Page 40 of Warrior

I could do this.

I had to.

Having one hundred Shadow Warriors packed into the plane was unsettling, not just for me but for Ms.Beast.On the island, we’d only ever seen maybe fifty.These Warriors knew I was King’s mate, and that fact alone carried significant weight.None of them would meet my gaze, and they treated me as though King was standing at my shoulder, watching.

Ms.Beast liked it.She was ready to challenge anyone who stepped out of line.

Lucky me.

Labyrinth stayed close, taking the seat directly behind mine, but he left me alone with my thoughts.I was flying straight into enemy territory, and I knew it.

The Federation wasn’t what I’d believed it to be.Uncovering how deep the corruption went was my main assignment.

There was no way the people I’d worked with knew the truth.We’d lived in a neat little box, blind to reality.Our greatest fear had been the thought of being called to wear a red stripe.It was a piece of red cloth on the military uniforms signifying we’d been sent to the front lines to face hellhounds.That fear seemed almost laughable now.

The knowledge that the Federation was using electronics and attracting hellhounds was chilling.But how deep did the conspiracy go?These thoughts weighed on me.

I came from a generation that hadn’t lived through the Soviet threat or the Cuban Missile Crisis.I wasn’t born until four years after the Twin Towers fell.We took our freedom for granted.When devastation hit, we scrambled to survive without our tech devices, realizing too late how dependent we’d become.Even our math skills had been outsourced to computers.My minor in analytics gave me a slight edge, but even with that, I struggled to adjust at first.

After my father’s death, I knew it was only a matter of time before I lost my job.That looming inevitability was one of the reasons I began avoiding my colleagues.My days were numbered, and it felt easier to work my hours and then hide away in my room with a book.I shared my quarters with other women, but they socialized, carried on with their limited lives, and eventually started ignoring me.

That’s how I wanted it.It would be easier to leave them behind when my number was called, sending me to the ranks of human fodder.

I had missed my father desperately.His memory was so painful that I cried myself to sleep most nights.Before his death, our long conversations and shared dreams of a new world of peace had kept me sane.But after he was gone, I became a shell of my former self.I had no close friends, no one to lean on.

It seemed easier that way, less painful than growing attached to someone and then losing them.

And on top of everything, the Federation was masterful at controlling us through fear.Their daily analytics requests alone were enough to keep us terrified.Our department communicated with others, but the news was always devastating from all sides.They fed us information to analyze, and we believed what they gave us.The Federation knew exactly what it was doing.

I settled in for the flight, deciding to think about King instead of the dangerous world I was heading into.

The other three planes were taking off from different locations and should be leaving soon.If the Federation was only monitoring the main airport, we’d be in luck.If not, my acting skills would have to kick in big time.

The Federation needed to believe the Warriors were on their side.

Right now, I pictured King arguing with Beck while Axel tried to keep the two of them from coming to blows.

And baby Boot.

He was amazing, with his father’s striking blue eyes.King explained that blue eye color was dominant in Shadow Warrior children, making my dark eyes an anomaly.Then again, so was Labyrinth, with his one blue and one green eye.

When I saw baby Boot again, he’d be so much bigger, and I might not even recognize him.The thought left me with a sad smile.

And Che.

Che had cried when I said goodbye this morning and ran off before I could give him a final hug.He’d lost so much with Boot’s death, and now me leaving was hard on him too.

A wave of depression washed over me, and Ms.Beast grumped, kicking me in the stomach.

Her response reminded me of a conversation I’d had with King a few days ago.

“Our beasts see and hear things we miss.Sometimes our stubborn human side refuses to listen, but we must.My beast knew you were something more.I fought with him daily.If your back is against the wall, follow your beast’s lead.”

Ms.Beast kicked again.

I hear you, loud and clear.No moping.

Controlling her was dicey at times.The only thing I’d been lucky with so far was that she hadn’t broken my ribs with K5 when she was displeased.King said my understanding of her would improve with time, and the best thing was to keep my stress levels down.

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