Page 34 of Warrior

The receiving machine clattered.

“You’re to return to the Federation,” Beck announced, as though it were expected.It was.That didn’t mean I liked it.

“A plane will come for you tomorrow,” he added.

“No,” King said firmly.“Tell them she’ll arrive in one of our planes with one hundred Shadow Warriors ready to fight hellhounds.”

We’d talked about this plan before but hearing him say it aloud was different.This was the reason I’d come to the island, the culmination of everything I’d been hoping for.I should have been elated.

Instead, I felt a heavy knot of dread forming in my gut.

Ms.Beast didn’t like it either.She stomped her metaphorical feet in frustration, twisting my insides in protest.

Beck tapped out the message, and we waited again.

“They need you back tomorrow,” Beck said after reading the next reply.

“Three days,” King said, his tone unyielding.“They can wait three days.”

Chapter Eleven

King

Three days left with Marinah, and most of that time would be spent preparing.We were staying at the citadel until she flew back to the U.S.It was the hardest thing I’d ever done.Lying in my big bed, I pulled her closer, pressing a kiss to her temple.

In no way was Marinah ready for this, but I had to make her believe she was.Somehow, she had to control her beast less than two months after becoming a Shadow Warrior.If I hadn’t been with her during this time, I would have said it was impossible.Hell, I still felt it was impossible, but if I showed any sign of not believing in her, what she needed to do would have zero chance of succeeding.

She sighed and wiggled against me until there wasn’t any space left between us.“I’m scared,” she whispered.

I was terrified.So many things could go wrong, but the biggest threat was her Shadow Warrior side.If the Federation discovered what she was, she was screwed.The plan was to send one hundred Warriors with Marinah, and within twenty-four hours, three hundred more would drop onto U.S.soil.We’d dig in and wait for her signal, which could take days, weeks, or even months.I’d leave the rest of our Warriors behind to protect the island.They’d also be on standby if needed.

The humans on the island were already moving into populated towns near reinforced living quarters and our main food supplies.We’d been preparing for this day since we first arrived, though we hadn’t known who we’d be fighting.We’d hoped it wouldn’t come to this with the Federation, but now we had little choice.

“How will we survive this?”Marinah asked softly.

“This?”

“You, me, love,” she said, her voice breaking slightly.

“I love you,” I said, because she needed to hear the words before she left.

“I never doubted it.”She twirled one of my braids between her fingers.“I just don’t know how I can leave you.”

I rolled onto my side to face her.“If there were any other choice, I’d make it happen.”

She leaned her head against my shoulder and rested there.“My father would have loved you,” she said softly.

“And Greystone would feel the same about you.”

I heard her sniffle, and it tore at something deep inside me.Being away from her for more than an hour was unbearable.Miles would separate us, and it could be days or weeks that I didn’t see her.She would be alone, and I wouldn’t know what was happening.Everything inside me rebelled, but she couldn’t know.

“I can’t lose you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I won’t be far,” I told her.“No matter what happens, I will find you.”

“Promise?”

“Promise,” I said, the word carrying more weight than anything else I’d ever spoken.

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