Page 68 of Warrior

Now, with Beast raging inside me to go after Marinah, we hunkered down in the semi-demolished building I’d found before.

Time slowed to a crawl as we waited, tension coiling tighter with every passing second.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Marinah

I woke on the cold, hard floor of a small cell.There was nothing but a floor drain to keep my pounding head company.No bed, no blanket, no chair.

A red haze clouded my vision, and instinctively, I checked my arm for the telltale dark hair that meant I’d shifted.My jaw was smooth, too.I’d run my hand over it the moment I stirred.The haze and fog in my head made it hard to think clearly, but the absence of fur on my arm was reassuring.It meant I was still human, and for now, our secret was safe.

As clarity slowly returned, I also noticed my clothes weren’t shredded which was confirmation that I hadn’t shifted and then shifted back.

I sat up and leaned against the wall to steady myself.A faint smile tugged at my lips as I remembered the speckles of blood on General Smyth’s smug face.It had suited him, and I promised myself he’d wear a lot more of it before this was over.

But the smile faded just as quickly.

Kara was dead.

She’d helped me and died because of it.Smyth would pay, and when the time came, his death would be the slowest and most painful I could deliver.

When my legs finally cooperated, I stood and paced the room, taking in every detail.No windows, just a single door locked from the outside.Darkness enveloped the cell, but Shadow Warriors didn’t need light to see.

As I listened closely, the faint sound of jingling keys reached my ears.

I quickly sat with my back against the far wall, pulling my knees to my chest to feign fear.I was afraid for my friends, but I wasn’t afraid for myself.

I was past ready to fight.

The door creaked open, and Daniels stepped inside.His gloating smile ignited tendrils of hatred in my chest.

“You think you’re so smart,” he sneered, “just like your dear old dad.”He strolled closer, his smugness radiating off him in waves.“Your father died because he got in the way.The plan was to take out Greystone, but your father?His death was a fortunate accident, an unexpected bonus for a failed mission.”His laugh was like a sizzling ember on my skin.

I tightened the hold on my knees, burying my face to hide the red haze pulsing behind my eyes.

My blood roared as Ms.Beast did everything she could to break free.

Not yet,I told her silently.

Soon.

Kill,whispered through my head.

Hold.

Daniels’ boots stomped the floor as he came closer.

“Did you screw those animals?”He laughed maniacally, then continued when I didn’t answer.“I bet you did.You and your father probably both screwed them.”

He punctuated his words with a sudden kick to the side of my calf.He was trying to provoke me.I kept my head low and brought my hands up to protect my head.I did everything I could to hold Ms.Beast back.If I looked into Daniels’ eyes, I’d lose the fight.

Lifting my head slightly, I glanced past him.

He’d left the door open.

Why the hell was I holding back?Cowering grated on every last nerve I had.

My shift wasn’t gradual.

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