Page 5 of Warrior

The next Warrior stepped forward and Nokita returned to his sea.He was huge, maybe bigger than King, with a slight grin that softened his carved-from-stone features.Like Nokita, he was dressed in Shadow Warrior gear.

“And Beck,” King finished.

This one I knew.He was grumpy and unfriendly.His eyes met mine briefly.I had no idea what his expression meant, but it didn’t feel like kindness.Unlike the others, Beck was dressed casually, wearing jeans and, of all things, an orange T-shirt.

“May I speak to them directly?”I asked King, unsure of the proper protocol.

“Yes,” he said, though his fingers tightened slightly on my shoulders, giving me the distinct impression he’d rather I didn’t.

I ignored his preference.“Thank you for what you did the night of the attack,” I said, addressing the men.“I don’t remember much, but King told me you’re the ones who recovered Boot’s body.”

They nodded awkwardly, their eyes darting anywhere but at me.The discomfort in the room was palpable.

King gently turned me so I was facing away from the men, and my beast, she who shall not be named, didn’t like it at all.I started counting backward by threes, a trick I’d picked up when I was under the Federation’s rule.It helped quiet her now and gave me a shot at focusing on King’s words.I’d counted as a human to calm my anxiety.The new me took anxiety to an entirely different level.The beast fought, clawing for control, but I remained grounded, clinging to my human side.

“Axel is also one of my guards,” King said.“His primary responsibility is my health and that of my men.These Warriors will help you when needed.They’ll stay close tonight and act as a barrier if things get out of hand.”

“You’d rather no one else know what I am?”I asked, the thought curling uneasily in my mind.The idea that King might be embarrassed by me stung more than I wanted to admit.

His gaze softened, filled with compassion.“For now,” he said.“We’ll discuss the best way to handle things tomorrow.”

It wasn’t the answer I needed, but I forced myself to let it go.I took a deep breath, fighting another surge of the beast, and stayed in human form.There were more immediate concerns to focus on: Stay near King.Check.His guards would protect me.Check.Don’t eat humans.Double check.

“Then I’m ready,” I said, trying to inject more confidence into my voice than I felt.

King guided me back to his side and led me from the room.Beck followed close behind while Nokita and Labyrinth took the lead.As we walked, I glanced over my shoulder and caught Beck’s eyes.He looked away quickly, but not before I noticed something unexpected in his gaze.It wasn’t hatred or dislike.I would swear his eyes held a touch of wonder.

Chapter Two

King

The past two days had been hell.It was one thing to watch a teenage boy go through his first change, but seeing it happen to my mate was entirely different.Marinah was a trouper, handling it better than many Warriors I’d seen before.

Things had escalated quickly once Axel and I realized what was happening.We’d handled first shifts plenty of times before, though always under very different circumstances.Typically, a Warrior would bring their teenage son to me, and I’d assign them a Shadow to guide them until they could control themselves.If younger children were in the house, it was a necessity.A new Warrior wouldn’t intentionally harm someone they loved, but accidents happened; unfamiliar strength, claws, and teeth were a dangerous combination.

The key was to limit mood swings and stress.Tonight, just forty-eight hours after her first shift, I was taking Marinah into a situation that ticked all the wrong boxes.Axel thought it was a mistake, and I wasn’t far from agreeing with him.Physically, Marinah was doing great, but it was her mental strength that worried me.She had little warning before she shifted, but I’d been impressed with how she pushed back the K-5 when it surged.She was amazing, and we only needed her to hold it together for an hour at the funeral.

We left the citadel’s courtyard, walking about a mile toward the ocean.Axel was bringing a car in case we needed to leave quickly, but we’d agreed Marinah and I should walk for her beast’s sake.She needed the exercise.Running would’ve been better to help keep her beast in check, but she was still weak from fighting the change so hard.Going on foot would have to do.

“It feels strange,” she said, glancing around as we walked.

I remembered when my change began and how the world looked through new Warrior eyes.I hated it then because it was a constant reminder of how different I was.Now, the clear vision, the advanced hearing, and the ability to detect so many distinct scents were second nature to me.

It would take Marinah time to adjust.There was so much for her to learn, and eventually, she would come to appreciate the new world that had opened at her feet.

Axel and I had discussed what mating would mean for Marinah.Her beast had to choose me too.When that happened, she would experience a double surge of chemicals coursing through her body.Axel wanted me to wait and give Marinah time to settle into her Warriorhood and to understand who she was and where she came from.

Our history books chronicled everything about our home planet: its catastrophic annihilation, our journey to Earth, and how we eventually integrated into the human world.These books were sacred to us.There were also about ten texts written by female Shadow Warriors from our home planet.I’d read bits and pieces over the years, but with no female Warriors left, it hurt to think about why they had disappeared.Now, they mattered, and I planned to show Marinah our texts tomorrow.

One of my responsibilities as leader was to protect these sacred books.They weren’t kept here at the citadel but at my real home.Axel and I had decided it would be easier for Marinah to adjust in a quieter setting, away from the constant activity of the citadel.We’d leave for my home mid-morning.

The biggest problem we faced right now was time.We didn’t have a year or even months to prepare Marinah for who and what she had become.First thing in the morning, I’d meet with my council to discuss everything.Marinah had to be protected at all costs.She wasn’t just one of us, she was unique in a way we hadn’t seen for centuries.

Beyond all of that, I wasn’t willing to lose her.Period.

Beast gave an unhappy grumble deep within me at my thoughts.Even though he needed to run and hunt, he’d stayed remarkably quiet over the past two days.It was almost like he was still unsure of her.He had been from the beginning, but I’d thought it was pure dislike.He, however, had known something was different about her.He used to throw fits, twisting my insides into knots whenever she was near.Now, his silence worried me.

We were in completely uncharted territory, but one thing was certain.Beast would take Marinah as mate, even if I had to challenge him to make it happen.Not that such a thing was possible, but imagining his demise helped relieve some of my tension.

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