Page 28 of Princess

“Yes,” I confirmed.“Our scientists are working on an antidote for humans.Bites and scratches are safe for us now and if we know we’re going to encounter hellhounds, we take it hours before.We had planned to go hunting tonight, and were prepared.The bites and scratches still burn, but that’s all they do to us now.”

“That’s so cool,” the other girl said, her eyes wide in fascination.

I smiled at her.“It is rather cool, and it’s helped us tremendously.”

Desmond scoffed.“Are you going to keep chitchatting like the world hasn’t ended, or can we get down to business?”

To hell with diplomacy.I turned and faced him.“Your attitude is about to get you into trouble,” I said, my voice very low, which should have warned him.“I have been extremely patient, but you keep pushing.Do you expect me to toss you in a cell and throw away the key?Is that what you’re after?”

“You and what army?”

He barely had time to blink before I moved.

In half a second, I had him pinned, his own blade pressed against his windpipe.

“This army,” I said, even lower.“I’m a one-person wrecking ball.I’m also in command of the island, and the last thing I want is to hurt any of you.But you’re making that difficult.”

I shoved him back toward his friends and flipped the knife in my palm, offering it to him hilt-first.His jaw clenched as he took it, slipping it back into his waistband without a word.

Julia smirked at him.I wouldn’t have been the least bit surprised if she’d stuck out her tongue.

“We’re worried about the kids,” she said, her amusement fading into something more serious.“We’re the only family they have.”

“What did the outposts do when you arrived there?”I asked.

“They housed us in a large barn, and it was hard for the children.”She shrugged, the motion tight with old frustration.“I know it’s difficult because there are so many of us, but we lived alone for years.We only went to the outpost because a virus broke out, and everyone was sick.”

“Do you know what the virus was?”I asked.

Julia nodded.“The nurse at Second Son said it was measles.One of our babies died, and that’s what finally made us look for help.They provided food, but made us stay outside their walls until no one was sick.It took over a month.Most of them resented us.”

I inhaled slowly, keeping my reaction measured.“We don’t resent you.We asked the outposts to send their children here so they would be safe from the Federation.Your group is the first they agreed to send.”

Desmond let out a bitter scoff.“They didn’t want us, and didn’t care if we lived or died.”

“That’s not true,” Julia snapped, turning on him with barely restrained frustration.“They’re struggling just like everyone else.They wanted to help, but didn’t have the resources.”

I lifted a hand, cutting through their rising anger.“We do have the resources.So instead of fighting about the past, let’s focus on making this transition as smooth as possible.The children are exhausted, and if we keep arguing, they’ll end up sleeping on a cold floor.If anyone has a solution, I’m all ears.”

Julia clenched her fists, clearly holding back whatever sharp retort she had for Desmond.After a second, she exhaled and said, “I’m sorry.”She met my gaze.“It would help if we knew the children were with families who wanted them.”

I liked this girl.Practical.Protective.Smart.

“Okay,” I said.“I’ll work with that.It would also help if you sat in at our meetings concerning you and the children.The Federation sees the citadel as a threat, and it’s not necessarily the safest place for kids, though we do have some who live here.”

I turned to Desmond, holding his gaze.“I’d like both you and Julia to be part of the meetings.I know you don’t like us, but we do want to help.More than that, we want to keep the trauma to the children as low as possible.”

He didn’t answer right away.His shoulders were still tense, but something in his posture shifted slightly.A hesitation rather than outright defiance.He gave a curt nod, the first real crack in his tough exterior.It wasn’t much, but it was something.

Progress.

“I do have a favor to ask,” I said carefully.“One of the islanders recently lost a child at birth.She’s hoping to care for one of the toddlers.She’s willing to stay here with you until we have everything sorted out.Would you be open to that?”

Julia glanced at Desmond, gauging his reaction.He didn’t protest, just held his silence, which was as good as approval.She turned back to me.“Cade is the toddler Missy carried.He wants nothing more than to be held.”

I allowed myself a small smile.“I think Maria would be thrilled to hold him all night if that’s what he needs.”

The tension in the room softened, just a little.Their exhaustion and uncertainty still hung thick in the air, but at least now we had a starting point.

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