Page 12 of Princess

I could, and I did.My legs were longer than hers, and I was in far better shape even with my advanced pregnancy.I didn’t mind giving a little.

When we reached the designated workroom, I unlocked the door and turned to Togg.“Put this on your keyring,” I said, handing the key over.“Let the other guards know she will be here six hours a day.”I ignored Lesley’s sharp inhale.

We stepped inside, and the task ahead of her became immediately clear.

Lesley took one look around, her lips curling in revulsion, which grew as her nostrils picked up the smell of sweat and dirt.What could I say?Shadow Warriors worked hard, and sometimes their clothes stunk.We’d found a system that worked best for them.The Warriors didn’t care if they wore each other’s clean clothes as long as they fit.

“You expect me to do laundry?”she demanded.

“You’ll be sorting laundry,” I corrected.“Clothes come down the chute above and land in a pile.You’ll check the size, sort them, and place them into the canvas bags marked with the correlating sizes.After you leave in the evening, the bags will be picked up.Once you get the hang of this, I might add folding, but I’ll need to set up a larger table for that.”

I gestured to the side.“The small table is where you can eat.Through that door is a washroom.If you do your job, you will be provided food.Do you have questions?”

Lesley’s eyes filled with pitiful tears, her hand trembling as she lifted them to her throat, the picture of practiced helplessness.

I felt nothing.

Neither did Togg, judging by the look of disgust on his face.

Protect baby, whispered Ms.Beast.

My Warrior side said this a lot when I was in Lesley’s company.Ms.Beast didn’t like her either.

Lesley crossed her arms, her expression turning venomous.“My husband will hear about this after I return home,” she spit, allowing the real Mrs.Barnes to slip out.“He will come for me, and then he will kill you.”

I didn’t so much as blink.

We wanted him to come.It was far easier than tracking him down again.

“One more thing,” I said, ignoring her threat.“Screaming and yelling will also remove your access to food.If you plan to start work without the temper tantrum, I’ll stop by the kitchen and have a meal delivered.”

If looks could kill, I’d be nothing but a blood smear on the floor.

Lesley huffed, turned her back on me, and limped dramatically to a small pile of clothes and leaned over it.

The universe had perfect timing.At that exact moment, another load came tumbling down the chute and buried her.

Togg snorted.I barely bit back a laugh.We slipped out of the room and shut the door behind us before we completely lost it.

“I know this assignment is supposed to be punishment,” Togg said, grinning as he locked the door, “but I believe I’ll enjoy it now.”

“Good,” I replied, still smirking.“Because your punishment ends tomorrow.Try staying out of trouble, Togg.Don’t make me send you back here, even if you might enjoy it.”

“Yes, my Queen,” he said with a grin.

One disaster down.

Now to deal with a pint-sized one.

Chapter Six

Marinah

I received word last night that Ruth was back at the citadel.No doubt she had made Maylin’s life hell, and Maylin had finally had enough.She had taken Ruth, a royal pain in my ass, with her so Che would have company on the southern end of the island.Ruth was Missy and Beck’s daughter though Beck was still getting his feet wet over gaining a daughter due to his mating.Missy had shot Beck when he jumped from a plane in a parachute and Ruth wanted to kill him after he landed.He spoiled the girl rotten.My anger at the child was still in simmer mode.She insisted on endangering her own life along with Che’s to kill hellhounds.They were both human and too fragile, even if they didn’t think so.

This morning, I sent a message ordering Ruth to meet me in the gym where I usually trained her.I had no intention of arriving on time.Instead, I showed up twenty minutes after I told her to be there, expecting to find a sulking, petulant child waiting for me.

Instead, Ruth was warming up, stretching as if preparing for whatever I planned to throw at her today.

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