Page 31 of Princess

We had always wondered what would happen if a Shadow Warrior became a hellhound.We kept tight control of our numbers, and there was only one Warrior unaccounted for.

Knet.

Chapter Thirteen

Marinah

I opened my eyes and found King lying beside me, his body warm against mine.Those piercing blue eyes were locked onto me.

I smiled sleepily.“What time is it?”

“Around 1 a.m.,” he murmured.He brushed a few stray strands of hair from my face, then placed his hand on my stomach.“How are you feeling?”

I loved everything about this man.Whether he was soft and warm like now, or angry and frustrated.He could be in human or his beast form; it didn’t matter.I wasn’t sure how I got this lucky.I knew when he was near.King said it was the mate bond, but it went past that.Our energy was aligned, and I had no other way to explain it.

A thought suddenly struck me.

King always pushed me to rest.He wouldn’t be lying here awake, watching me like this, unless something was wrong.

I tensed.“What is it?”I asked, propping myself on one elbow.

Instead of answering, he slid out of bed, walked around to my side, and took my hand.With a firm but gentle pull, he helped me sit upright, lifted me, giant belly and all, and carried me to a chair, resting me on his lap.

“I waited longer than I should,” he admitted.“But you needed sleep.You can yell at me after we figure this out.”

Unease ran through me.“You’re scaring me,” I said, my voice tight with growing wariness.

He explained what Alden said.I listened in silent horror.Our worst nightmare was turning into reality.King didn’t need to tell me who it was.

“Knet,” I spat, already picturing my Nova teeth sinking into his skull, one powerful bite crushing his brain to pulp.

Kill, Ms.Beast whispered inside me.

She was right.We didn’t need Nova to kill Knet.

“It has to be,” King said.

“Do you think they injected him with their serum and then killed him?”I asked, my mind racing through the possibilities.

His jaw clenched.“Alden said he appeared to be in control.If the Federation murdered him, would he be working with them?He may have volunteered.There’s no telling what types of experiments they’re doing.No matter what our small group of scientists discover, we’re always a step or ten behind the Federation.Right now, we don’t have the information we need.”

I exhaled sharply, trying to piece it together.“We know it’s because Barnes and possibly his wife helped create the first hellhound.”

King nodded.

“What about the hounds they created at the settlement?”I asked.“The ones who slaughtered the children?”My hands fisted in the blanket.“I don’t see how they would kill their own children if they had any form of control.”

“Until we capture one, we have no way of knowing.”

“You said our whistles didn’t work.Was Knet controlling them verbally?”I pressed and continued.“They had to have made him with the hellhound serum.It’s the only thing that makes sense.I agree with you, Knet hates us enough to volunteer.”

“He does.I have Alden tracking them now while Eagle holds the shipyard.I told them not to engage unless necessary.”

“Why?”

“We’re stretched too thin.”

I stared at him for several seconds, then shook my head in frustration.I knew what had to be done.“Have the entire island placed on high alert.All Shadow Warriors at their assigned stations.No time off until the island is safe from this current threat.”

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