Page 9 of Warrior

“Just don’t kiss me,” Axel said before leaving the room and heading to the meeting without us.

“He’s gone,” I told King, leaning just a little closer to him, my eyes fixed on his amazing lips.

He grinned.It was the kind of grin that made me want to bite his lower lip and suck.“Then we’ll take a few extra minutes.The council can wait.”

Our lips met, and the world around us faded.His mouth moved with mine, our tongues sparring as if we were both starving.We breathed each other’s air, drinking one another in like we were dying of thirst.Maybe we were.

For the first time in three days, the Beast thing inside me went completely quiet.King hadn’t kissed me like this since I shifted, and maybe this was what I’d needed all along, simply to feel wanted, to feel loved.

The thought stopped me in my tracks even as we kissed.Love?We didn’t really know each other well enough for that, and I shouldn’t be associating the “L” word with King at all.But this kiss told a different story.It whispered that he needed me, that he wanted me as much as I needed and wanted him.

When he finally pulled back, I stumbled slightly.His large hands steadied me, and his cocky grin made my stomach flip.

“You want me,” he whispered.It was a statement.But the way he looked at me, I realized it was also a question.

Did he think I didn’t want him?

“We need to get to that meeting,” he groaned, his lips brushing mine quickly.

I nodded, my mind spinning.How could he possibly doubt that I wanted him?Maybe sitting in that meeting would give me time to think this through.

“I’m not dressed appropriately,” I said, my voice quieter than I intended.

His fingers brushed against my jaw, his callused thumb grazing my lower lip as his eyes darkened.“You’re perfect,” he whispered.

Warning bells should have been going off in my head.My beast should have been struggling to break free.The world should have stopped tilting.But none of that happened.

Our gazes stayed locked, and in that moment, I wanted King more than I wanted anything on earth.

“We need to leave,” he said, but he didn’t move a muscle.

His words shattered the spell, and I was the first to look away.That’s when my beast decided to wake up, letting out a low, disgruntled grumble.She didn’t cower, didn’t shrink back.She never looked away first.Her thoughts pressed into my mind, distinct and separate, like they belonged to someone else entirely.

Maybe this once,I told her silently.

King took my hand, his large fingers wrapping around mine as he led me to the meeting room.By Citadel standards, the room was small, with a large round table in the center.Knives were stuck in the wood in front of each Warrior.An empty chair had a knife in front of it.The Shadow Warriors’ gazes shifted to the door as we walked further inside.

King had introduced me to them last night, so I didn’t know why I suddenly felt a wave of apprehension.Maybe it was because none of them smiled or looked particularly excited to see me.If anything, they seemed wary.

Cabel was the Shadow Warrior with Mary.She’d stayed close by his side at the funeral, and he hadn’t let go of her hand.King told me they were newly married.

A dull, steady pain coursed along my nerve endings.It was a strange sensation I hadn’t experienced before.King pulled a chair out for me, waiting until I sat before taking the next seat.His fingers gave mine a subtle squeeze, a gesture meant to reassure me.

Normally, in an uncomfortable situation like this, I’d distract myself by staring at the walls, admiring the brightly colored artwork.But now, every hair on my body felt like it was standing at attention.

The familiar rumble signaling a potential shift was there, but it wasn’t overpowering.My eyesight sharpened, the room around me snapping into high definition.

The word,danger,rumbled inside me.

I glanced at King, and his expression stayed calm as he began to address the men.“I’ve brought Marinah to the meeting to speak with you and answer your questions.She’s unaware of our earlier conversation, and I caution you to remember she’s newly shifted.Labyrinth, proceed.”

Labyrinth was the kind of Warrior who looked like he swallowed a horse for breakfast every day.His muscles bulged, his shirt struggling to contain them, and the veins in his forearms made it clear he wasn’t someone to mess with.Yet his expression wasn’t unfriendly, and I relaxed a little.

That’s when I noticed his eyes.They were stunning; one green, one blue.Spectacular, really.He looked away quickly when he realized I was staring, and I kicked myself for not asking King more questions about this meeting.

“Marinah,” Labyrinth said, giving me a slight nod.“Would you tell us about your mother?”

The question hit like a punch to the gut.I worked hard not to think about her, but the memories came rushing back.My mother had been everything to me.She was my friend, my confidante, and my mother rolled into one.She wasn’t the type of parent who gave me everything I wanted.She was the kind who made me furious at times, who I silently cursed in my head, but who I loved with the fierce, unshakable love only a daughter could have for her mom even when angry.

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