Page 8 of Warrior

“You say that like this is my fault!”she cried, tears spilling down her cheeks.“I hate you right now.This shouldn’t be happening to me!”

I couldn’t help but laugh.It wasn’t funny, not really, but her frustration was so raw and honest that it broke through my own tension.

With a desperate growl, Marinah shifted, her snapping jaws giving me a side swipe that only caught air.

“You’re amazing,” I told her, stabbing the needle into her thigh while using my arm to block her teeth.It wasn’t easy.One of her claws raked across my neck, leaving a stinging furrow.

“Now, now.No scratching,” I said soothingly as I waited for the drug to kick in.

When K-5 took over in the early stages of a Shadow Warrior’s journey, it made distinguishing friend from foe harder.A new Warrior had to be guided.Kill the enemy, and don’t eat your allies, friends, or family.It changed within a few months, and family was mostly discernible.Friends took a little longer, and allies, longer still.

Beast grumbled in the back of my mind, a low, unsettling sound.Did he want me to claim Marinah?I wished I knew.Marinah needed her beast to cooperate, too, or she’d face the same struggles I had when Beast told me to kill her.Establishing a relationship this way was dicey at best.Our volatile start when she first arrived on the island didn’t help matters, either.

I slammed my brain shut on those thoughts.Mating was the last thing I needed to worry about right now.Marinah needed me to focus on helping her stay calm.

With a groan, she finally collapsed, half-sprawled in my lap, her heavy breathing filling the car.

“I didn’t think she could do it,” Axel said from the front seat, his voice laced with both surprise and admiration.“You need to try a little less stress and a lot more calmness with her,” he added, like he always did when he thought I needed advice.

“Yes, mother,” I snapped, unable to hide my irritation.He was worse than a mother hen, hovering over his patients with twice the stubbornness and none of the charm.

Leaning back against the seat, I let my head rest and closed my eyes.Marinah was tucked close to me, her scent filling my senses and easing the tension in my chest.

It was going to be a long and incredible journey with her by my side.

Chapter Three

Marinah

King had been in the meeting for over an hour, leaving Axel to keep me entertained.His attempt at cards wasn’t helping.

“Trump,” Axel said, unable to hide the smug grin as he laid down a three of spades.

I threw my entire hand across the room and jumped out of my chair.I needed to hit something.Someone.Anything.

“Shadow Warriors run to work off the rage.That’s what you need to do,” Axel said, eyeing me cautiously.

I turned to him, feeling the temperature rise around me, the deep ache in my bones, and the burn of change crawling through my blood.I took a few deep breaths, forcing myself to stay in control.“I’ll do anything,” I finally said through gritted teeth.

Before Axel could act on his suggestion, King walked into the room.

“You agitated her?”he accused, glaring at Axel.

“I won a trick while playing cards.She was kicking my ass,” Axel replied, shrugging.

“I’m standing right here!”I shouted, waving my arms like a lunatic.“If you keep talking like I’m not in the room, I will eat one of you.”To make my point, I let out a low growl.

King strode over, grabbed me, and smashed his lips into mine.The rage boiling inside me evaporated instantly, replaced by a surge of desire that hit me like a tidal wave.The thing inside me slithered beneath my skin in a way I’d never felt before.It was strange, electric and consuming.

When King finally pulled back, I wasn’t ready for the kiss to end.I locked my arms around his neck, trying to pull him closer.

“We don’t have time,” he groaned against my mouth, his voice thick with regret.“I need you in the meeting.”

His eyes were so impossibly blue that I wanted to dive into them.Swimming in his eyes?Seriously?Corny didn’t even begin to cover it.

“You want me in your meeting?”I asked huskily, trying to fight off desire.

He blinked down at me, his lips still so close.“Yes.I’m sorry I took so long.We had to iron out a few things.Axel is needed too.”

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