Page 57 of Princess

“And?”I asked when he didn’t continue.

“I hit the detonation switch and released the hounds.”

“Even knowing your family was most likely dead?”I growled.

“Yes.”His eyes lifted to mine again.“I am a coward.You need to kill me.”

He wanted to suffer for what he’d done.He wanted to die because his family was dead, and he hadn’t been strong enough to watch them die or to die with them.Hewasa coward.He needed someone else to end his miserable life.I was very tempted.

“I have a better idea,” I told him.“You deserve the death you seek.”

He gulped.

“You will die on our front lines at the hands of the Federation when they attack.”I released him.

He collapsed to his knees.“Please end this.I can’t take it.”He began crying.

I wanted to strangle him.I turned to Trevor.“Guard him closely so he doesn’t kill himself.”I didn’t think he was capable of doing it, but I wanted to be sure.“Do not harm him in any way.Do you have enough control for this assignment?”

Trevor looked at the prisoner before momentarily meeting my eyes.

“Yes, King.”

If Trevor did kill him, his punishment wouldn’t be severe, but I didn’t say so.

I left the cell and returned to my wife and child.Marinah sat in the chair by the table, feeding our daughter again.For such a tiny thing, she enjoyed her food as much as her mother.Marinah slowly munched on food from a plate on the table.

“You should be in bed,” I said after kissing her on the cheek.

“My, what big teeth you have, oh great one.”She grinned, then shifted her attention to the baby.Her eyes grew soft, and a smile curved her lips.I would carry this picture in my head for the rest of my life.They were so incredibly beautiful.

I shifted to human form and knelt at Marinah’s knees.I ran one finger across the baby’s cheek.She was our future, and it was worth risking everything to know she would survive.

Marinah leaned forward and kissed the top of my head.I straightened and looked up at her.“Your thoughts are in turmoil,” she said.“We planned to take time after the birth and relax, even if for only a few days.That was unrealistic of us.We need to be fighting for a peaceful world she can grow up in.”

“My thoughts show so loudly?”

“You are my mate.We have the same thoughts.”She reached her hand out and ran her fingers over the stubble on my jaw.I took her hand and kissed the backs of her fingers.I placed her hand over my heart.“I love you.”

“I love you.”

We gazed at each other for what seemed an eternity.I felt her deep inside me.Mates.I don’t know if our connection had ever been this powerful.

“What did the prisoner say?”Marinah finally asked.

I stood, adjusted my chest straps and took the chair beside her.I recounted the man’s story.

“Do you think they killed his family?”Marinah asked.

“Most likely.Putting him in battle is risky because he might kill one of us.Killing him instantly was too good for him.”

“We’ll think about our options,” she said.

“Do we wait for the attack, or do we preempt it?”I asked.

Someone knocked on the door.I opened it with a growl, upset that our time together was being interrupted.Beck stood there.

“There’s a ship in the citadel harbor.”

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