Page 56 of Princess

“He’ll wait for as long as we need him to.”

“The sooner the better.He might know about their future plans.”

“They’re always planning something,” I said.Frustration laced through the words.

She took my hand and squeezed my fingers.We would face whatever they threw at us together.

Chapter Twenty-Six

King

The Federation soldier wasn’t in good condition.A Shadow Warrior’s claw had left a deep wound in his leg.The bandage around it was bloody.He glanced at me when I entered the cell, then tightly shut his eyes.Trevor stood against the far wall, staring daggers at the man.He’d asked Beck if he could stand guard, and Beck allowed it.I wasn’t so sure.Trevor looked like a man out for blood.Fury radiated off him as he fought to control his beast.I nodded at him, then adjusted the leather straps on my chest.“Look at me,” I told the prisoner.His eyes opened a sliver, and my Beast exploded.Gaining control so quickly after the change was a new phenomenon.I wasn’t quite where Marinah was, but I was damn close.I took three steps toward the man, lifted him by the collar of his shirt, and said, very distinctly, “You will tell me everything you know.I can make your death quick, or I can eat you from your feet up, and keep you alive through most of it.”

“Kill me,” he said.“I know little, and nothing I tell you will help.They have my family.My children.I had no choice.”He closed his eyes again.

A loud growl came from across the room.Trevor had been unable to stop his shift, and he was now in Beast form.His control would be erratic for up to an hour, and I didn’t want him killing the prisoner before it was time.I directed my stare at him and growled.He stayed where he was.

“Anything you say will help,” I said through elongated jaws with huge teeth that could easily circle the prisoner’s head.

“They are planning to attack soon.You have no chance.They will overwhelm your forces with hellhounds.They also made that thing from a Shadow Warrior.He bullies the hounds into going where he wants them to and they don’t fight back against him.”Something in his eyes died.There was no fight left, only resignation and his entire body went limp.

“When are they coming?”I demanded.

“I do not know the exact time, but soon.”

“How many soldiers?”

He shrugged and I shook him.

“I don’t know.”He squeaked.

“Were you captured?”

“Yes.”

“From where?”

“Tully.”

“They took your family?”

“A large group of us were on our way to Outpost Three to trade with them.The soldiers captured us at the midway point.I did what they said, even though I knew they would not spare my family.”He lifted his chin slightly.“Kill me.I do not want to live.”

“What is your name?”I asked.

“Evan Pycos.It doesn’t matter, though.I want to die.”

“Why do you think your family is dead?”

He looked down, then back up.“They want as many hellhounds as possible for the fight against you.They are killing everyone they find and turning them into those monsters.They captured about twenty of us.Men, women, and children.Then they injected us with the hellhound evil.They told us what they wanted and asked for a volunteer.No one stepped forward, and they shot an entire family.That’s when I raised my hand.They moved my family to the side and killed everyone else.My children witnessed the slaughter.”He looked down again.“They moved the dead into a huge cage, and an hour later, hellhounds rose.My daughter wouldn’t stop screaming, and a soldier backhanded her.One of her baby teeth flew out and she didn’t move after that.I should have let them kill me and my family immediately.”

“Did you see them kill the other members of your family?”

“No, they were taken away, and I was told exactly what they expected from me.It was a suicide mission, and I knew it.That’s why I know my family is dead.The Federation didn’t expect me to survive.”

“How did you survive?”

“I dug a shallow hole and buried myself with sand until I heard the high-pitched sound from the submarine.”

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