Page 49 of Princess

This was the most dangerous part for Trevor.Enemy guns were trained on him.His legs were still chained, and he had few options.I watched his face as he drew closer to Lesley.My vision and hearing were excellent as a Shadow Warrior.

“Trevor, no,” I shouted when his body changed position and he made his intent to throw himself at Lesley.He would drown them both.

His head snapped up, and his shoulders relaxed.

I understood how he felt.His sacrifice wouldn’t have the desired effect, though.We needed every Shadow Warrior we had for the coming battle that was long overdue.

Five minutes later, Trevor reached the dock.Mrs.Barnes reached the sub, and she was hustled down the hatch.

We stood staring at the admiral while he stared back.Then, he smiled.It sent shivers up my spine.

Someone yelled from behind us.“Hellhounds.”

I looked toward the Federation sub.Knet and the admiral had gone below.Several of his men were trying to get down the hatch as fast as possible.

“Take them out,” I commanded.

Six Federation soldiers went down from sniper fire.

We fell back to the ship and took cover behind it.An explosion rocked beneath us.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Marinah

“Torpedoes,” Nokita shouted.“They’re aiming for the docks.”

“Radio the planes and see if they can blow that damn sub from the water,” I told him.“Everyone else on me,” I shouted.

Another explosion detonated, sending debris in all directions.My side stung for a moment.

Kill, whispered Ms.Beast.

Yes, time to kill.

My sword was strapped on my back, and I never considered using it.My rage overshadowed everything else.I needed blood on my teeth and claws.

A hound zeroed in on me and launched itself.King leapt and intercepted before it reached me.I let out a cry of frustration, then quickly found my next target.There had to be over a hundred hellhounds.We’d checked the surrounding area throughout the night.

Where the hell were they coming from?

Within a few minutes, the air thickened with the scent of death, machine oil, and something similar to burnt hair.My guttural growl vibrated.I locked eyes with another hellhound.Its curved claws clicked on the ground as it ran forward, its hungry eyes glued to me.

I leapt, a blur of dark fury, and launched forward aiming my claws at the hellhound’s throat.It jumped aside at the last moment, and I only managed to rake a furrow across its side.The hellhound turned, and its snapping jaws missed me by an inch.I lashed out again and penetrated its flank.The hound shrieked, twisted, and flew at me again.

I lifted my clawed foot and drove it into the beast’s gut, then withdrew.It snarled and began to circle, feinting left, then right, its eyes fixed on me.Another low rumble emanated from my chest.The hellhound darted in again, this time aiming for my legs, a tactical lunge designed to bring me down.Its claws raked my thigh, tearing deep.Pain and rage kept me going.

The hound tried to bite my lower leg, but I brought my powerful fists down, one after the other, on the hellhound's hunched back; each blow landed with the force of a jackhammer.The hellhound tried to get away.I roared again.

Battles took place around me.Eagle was as good as his word and other than the hound I fought, the ones nearest me had their lives cut short by sniper fire.I bit into the hellhound’s shoulder and grabbed its front leg.It tried to twist away, but I got my other clawed hand around its throat.My jaws replaced my hand, and I bit into putrid flesh.The hellhound thrashed wildly, its powerful legs kicking, its teeth snapping futilely.I jerked my head to the side and tore its body apart.

“Marinah,” King called.

I looked in his direction.There were only a few hellhounds left.One of Rodrigo’s human men lay on the ground.He’d been bitten.

I moved toward King while looking for another attack.A sudden sharp pain took my breath away, and I stopped.My eyes looked downward where liquid slipped between my legs.Another jagged pain ran through me, and I dropped to my knees.

My side hurt, the hellhound bite on my thigh burned, but the pain in my stomach overshadowed everything.

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