Page 40 of Princess

“Why don’t they have their own?”Desmond asked suspiciously.

“Axel is mated to Garrett.They are unable to have a child.I’m requesting you put them on the interview list.Garrett is at the southern part of the island right now, and Axel delivered a baby, or he would have been at our earlier meeting.They are both wonderful, and any child would be lucky to have them as fathers.”

“Of course,” said Julia, and looked at her brother with an arched brow.

He gave a frustrated sigh.“You know I don’t care aboutthat,” he hesitated.“I just feel like we’re being set up.This,” he pointed around the room, “the entire place is too good to be true.What aren’t you telling us?”

“The Federation could attack any moment,” I said plainly.“They’ve attacked us before.We’re gearing up to put an end to their threat, and we have every intention of winning.It’s why we are all training so hard, and that includes the islanders.Most will stay behind and protect the island.We will leave Shadow Warriors too.Some of the humans want to join our fight and will be coming with us.But there’s always the chance we lose.If that happens, no one on the island will be safe.”

“Will the outposts fight with you?”Julia asked.

“Yes, at least the ones we help protect.Tully, Second Son, and Territory Three have just joined us.We’ve sent Warriors to them.That’s why you came here.For the time being, this is the safest place, or at least the southern part of the island is.”

I could see Desmond’s mind racing, and waited for his comments.

“If I train with your men, will you take me to fight the Federation too?”

“How old are you?”I asked.

“I’ll be sixteen next month.”

“Yes, if you work hard and the Warrior team you’re assigned to thinks you’re an asset, you can fight with us.After what I’ve seen you do, I don’t think there will be a problem.”

For the first time, Desmond relaxed.“I want to kill Federation officers more than hellhounds.”

“You’ll have the opportunity for both.”

“What about me?”Julia asked.

“How old are you?”

“I’m six months from fifteen.”

“The island and the children here can use you more.”

She shrugged.“Okay, I had to ask.”She smiled.“There are six-year-old twins who might be perfect for your doctor and his mate.A boy and a girl.”

I smiled back.“Meet Axel and Garrett first and ask your questions.I think the twins would be perfect.If they’re willing, the final decision is yours and Desmond’s.”

Even Desmond seemed happy when they rejoined Togg and Ruth.

I went to the kitchens for food, and to enroll juveniles in Ruth’s fighting group.It went better than I expected, and there would be children at the following morning’s session.

I also discovered I was a huge fan of mamey sapote.

Overall, the day was positive, and I had no idea why a sense of dread settled in the pit of my stomach.It had to be that outside of Knet, things were running too smoothly.

Chapter Seventeen

Marinah

Desmond was a hell of a fighter.He’d been working with Nokita’s group for two days.King gave me updates, and today I wanted to see for myself.Nokita had a tight smile on his face.Maylin had not returned from the southern part of the island, and I could see the strain it was causing.We’d sent a message after she didn’t arrive.There was some holdup with a patient.Maylin was one of Axel’s many assistants, though she should have been taking time off since the birth of her third child.Hopefully, she would arrive at the citadel within the next hour or two.

Desmond had a sword and was fighting against a life-size hellhound dummy.The early morning sun cast long shadows across the training yard, making the dummy look almost alive.It stood hunched on its wooden frame, proportioned with tightly wrapped straw and coarse canvas, painted black with crudely painted red eyes because someone had a sense of humor and thought it a great touch.The teeth and claws were splintered wooden stakes carved to resemble those on an actual hellhound.

Desmond clutched a practice sword, like he was born with it, and circled the dummy.Sweat beaded on his temples, clinging to wisps of hair due to the humidity, which was on the extreme side today.He might not be facing a real hellhound, but he approached it like he was.

The initiated attack wasn’t a charge.He feinted to the left, shifted his weight, and dropped his right shoulder as if to strike a high diagonal.The dummy, naturally, didn't react, but Desmond used the motion to practice his footwork, pivoting swiftly, bringing his left leg back for balance.His gaze never left the painted eyes of his target.

---