Page 61 of Princess

“I did not say you could take her away,” I said somewhat sternly.

Her eyes remained calm.“The Shadow wish to see Nikayla.It is my job to take her to them.They are safe and would not harm the child of the queen.”

Interesting.I looked at the sleeping baby’s face.The name Nikayla chimed through my brain.Very interesting.

“I will accompany you.”The baby was going nowhere without me or Marinah.”

“Of course,” Cosway said, almost like she had a say.

Beast didn’t grumble.His restraint was odd.Hell, the feelings I had were more than odd.I needed to question Marinah about these changes.I didn’t think Beck or Nokita would be much help.They had never said anything had affected them strangely after their children were born.

I followed Cosway to Marinah.I recognized one of the women immediately.The other was a stranger.

“King, I would like to introduce you to Endura and Amissa,” Marinah said.

The women bowed their heads slightly before looking me in the eyes.Beast didn’t grumble.Cosway handed the baby to Marinah and the woman named Amissa stepped forward.She placed one finger on the baby’s temple.

“Nikayla, not a God but the victory of the people,” she said softly and smiled.

That damned tingle happened again and Marinah actually jumped slightly.She turned to me, her eyes larger than normal.

“Amissa sees into the future and the future has named our daughter Nikayla.”

What could I say?I wasn’t sure I believed in someone’s ability to read the future but there was no denying our baby’s name.

“I made a promise to Labyrinth our child would be named after him,” Marinah said.“She can have more than one middle name if you would like to offer one.”

The Shadow Warriors had adopted one name when we joined the war against hellhounds.We had left our human identities behind.

“I wish the name to be Greystone.”

“Nikayla Labyrinth Greystone.It’s the perfect name,” Marinah said.

As soon as the words left her mouth, the tingle returned with more force.If the name appeared mysteriously on our child’s skin, I wouldn’t have been surprised.Slowly, the world returned to normal or as normal as it had been since Marinah entered my life.

“May I,” Endura asked.

Marinah handed Nikayla to her.Endura gently kissed her forehead then handed her to Amissa who did the same.The baby was then placed back in Marinah’s arms.I saw something in my mate’s eyes that surprised me.

Peace.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Marinah

Due to Nikayla, Cosway insisted we take a car to Warrior Bay.I had no idea Cosway could drive.She often surprised me in small ways like this.She disappeared for days at a time, and even when I questioned her, she never revealed where she went.Ms.Beast felt no danger from her, so I let it pass.Cosway was what you would call a free spirit.She danced to the tune of her own drum, and it was what I loved most about her.

Endura and Amissa seemed drawn to her, just as I was.

Caleb was our escort, and he rode in the front passenger seat.I sat in the middle of the backseat, holding Nikayla, with Endura and Amissa on either side of me.The baby slept peacefully and didn’t stir during the short ride.

When we stepped from the car, the ocean breeze was welcoming.Women began walking down the gangway.Endura and Amissa stood solemnly and watched.Women and children came one after the other.The children were female, which was a bit disconcerting.Shadow Warriors produced male offspring.

Their clothing ranged from jeans and T-shirts to dresses.There were a few babies held in women’s arms.I was curious about their lives.These were the women descended from those who left the Shadow Warriors and went out on their own several generations before.The history texts King gave me told nothing about their lives after they disappeared.

Blue-eyed gazes stared at me.Or maybe it was Nikayla who held their attention.They stopped ten feet from where we stood.I couldn’t deny the serenity they emitted.Caleb, who had walked beside me, backed up a few feet.I turned and looked at him, but he was watching the women with a strange look on his face.It wasn’t fear.

Endura had told me they did not share their essence with Shadow Warriors.She never said they couldn’t.

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