Page 70 of Princess

Beck rolled his eyes.

“If the two of you are finished sizing up your manhood, we need to start the meeting,” Marinah said.

“My manhood is not in question,” Beck grumbled.

“I didn’t say it was.You’ll be carrying Barrett around as soon as Missy gets her hands on one of these contraptions.You and King will set a new fashion trend.”

Beck shut up.

“We know where Barnes is,” Marinah said.She then explained everything Landan relayed to her.

“Are you basing your decision on the Shadow Women’s witch doctor?”Beck asked.

Marinah glared, and he lowered his eyes.“Everything they’ve said is happening.I was skeptical, but that’s rapidly changing.Regardless if Amissa is right or wrong, it doesn’t change the intel from Landan, so shut the hell up or help.”

Beck’s good mood and unwillingness to argue hadn’t lasted long.He was back to his old self where he had to argue over everything simply because he could.

Marinah looked around the room.“We’re here to decide on a course of action.We’ll make more concrete battle plans in our next meeting an hour from now.Landan needs to know I’m sending one-third of our troops in his direction.”

Beck started to say something, and Marinah’s hand came up.

“One-third to him, one-third stays on the island, and the rest are with me and King.”She explained her reasoning, and I saw subtle agreement around the room.

“Beck, would you like to share your thoughts?”she asked with enough syrup in her voice to make him hesitate.

“Should you or King stay here on the island?”he finally asked, which surprised me.

“The Shadow Women are here to protect our children,” Marinah said.“King won’t go without me, nor I without him.”She didn’t look at me.“We’ll discuss our strategy once I’ve spoken to Landan.I’m heading back to the control room to radio him.Discuss your views with King while I’m gone.”

“You said, ‘our children’?”Beck questioned.

“Yes.Their job is to assure our children survive.Our children: human, Shadow, and Shadow Warrior, are the future.We need to plan our strategy and know while we fight, the children are in capable hands.”

“How are their hands capable if they don’t fight?”He wouldn’t let it go.

“You have been working with the women.Their tactics are defensive.Do you feel they lack the ability to defend the children?”Marinah demanded.

“I haven’t had enough time to make that decision.”

“Good,” said Marinah so sweetly, I knew Beck was in trouble.“I’ve made the decision for you.”

She stood, walked around, and kissed Nikayla’s head, before walking out.

“Is there anyone else you need to piss off?”Nokita asked Beck.

K-5 spiked.

“That’s enough,” I told them.“We’ve been given orders, and we have a lot to do.”I cupped the back of Nikayla’s head.“Having children gives us more to fight for, and it puts us more on edge.That includes Marinah.It’s time to end the Federation’s reign of terror.Who is with me?”

Caleb’s fist hit the table.“I’m for ending the Federation.”

More fists landed on the table until it was only Beck left.

“I’m angry enough that if I hit the damn thing, it will break,” he said and followed it up with a grin.“We have a war to win.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

Marinah

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