Page 35 of Warrior

She leaned up, her face hovering over mine as she looked into my eyes.“I’ll find you too.”

∞∞∞

Marinah

“I’m incredibly sorry for what happened yesterday,” I told Maylin.

She laughed softly, her fingers deftly weaving my hair into braids befitting a true Shadow Warrior.I couldn’t care less what the Federation thought of my hairstyle choice.It was the only defiance they would be able to see.

“When Boot and I first mated, he almost killed Nokita,” she said.“It was one of the scariest things I ever witnessed.You do not want to see two Shadow Warriors fight, believe me.”She laughed again, shaking her head.“I forget that you’re one of them.Your secret is safe with me and Che.No one else will know.”

From King’s report, I already knew that Maylin and Che had kept my secret.The relief was immense.“Thank you,” I said sincerely.

“I will always owe you for my son’s life,” she replied, her tone softening.

I covered her hand with mine, stopping her movements.“You owe me nothing.Your son is part of our family, just like you.”

She paused, wiping away a tear, and I waited, giving her a moment.

“Pregnancy is hard on a woman when she wants to appear strong,” she said with a small, wry smile.

We both laughed at that.

“You are beautiful,” she said, admiring her handiwork as she finished the last braid.“And I am about to have a baby, so I must lie down.Would you fetch Axel for me?”

It took me a moment to register what she’d actually said.Her calm tone almost made me miss the urgency.“You’re having the baby now?”

“Not now, but soon.Maybe a few hours,” she replied, completely composed.

Holy cow.I jumped to my feet and bolted from the room, tearing into Axel’s medical domain like my legs were on fire.“The baby!It’s coming!”I shouted, breathless and wide-eyed.

“If you value my life, young lady, you will back away,” Axel said sharply.

I skidded to a halt, my brain catching up to his words.I glanced around.I didn’t see King.

“If you so much as touch me, he’ll scent it on you,” Axel continued.“Same goes for any woman who touches him, so don’t give me that look.”

He was right, of course, but now wasn’t the time to argue.“Baby.Maylin.Doctor,” I huffed slowly, making sure he understood the urgency.

“I’ll grab my bag.Go back to Maylin and tell her I’m coming,” he said, already moving toward the cabinet.

I turned on my heels and bolted back the way I came.Che was waiting in front of their door, practically vibrating with excitement.

“My brother is coming!”he announced, bouncing up and down.

“Yes, he is,” I said quickly.“I need you to go find King and stay with him until I come get you.”

He shook his head stubbornly.“That’s not fair,” he protested, kicking at the tile floor with a scuffed sneaker.

“Babies take a long time,” I explained.“And when they’re born, they’re bloody.You don’t want to see him until he’s all cleaned up.”

“Bloody?Cool!I’ll sneak in when no one’s looking,” he declared with a mischievous grin.

Save me.

“No,” I said firmly.“You’ll do as I say because you’re a good little boy, and you don’t want your mom mad at you.”

“She’s always mad at me,” he countered, trying to weasel his way out.

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