Page 30 of Princess

Alden nodded grimly.“Yes.Not in a way we fully understood.More like grunts and gestures.But the group split off, and only half of them attacked us.It was coordinated.The big one got away.”

My stomach tightened.That wasn’t just bad news; it was hell of dangerous.

“How big?”I asked.

“As big as one of us in Shadow Warrior form.”

Fuck me.

“What direction did they go?”

“We aren’t sure.That’s what we were discussing when you arrived.The hellhounds made a tactical attack.They knew what they were doing and allowed the others to escape.We’ve never seen them behave like this.No one around with whistles but us.When we tried the whistles, they did nothing.”

The implications settled inside me.The Federation had somehow nullified the whistles, which was bad news.A creature leading the hellhounds could be catastrophic.

“Are the fifteen dead?”I asked.

“Yes.”

I nodded.“We need one alive.Next time, keep that in mind.”

Alden gave a sharp nod.“Understood.”

“Injuries?”

“A few scratches and bites.We took the antivenom this morning.It’s still working.”

He hesitated.

“What else?”I pressed.

His expression darkened.“The strange one had blue eyes.”

Fuck me twice.Shadow Warriors had blue eyes and hellhounds always had black eyes.

As large as a Shadow Warrior and with the same eye color.This smelled like rotten fish.

“Eagle, set up here until Alden returns.”Eagle pulled his rifle off his bike.I turned my attention back to Alden.“Take five Warriors and track the hellhounds.Do not engage unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

“Got it.”

I had to speak with Marinah about going on high alert and canceling leave for the Warriors.Most Warriors headed to the southern part of the island to see their families or relax with single friends.If they stayed at the citadel, they invariably got roped into work.This was another change Marinah had imposed.She wanted them to have time away.Unfortunately, she wouldn’t place the same parameters on herself.Funny how I never minded the constant grind of leadership until it fell on her shoulders.

I returned to the bike and drove the curves at top speed.Marinah needed this information immediately.She also needed sleep.I had a feeling my news would ruin that.

I worried about Marinah and our child constantly.Control had been my foundation since I accepted that I was a Shadow Warrior.I had no control over her pregnancy.The baby could arrive at any time.There could be complications.Marinah could die in childbirth.

The thought seized my chest, and it felt like a heavy weight took my breath.If I let myself dwell on the what-ifs, I spiraled and had a harder time handling Beast.Marinah was essentially my heart.I needed her in order to breathe.

Mate, Beast grumbled softly.

When I reached our room, I found Marinah sleeping on top of the bedspread.Two covered trays rested on the small table on the other side of the room.Our dinner.It was unlike her to pass up food, even for sleep.It showed how tired she was.

I decided to eat and let her rest for another hour.She’d be pissed when I woke her, but she needed the down time.

I watched her while I ate.She’d called me creepy for doing it before, but I’d caught her doing the same thing.The truth was, we were happiest when we shared the same space.We didn’t care if we were making love or fighting hellhounds.Being close was what mattered.

While I watched her, my thoughts circled back to Alden’s report.

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