Page 25 of Warrior

King’s foot connected with my jaw, snapping me back into the moment.I turned with a growl, snapping my teeth in his direction.He dodged easily, trying to grab me in his signature Neanderthal move.I didn’t fall for it this time.With a snarl, I launched myself at him, bringing my right arm up just as he lifted his to block.

I drove my left fist into his abdomen.The effort earned me a blinding punch to the side of my head that rattled my brain and shook the cobwebs loose.Letting out another low growl, I dropped to my haunches, seriously contemplating throwing up.

When I opened my eyes, King’s large snout was inches from mine, his dark gaze fixed on me.His expression held deep concern.

“Sucker,” I muttered, and at the same time, I used my right arm to sweep his legs out from under him.

He fell, pulling me down on top of him in one of his annoyingly graceful, king-like moves.

We were snout to snout, breathing hard, our sharp teeth bared.

The skin on King’s face shimmered, and a few seconds later, he was human.“We need to talk,” he said.

I shifted, the transition smooth and nearly painless.I think there was still pain, but I’d grown accustomed to it and barely noticed.I actually enjoyed the transition.Resting my head on his chest, I exhaled, hoping he was finally opening up.

“I’m not going to like it, am I?”I asked softly.

“No.”

I definitely didn’t like the sound of that one word.“You want to do this here or back at the house?”I asked.

“The house.”

He stood, pulling me to my feet while avoiding my eyes.

Oh, joy.

It took us fifteen minutes to return home.Funny how I’d started thinking of it as home.I hadn’t had that feeling since I was a kid.After the first wave of hellhounds, I moved to the military compound, and even my cramped college dorm had seemed like a palace.The cot in my quarters at the Federation never felt like home.But King’s place was different.It held King.That made it our haven.I knew it, Ms.Beast knew it, and now we just needed King to get on the same page.

I climbed behind him on the bike.He drove like he always did, completely fearless.If worry hadn’t been eating at me, I would have enjoyed it.

When we arrived, we went straight to our separate bathrooms to shower.Afterward, we met in the kitchen nook, the place where most of our serious conversations took place.Over the past few weeks, we’d sat at this table countless times as I relayed the Shadow Warrior history I’d read late into the night.But today felt different.The usual camaraderie between us was missing, replaced by a heavy tension I didn’t like.

“Spill it,” I said after we took our seats.

“The president of the Federation wants to speak with you.He’s asking for proof of life.”

I stiffened.When it came to the Federation, I felt like a traitor.That guilt had been constant torment, one of the reasons for my late-night study sessions.The worry over indecisiveness gnawed at my insides.Reading was the only thing that soothed me.

I glanced at King, my mind spinning as I tried to make sense of why my boss, better known as the president, suddenly cared about my existence.

King wasn’t finished, and I knew I’d like his next sentence even less.

“Their electromagnetic activity has doubled.They’re encountering hellhounds on the outskirts of Washington.”

That changed everything.“For how long?”I asked as his words tumbled around inside my head.

“A month.”

I wasn’t sure if I wanted the answer to my next question.“How long have you known?”

“A month.”

I stared at the man I loved.Yes, I used the “L” word.Neither of us had acknowledged our feelings, but we both knew what this was.

The other reason for my restless nights was my constant need for King.I wanted to share his entire life, including his bed.The need was there even when he wasn’t.

My gaze hardened.“Did you plan on telling me?”

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