Page 58 of Princess

“Just one ship?”

“Yes, it’s filled with women.They want to see Nikayla.”

“Who?”

“Your child, though they said Marinah’s child.They claim to be Shadow.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Marinah

The baby had fallen asleep a few minutes before.I lifted her to my shoulder while staring at Beck in shock.It took a moment to form a sentence.

“The Shadow women are here?”

His expression showed something.Not quite disdain, but something close.“If they are who they say they are, then yes, they are here.We shouldn’t trust them.”

I stood up and gave Beck my hard stare.“Shut up.No one asked you.”

King made a noise low in his throat.It sounded like a laugh.I ignored him and directed my command at Beck.“Escort their representatives into the citadel and take them to the sitting room.Have food and drink delivered while they wait for me.”

“Sitting room?”Beck questioned like I’d grown two heads.

“Yes, the room on the bottom floor with comfortable couches and chairs.”I had trouble not adding “duh” to the command.It was rarely used but it was a place for guests and any idiot knew that.Okay, it was obvious one did not.“Make them feel welcome, and if I hear you haven’t done as I’ve asked, I’ll send you to the southern part of the island until I calm down.”I glared.“It could take a year or more.Have I made myself clear?”

Beck stared for a split second too long before lowering his gaze.“Yes, Alpha.”

“Why are you standing still?Hurry,” I said and made a shooing motion with my hand.

A second after he left, King began laughing.It didn’t help the turmoil rolling through my stomach.

“You deal with him so much better than I ever did,” he said when he could speak.

“Take her.”The baby had fallen asleep, and I thrust her gently into King’s arms.I needed a very quick shower before facing the women.My brain began going in a hundred different directions.

“What do I do if she cries?”King asked, looking at me like I was out of my mind for handing him the baby.He must have forgotten caring for her when I took the long shower.I was slightly upset that he hadn’t assisted earlier when I changed her diaper.I’d struggled, and he’d only watched.That would end right now.

I looked at his chest that was covered in straps.“You have large pecs; she might enjoy one.”

He looked down, then up.The expression on his face said I had to be joking.I left him standing there with his child in his arms.If a Shadow Warrior couldn’t handle his own child, he needed to kick himself in his own ass.

Men.

I scrubbed myself thoroughly, got out of the shower, and found one of the thick pads the women made for me.They had thought of everything.If it would have been left to me, I would be wearing a T-shirt between my thighs.My old clothes from before I was pregnant were tight, but they would work.

I gave a long sigh.King and I had set aside time after the baby’s birth to simply be a family.With all that happened these past few days, family time had to wait.I had no aches or pains left from labor and delivery.Shadow Warrior healing was miraculous.The only thing bothering me was an overall sense of tiredness.I needed the downtime I wouldn’t get.I smiled and shook my head.Forward, oh great leader of the Shadow Warriors.

Ms.Beast whispered inside me.Baby.

She had been unusually quiet.I couldn’t sense Nova at all but didn’t have time to worry about it.

I left the bathroom and found King sitting in the chair I’d vacated.The baby slept.He gave me a relieved look.It would become abundantly clear very quickly that raising our child was a team effort.He led the Warriors before me, and if he could do that, he could handle one small infant.

“I’m going to speak with the women alone,” I said.“I’ll send someone for the baby if I decide it’s safe.”

He nodded his head like he’d expected this and he was resigned.Her last diaper had been black tar.King needed a good, solid dose of newborn poop, but I most likely wouldn’t get that lucky.

How many Shadow Warriors does it take to change a dirty diaper?I thought to myself as I quickly left the room.

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