Page 33 of Princess

Axel, Cabel, and Beck entered just in time to catch that last part.

“Who are we talking about killing?”Beck asked.

“Knet,” the three of us answered in unison.

Beck gave a nod of approval.“I would like nothing better than ending his miserable life, but I’m with Nokita.Whoever finds him first gets the kill.”

Axel didn’t join the discussion.He looked tired.It seemed to be a constant state with him lately.When this was over, he was getting a vacation.

I sighed.“We have bigger problems to discuss.Unfortunately, we might need Knet alive.”I turned to King.“Would you like to sum things up?”

King laid out what happened at the shipyard.

The room charged with K-5.Expressions hardened, hands fisted, and eyes gleamed.Even Axel, the most level-headed of us, looked furious.

Knet had already signed his death warrant, but this new information elevated the need by ten notches.

“The Federation has been experimenting with their unnatural serum to create hellhounds,” I said.“It’s most likely been happening since the beginning, which is why they’re always ahead of us.If we take Knet alive, we can put our science to work, figure out exactly what he is, and how to eliminate these new hellhounds who follow him.”

I gave them a moment before asking, “Do any of you want to add something?”

“He’ll be coming after you,” King said, his eyes locked on mine.

“He will,” I admitted.

“I disagree,” Beck cut in.

I groaned internally.Beck always disagreed.

“He wants you dead, but he’ll go for the bigger picture too.He’ll do his best to hurt the people on the island.It will appeal to him just as much.You’re well-guarded.He knows that.He’ll target the soft spots, the places where he can kill the most people because that will cause you mental anguish.The only good news is that if he’s on the island, we will find him.”

“Dammit,” I muttered.“I hate when you’re right.”

“I try,” Beck said with a smirk.

The door swung open, and Alden entered.The look on his face didn’t give me much hope.He sat down, exhaling sharply.

“They went into the water a mile from the shipyard.After that?No idea.We scouted the shore for miles in both directions.Nothing.”

I turned to Beck.“Give him your thoughts.”

Beck repeated himself.

“Makes sense,” Alden said.“What are we going to do about it?”His eyes landed on me.

“For starters, we go on high alert,” I said.“Get word to your men that there is no time off until we’re secure.Knet is on the island, or close to it.We have no idea how many hounds are with him.We need to keep Knet from attacking humans.”I turned to Nokita.“How’s the sub coming along?”

We had an older submarine he’d been scavenging parts for.There was also the submersible.It was useful for scouting and minor runs, but not much else.Right now, our best advantage was having the sub in the water.

“It should be operational after I make a few minor adjustments,” Nokita said.“I took it out for a test run two days ago.The oxygen gauge decided to act up, but I have a spare and can replace it within the hour.If I were Knet, I would attack the shipyard.”

“They failed before,” I replied.

“Yes, they did,” Nokita said, “it’s why it makes a good target.We won’t suspect it.”

I nodded my head.He had a good point.“The Federation is transporting this new group of hellhounds to the island somehow.We need to stop them.It’s either by ship or submarine.What are the capabilities of ours?”

Nokita leaned back slightly, arms crossed.“As you know, it’s not a modern craft.No high-tech systems, no fancy tracking.But that’s actually an advantage.I have seventy men ready to go but I could run it with a twenty-man crew if I had to.The men have been training hard.The islanders can fight, but they’re not Warriors.In the sub, it doesn’t matter.Everyone is even.”

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