Page 88 of Princess

The red stripes battled the hellhounds that managed to escape from the semi-trucks.We joined their battle and as long as they didn’t turn their weapons in our direction, we didn’t stop them.

After the hellhounds were defeated, I stood in even more carnage.The red stripes dropped their weapons and silently looked at us.Rifles were hurriedly collected.

I wanted the soldiers in charge.All that was here were red stripes.Where the hell were the commanders?

“Marinah,” an unknown voice said behind me.

I turned and gazed at a man in his twenties with a red stripe on his uniform.He looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t place him.

“I’m Terry Aims.I lived in Landan’s camp.I was caught while patrolling.”

Ihadseen him at Landan’s outpost.He’d lost about twenty pounds, and his red hair was filthy, making it appear brown.

“We won’t fight you.”He waved his hands at the other red stripes.“We will fight with you, if you will have us?”

“Can you trust these soldiers enough for them to carry weapons?”I asked.

“Yes,” he said.“They know the truth.They want the Federation destroyed as much as I do.”

“Come with me,” I said, walking away from the others.“I’m looking for those in charge.”

“They’re cowards and they left an hour ago,” he said.

“Land, air, or vessel?”I asked.

He smiled.“By land in armored vehicles.”His dull eyes brightened.“We’ve been placing salt in the gas tanks for months.It corrodes metal parts throughout the fuel system.It takes weeks to cause problems, and if we’re lucky, they won’t get far.”

I smiled back at him, and he grimaced slightly.Shadow Warriors were not attractive in Beast form, and my display of teeth would make any non-Shadow Warrior cringe.

“Is President Barnes with them?”

“Yes.”

“What about his wife?”

“She’s more than his wife.She made the serum they injected into us.She’s known as the brains behind the president.She’s with him.”

Fuck me.They would both die, and if I were lucky, my claws would have the honor.

“I was told there were more veteran soldiers here than red stripes.”We’d killed a large number but it wasn’t the number I was led to believe it was.

“They made some soldiers put on uniforms without the patches.It’s always been one of their tactics.”He looked around the camp before his eyes swung back to me.“I don’t think you need to worry about veteran soldiers any longer.”

I wasn’t sure how to feel about this revelation and wasn’t sure I could trust it.

“Move out,” I told the Shadow Warriors.I turned to Terry.“If you and your group can keep up, follow us.We’re going after the president.If one of you turns against us, you all die.”

“We will keep up,” Terry said.

The vehicle trail was easy to find.Once more, we ran.

According to one of the maps that Stevens gave me, there was an old highway three miles from our current location.We had to reach the vehicles before they hit the highway.Hopefully the salt in the tanks would make our job easier.

“Can you increase your speed?”I asked King.

He leaned over and rubbed his giant maw against mine.“We train for this.”

I smiled.“Let’s get Barnes.”

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