Page 73 of Warrior

I pushed forward, following the trail as the red haze clouded my vision and the K-5 coursed through me like wildfire.My rage boiled over, and I knew that if I encountered anyone before I found Marinah, their life would be forfeit.

Five minutes later, I barely had time to react when Marinah came hurtling around the corner.

She threw her arms around me, claws digging into my back as she buried her snout against my shoulder.Relief surged through me as I wrapped my arms tightly around her.

“You’re hurt,” I said gruffly, inhaling her scent.

She was alive, and in one piece, or close enough.

“Head wound,” she said, her voice muffled against me.“Not serious.We’re in trouble.”

She didn’t let go, and Beast purred, content in a way I’d never felt before.

After taking an even deeper breath to fill my lungs with her scent again, I managed to speak rationally.“Soldiers are hunting us.Nokita’s keeping them busy.Do you know where Labyrinth is?”

Her massive head nodded against my shoulder.“We’re heading there now.They’ve been evacuating humans, and whatever they’re planning, it isn’t good.”

“Do you hear the high-pitched hum?”I asked.

She pulled back slightly, tilting her head in thought, then shook it.“I thought that was from my head injury, just ringing in my ears.What is it?”

“They’re attracting hellhounds to the tunnels.”

Her eyes darkened, and she let out a low growl.“We need to find Labyrinth.”

I pressed a grin against her neck, the warmth of her scent steadying me.“Then you need to pull your claws out of my skin and hope I don’t bleed to death.”

“Damn, I’m sorry,” she said, carefully extracting her claws.She lifted her hands, inspecting them in the dim light, and her jaws pulled into a sheepish grin.“I seriously need a manicure.”

Despite everything, I chuckled.

No matter the danger, Marinah would find humor in any situation.

Her friends didn’t bat an eye when she introduced me.I took Harris from the man she introduced as Landan, cradling his battered body.

“She promised not to tell my soldiers about this,” Harris muttered after we’d traveled a hundred yards.

“About what?”I asked, genuinely curious.

“About being carried like a baby,” he said, coughing afterward.

I bared my teeth, a Warrior’s version of a smile, and met his bloodshot gaze.“I’m not Marinah, and your soldiers will hear about everything.”

He chuckled weakly, the sound turning into a gurgling cough.

The metallic tang of his blood was sharp in the air, and I knew he needed immediate medical attention.

I calculated his chances.

My Warriors were just beyond the wall, hunkered down and waiting.Nokita would meet up with them soon, but if he didn’t make it, the Warriors knew the plan: wait one hour, then storm the tunnels.

It was almost time.

I glanced down at Harris.His breathing was shallower now, each labored gasp pulling him closer to unconsciousness.We needed him to stay awake long enough to find Labyrinth.

“He needs a doctor,” Skylar said, her voice cracking.

Marinah answered before I could.“The doctors are important to the Federation.They would have been evacuated first.”

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