Page 60 of Princess

“We are not here to fight.Our presence will help in some way.The prophecies are never clear, but I know we must be here while you wage war on the continent.If you survive the coming battle, Nikayla will assure lasting peace.”

What could I say to that?A lot, but I decided it best to think about it before I caused an incident.

“How many women did you bring with you?”

Endura gave a small laugh and spoke, “One hundred and forty women and children took the voyage with us.No one stayed behind.”

This shocked me.They had all come.“What about your husbands?”

“We have no husbands.The men who lived with us left to fight.We told them not to return.Most died early in the hellhound battles.We do not make binding ties with the men who father our children.It is a lesson we learned several generations ago.”

I wasn’t going to touch that.

“May we see Nikayla?”Endura asked.

There it was again.Maybe “buzz” was the wrong word.“Zing” fit better.

“I am Cosway.I will fetch Nikayla,” she said and smiled at the two women before she left the room.

Cosway had accepted what the women said.I couldn’t believe someone else was naming mine and King’s child, but arguing against it seemed futile.

“What condition are those who traveled with you in?”I asked.

“They are tired of being cooped up on the ship.We bring no illness with us, just grumpy children who wish to run and play without boundaries,” Endura replied.

“We can provide rooms, food, and a place for the children to run.My worry is that if the Warriors leave the island, your unwillingness to fight will endanger those who stay behind.”I shook my head before Endura could speak.“I’m not saying you will bring danger, but if they need to protect their families and you, more of the island people will die.”

It was Amissa who spoke.“We are tasked with keeping your child safe and will give our lives to do so.We will not endanger the people here.”

Endura nodded in agreement.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about any of this, but I needed more time to think on it.

“Then welcome to my home,” I said.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

King

The baby slept while I studied her.I’d held other babies for a short time, but this was different.Marinah and I created her.She seemed so delicate.Too delicate.I knew she would grow strong but her vulnerability while she lay in my arms was jarring.

Protect baby.

Beast said it almost like a reverent whisper which was damned strange.

With our life, I assured him with more command than usual.

I swear he purred.

The baby’s smell seeped into my senses and my body tingled with a strange awareness.Love rolled through me.The overwhelming urge to fight that usually surrounded me was missing.I would protect my child at all costs, but the sense of calm I felt was strange.The bloodlust I’d carried with me since the Federation betrayed my uncle was missing.

I stood carefully when a knock sounded at the door.The unique scent of flowers and herbs told me who was in the hall.I opened the door.Cosway looked at me before her gaze turned to the bundle on my shoulder.

“May I?”she asked and placed her hands out.

I’d almost killed this woman because I thought she was a man with half his screws loose.The killing would have been a mercy.I wasn’t happy when I discovered she was indeed a woman.But I was wrong.She’d helped Marinah find balance in the chaos that surrounded her after she went nova.Cosway used meditation.I had laughed and shook my head at first.Now the Shadow Warriors embraced it.In a way, meditation was similar to how the baby affected me and my beast.

I placed my child in her arms.She smiled down at her then turned and took a step down the hall.I grabbed her shoulder.

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