Page 71 of Shadow

Behind us, the men seemed to relax slightly as King made no move to harm me.

“We’re fine,” I said to Beck, my voice muffled against King’s chest.

“Get her food,” King commanded again, his tone more forceful this time. “Everyone out.”

The Shadow Warriors filed out quickly. Only Beck lingered, his gaze shifting between me and King. He shook his head, but whatever he was thinking, he didn’t say it. Instead, he turned silently and disappeared into the other room to check on the injured Warrior.

Left alone with King, I let myself relax for the first time in hours. Exhaustion washed over me, and I closed my eyes, appreciating the warmth of his body beneath my head.

I had no idea what was happening or why King’s beast had decided to keep me close, but I didn’t question it. There was a duality to him now, a strange coexistence of King’s presence and the wild, primal energy that belonged entirely to this form.

For now, I let myself drift, feeling safer than I ever thought I could in the arms of someone like him.

It was at least ten minutes before food arrived for both of us. King’s meal came in a large bowl, which he immediately lifted toward his mouth.

“Hold on,” I said, placing a hand on the bowl and pushing it away. “I’ll feed you.”

His eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn’t protest as I picked up a spoon from my plate and dipped it into the mush-like red mixture in his bowl. It looked nothing like my food, though its scent was surprisingly appetizing.

King opened his massive jaws, saliva dripping from his sharp teeth. Normally, I would have been grossed out, but hisbeast form was completely enthralling. As the spoon scraped against his teeth, the sound sent a shiver up my spine, lifting the hair on my arms.

“Let’s try not to do that again,” I said with a small grimace, scooping another spoonful from his bowl. “What is this, anyway?”

“Liver, blood, rice,” King said just before I pushed the spoon into his mouth.

I blinked at the answer, but instead of gagging, all I could think about was how hungry I was. Against all logic, I actually wanted to try his food.

“Definitely not sharing,” I muttered, grabbing a napkin to wipe his jaw. He rolled his eyes, the motion so distinctly King that I couldn’t help but grin.

“Am I talking to Beast or King right now?” I asked, leaning back slightly.

“Both,” he replied, his voice a low rumble.

I eyed him carefully before asking, “How’s your shoulder?”

A grunt was all I got in response. Not surprising. I tried a different question.

“Who tried to kill us?”

This time, he didn’t hesitate, his answer cutting through the air like a blade.

“The Federation.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

King

Beast had never been this calm. The pain was nearly gone, and for the first time, my mind was completely clear while in this form. It was an unfamiliar feeling. I felt whole and balanced, something I had never experienced before.

Why had Beast wanted her dead? He had been acting like a lovesick fool since I shifted.

That question gnawed at me, but another one loomed even larger: Why had the men who came after me wanted her dead? That was the bigger question.

Marinah set the empty bowl aside once she finished feeding me, then quickly ate her own meal. Exhaustion pressed down on me like a weight, and I fell asleep to the soft sound of her chewing.

Sometime during the night, I shifted back to human form.

When I opened my eyes, sunlight streamed into the room through a high window. The warmth on my skin was soothing, but Marinah was gone.

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