Page 75 of Princess

I smiled at her because this was the Marinah who would lead us into battle.

“Close your eyes and rest,” I whispered.“Nikayla will wake up in another hour or two for a feeding.”

Marinah’s eyes drifted closed.Her hand remained on the baby’s back.I brought my hand up and rested it on hers.I fell asleep holding them.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Marinah

Landan contacted us before the sun came up.He’d sent a scout back with a radio for his men watching the Federation in Louisiana and one for those at the airport waiting on us.Radio frequencies attracted hellhounds, and they were a bigger problem when out in the open.We used them only for urgent communications, and this was urgent.Landan received word that the ships had left the harbor.The Federation’s fleet was on its way to the island.

An hour later, Endura and Amissa stood at the entrance to the citadel, waiting patiently for me to hand Nikayla over.My arms were locked, and I would swear they actually ached.King had his hand on my back, his teeth clenched.

“She will survive,” said Amissa.“This I promise you.”

She didn’t say that King and I would survive.This could be the last time I held my child.Nikayla’s fingers closed around mine.She’d been up for several hours, which was unusual.Seeing her bright eyes with no fear and only trust almost undid me.

Maylin and Missy had already left for the southern part of the island.Ruth, Togg, and their small group of young fighters and families were with them, along with a large Shadow Warrior escort.The citadel’s staff were given the choice to go.Most stayed and went down into the closest tunnels.

I hadn’t seen Maylin since we discovered that she was injected with the damned serum that would change her into a hellhound when she died.I spoke to her briefly before they left.

“Ruth has sworn to take my head or have one of the Warriors do it if I die,” she said.

Ruth was a child.This was something Maylin should not have asked, and she’d counted on Ruth’s hatred of hellhounds to be greater than her feelings for Maylin.Che worshipped Ruth.The entire scenario was simply wrong.

“I had to.”Her eyes held more emotion than I’d ever seen from her.“If I’m with Che and the babies, they must be safe from me.Ruth understands.She will see it done when some might hesitate.”

I didn’t agree, but what could I say?

I had to leave my child.Iwouldkill Maylin if she were a threat.This was such a fucked-up world.

I couldn’t seem to walk away.No one pressured me.They were holding the planes for us.I inhaled deeply, dipped my head and kissed Nikayla on the forehead, and turned her toward King.He gave her a kiss on the same spot mine landed.I closed my eyes and placed my arms out to Amissa.

When my arms were empty, King gathered me close.I opened my eyes and took the first step towards the future.I didn’t look back until right before the car turned the corner.Amissa held Nikayla so her tiny head was upright and pointed in our direction.Shadow Warriors stood with the Shadow Women, waiting to escort them to the southern tunnels.Our child would be safe.

Fuck, this was nearly impossible.

King took my hand.I didn’t cry.This wasn’t the time.

When we arrived at the airport, I stepped into the muggy heat.

Desmond walked up to me.I had no idea how he’d gotten to the airport.“I want to go with you,” he said.

Fury burned in his eyes.He was fifteen, and I didn’t want to be responsible for him.

“Why?”I asked.

“I’m good at what I do.I kept the children alive, and I can help you.The enemy won’t see me, and if they do, they won’t suspect me.”

He was a talented fighter, and there were other humans coming with us.

“You’re on our plane.Does your sister know?”

“Yes, she didn’t even beg me to stay.”He didn’t seem happy about that, and I almost smiled.

We boarded the plane, and the eyes of the men in the rows of seats held the same expression that was most likely on my face.They had left their loved ones behind, too.Some of us would not return.I was their leader, and I had to stay strong.

The plane’s engines roared to life.We were on one of five passenger planes.They had been modified to carry and release a limited number of bombs.We had one official bomber.Nokita piloted it.The thing was rickety, but he’d worked on it for over a year now and trusted that it would do the job.We had to take out Federation ships.The submarine had left the evening before and was on course to intercept the ships, too.

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