Page 30 of Warrior

I shifted while carrying her.

“Whoa,” she said, wrapping her arms around my neck as my size decreased, throwing off her balance slightly.Her wide-eyed surprise made me grin.

“Shower first,” I said, setting her down gently.“Then I’ll prove that sex is better than killing hellhounds.”

Her eyes raked over me as I removed my gear.“Afraid of a little hellhound blood?”she teased.

The fire in her gaze stopped me.

The shower could wait.

Chapter Ten

Marinah

King proved that sex with him was better than killing hellhounds three times over.Once before the shower and twice afterward.I’d never felt this close to another soul.King was playful, intense, and incredibly sexy.

After our amazing night, we slept in until right before noon.Beck’s relentless pounding on the door dragged us grumpily from the bed.

The thing about Beck?I wasn’t even sure he liked me.I didn’t expect the reverence I’d seen in his eyes after I nearly unmanned him, but I did expect more than a cursory grunt.He wasn’t rude, but he didn’t exactly engage with me either.I’ve been returning the favor, but the whole situation just feels awkward whenever he’s around.

King led Beck to the table in the next room while I busied myself in the kitchen, preparing a meal.

Famisheddidn’t even begin to describe how I felt.My stomach growled, reminding me that I’d gone far too long without food.But words likehungry, ravenous,andstarvingdidn’t seem to cut it either.No, it felt more like my large intestine was eating my small intestine, and there really should be a word for that.

Food on the island was one of my favorite things about my new life.The fact that I could eat whatever I wanted, usually meat, and never gain weight didn’t hurt either.

“Marinah,” King called from behind me just as I lifted a large pan to the stovetop.I glanced over my shoulder.

“I need you to sit with me and Beck so he can explain a few things.”King’s tone was entirely too serious.My stomach clenched, and the happiness from killing hellhounds and continuous rounds of sex took a backseat.

I followed him into the other room.He pulled out the chair closest to his and scooted it even closer before motioning for me to sit.With a sigh, I took his offering and realized I was now a solid five feet away from Beck.

King took the seat beside me and grabbed my hand.I glanced down at our clasped fingers and squeezed.

“Go ahead,” King said to Beck.

Without so much as a glance in my direction, Beck spoke to King, keeping eye contact for a few seconds, then breaking it.But it was like I wasn’t in the room.

“The Federation wants proof of life, and they want to question you via Morse code.”He paused, waiting for me to acknowledge what he’d said.

I nodded stiffly, but he wasn’t looking at me, so he didn’t see it.“Okay,” I said aloud.

He continued, “We believe the hellhounds from the island are heading to the U.S.We have no idea why.The Federation has reported run-ins with large packs of hounds, many coming from the coastal waters.”

“That makes no sense,” I said.“Why would they leave here and go there?And an even bigger question, do they walk, swim?”A low growl rumbled up from my chest as my frustration spilled over.

Beck shot me a quick glance before shifting his focus back to King, whose grip on my hand tightened slightly.

“We believe the Federation has reconnected with one of their satellites,” Beck continued.

I jumped up, my chair scraping loudly against the floor.“Why the hell would they do that?”

“Marinah,” King said softly.“Breathe.”

He was right.Ms.Beast was on the verge of breaking free.I clenched my fists and fought her back to a low simmer.She would need to wait for another chance to push me around.

Taking two steps closer to Beck, I tried to apologize, but Beck’s chair flew backward as he leapt to his feet, putting more distance between us.King’s low growl sounded at the same time, rumbling through the room in warning.

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