Page 29 of Princess

“Let’s get everyone settled,” I said.“We’ll start working out the details tomorrow.”

Julia gave a small nod.“Thank you.”

Chapter Twelve

King

While Marinah handled the children, I checked in with the Citadel’s watch.The number of hellhounds that had attacked us at the airport gnawed at me.It had worried Marinah too.Before she headed to the training facility, I told her my plans, and she agreed that we needed to understand the battle we’d just had.

I climbed our highest tower in search of Eagle.

“Alden reported a large sighting of hellhounds near the shipyard,” Eagle reported when I approached.

He was our best sniper, steady under pressure, and reliable in a fight.He’d stepped up and been invaluable since Labyrinth’s death.He would make a solid addition to Marinah’s guard, though I kept that thought to myself.Marinah had to choose her own people.She’d make the right decision.I just hoped it was soon.

“Alden sent the message about twenty minutes ago,” he continued.

We kept telegraphs in key locations throughout the island.Hellhounds were attracted to electronic devices, so the early telegraph machines were a less dangerous option due to the smaller amount of electricity they needed.They still caused trouble, but not as much as pre-hellhound electronics or devices that worked wirelessly.

“We ran into twelve at the airport,” I told him.“Now there are a dozen less to worry about.Feel like taking a ride?”

Eagle glanced around, his expression shifting curiously.“Where’s Beck?”

Usually, I couldn’t get rid of Beck.He was always a step behind me, watching my six while I watched Marinah’s.

“He’s helping his mate with the children we retrieved,” I said.

Eagle blinked, then let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head.Even he had trouble picturing Beck in that role.

“It happens to the best of us,” I told him with a knowing smile.

Eagle grimaced, but I didn’t call him on it.One day, he’d understand.

We took the motorbikes.

Riding felt like freedom.Like an escape.But now that Marinah ran things, I didn’t feel the same pull to the open road.I’d rather be at her side than chasing the wind.Unfortunately, duty kept us apart most days, though even when I wasn’t with her, I felt her.

It was something in our mate bond, a steady hum beneath my skin, always letting me know where she was.If we were miles apart, the connection wasn’t as strong, but at the citadel, it was constant.I could sense when she was happy or agitated.

Since she became pregnant, the bond had deepened.Maybe "tether" was a better word for it.We were tied together by something unexplainable.

I pushed the thoughts aside and let myself enjoy the ride.The steady thrum of the motorbike beneath me, the wind slicing past.It was a fleeting moment of sanity before reality crashed back.

We pulled into the shipyard.

Alden stood with a group of Shadow Warriors, all in their beast forms, their postures tense, their watchful eyes scanning the area.As soon as Alden spotted us, he strode toward me.

“I have something strange to report,” he said.

I waited, but when he didn’t immediately continue, I prompted, “Report.”

His gaze flicked to the others before settling back on me.“There were thirty in this group of hounds.”

I exhaled sharply.“That’s larger than the pack that attacked us at the airport.”

“That’s not the strange part.”He hesitated, something uneasy flickering across his expression.“One of them was big.Really big and he looked different.He seemed to have control over the others.They obeyed him.”

I stilled.“Obeyed?”

---