knew Labyrinth and Boot smelled her too. Their silence confirmed it, and the thought grated against my control. I forced back another growl, but Beast surged beneath my flesh, his presence pulsing stronger, more insistent.

She made it harder to control him.

Two weeks spent fully in beast form had made my human side weak, and that was never good. Beast had no patience for her presence. He wanted her gone. Not for any rational reason, but so I’d stop suppressing him.

“I think we got off on the wrong foot, or at least I did. Literally,” she said, her nervous laugh scraping against my skin. She continued, oblivious to the effect she had on me. “I didn’tknow what to expect, and honestly, I’m nervous. Maybe even a little afraid.”

I kept my gaze fixed out the window, but her words pulled me back. Slowly, I turned to face her, filling my lungs with her distinct, heady scent.

“Strange,” I said gruffly. “Fear isn’t part of the odor you emit.”

Her cheeks flushed a deeper red, and to her credit, she held my gaze. That unflinching eye contact sent a sizzle of energy down my spine. A warning, or maybe something else entirely. Beast stirred again, clawing at my restraint.

“It is not safe for you to meet my eyes,” I said sternly, the words edged with authority. My tone was harsh, the kind of warning I’d give to a child who didn’t understand the consequences of their actions.

She needed to understand, in this world, every mistake had a price.

Her gaze dropped to her lap, her voice soft. “I forgot. My father explained it to me years ago. I’ll try to remember.”

She said it meekly, but I didn’t buy it. This woman didn’t strike me as naturally timid. Her father had been strong, unshakable, and it was strange that his daughter would seem so opposite. A ploy, maybe? The Federation had never shown respect for our kind, and they’d easily assume we were foolish enough to fall for their clumsy manipulations.

“You wouldn’t survive an attack from me or my men,” I grunted, the warning deliberate. “So don’t forget again.”

Her head snapped up, our eyes locking for a brief, heated second before she quickly turned to stare out her window. “I’m much stronger than I look,” she said, her tone steady despite her earlier meekness.

I grunted again, unconvinced. Strong or not, breaking her neck would have been as effortless as snapping a twig.

She cleared her throat and continued, her voice gravelly. “I wasn’t given much information about why you requested a liaison to navigate these murky waters and broker a deal between our nations. I’m hoping you’ll fill me in. I have strict orders to apologize to you and your soldiers.”

She said it all without turning my way, her focus firmly on the view outside. The fact that she wouldn’t look at me irritated me after I had just told her not to stare into my eyes. The eye contact I needed right now would certainly show the lie of her words. Seeing it would give me the justification I needed. If I could catch her in deceit, killing her would be simple. Clean. No remorse necessary. Too many lies had passed human lips for me to tolerate more.

“Why would you apologize?” My tone was brusque, cutting through the space between us.

Her gaze flitted to mine, hesitant, before she quickly looked away again. The movement felt calculated, like she was playing me. She had to be.

My hands flexed against my thighs as I fought the urge to grab her by the hair and demand the answers I needed.

“Those are my orders.” Her voice turned 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 could apologize on behalf of the U.S. irritated 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 was the best answer she’d receive.

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

She inhaled sharply and continued talking. “I understand. As the new secretary of defense, I have the power to deal with you and your people—”

She stopped abruptly when Boot slammed on the brakes, as Beast’s burning energy filled the already hot car. The straps covering my weapons were becoming too tight as I continued trying to hold Beast back. Desperate to get out of there, I threw the door open before we came to a full stop and charged out.

I was breathing heavily, doing my best to hold Beast inside. “Get her out of here, and no one touches her,” I growled at Boot and slammed the door on the woman’s stunned face. The car sped away, and Nokita followed me as I shifted to Beast. Beck tried but I pointed to the vehicle. He shook his head and trailed after that damned woman.

I am Kinghummed through my head before the animal took over.

Beast would kill the woman.

Beast would feed on the organs of any officer of the U.S. government.

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