Page 97 of Princess

“Are you hit?”I asked King.

“Yes, shoulder, not serious.We’re doing this.”

At the end of the long, straight tunnel, a group of soldiers appeared from another intersecting shaft.They moved in the opposite direction from us.In the middle of their formation, I saw Lesley Barnes in a white nightdress.Two soldiers followed, and then President Barnes came into view.

My vision went red, and I started running.

King stayed close behind me.More gunfire rang out.I didn’t care.A bullet entered my side, and I barely felt it.

The soldiers went through a metal door and tried to close it, but I was too close and threw my weight against it.

“Push,” a man yelled from the other side.

They didn’t stand a chance.I shoved with my Shadow Warrior strength, and they flew backwards.I barreled inside a room that was maybe twenty by twenty.The soldiers had landed on their asses and were trying to gain their feet.I didn’t concern myself with them.A scream and a grunt sounded behind me.King took them out.

I grabbed a soldier standing between me and the president and flung him into Barnes.Lesley headed to another door.A guard was trying to push her through.Strangely, she stopped and turned toward me.She held a gun in her hands.I charged the president.

King launched himself at Lesley, knocking her away from the door.She twisted and fired at King point-blank.

Fuck.

More gunfire exploded, and I saw Nokita leap over a table and take down two soldiers with the spread of his arms.

I grabbed Barnes around the throat and spun so he was between me and the last two soldiers.They turned and ran through the door.A moment later, they backed into the room, their hands in the air.

Lesley was on the floor, her back to the wall, the white gown around her, and the gun aimed at King, who had fallen.A circle of blood spread beneath him.He wasn’t moving.

“This time I’ll shoot him in the head.He won’t recover from that,” Lesley said.

Her eyes told me she was going to do it anyway.She glanced quickly at the exit door and smiled.

“Ace, I’m so glad you’re joining us.Stay there while I explain a few things.”

I stared at the bipedal creature before me.He had massive, clawed hands and thick skin that looked almost armor-plated but with short charcoal grey hair.His back was hunched and his body was very different from his Warrior form.The head was distinctly canine, similar to a hellhound, but something more.His open jaws revealed long fangs that extended past his upper and lower lips.The inside of his mouth and his tongue were deep red.His eyes seemed to glow.A thick, spiky mane erupted from his neck and shoulders.A prominent, lighter-colored ridge ran down the center of his forehead and snout.The broad, muscular chest was covered by fur, and the long, dark claws were larger than mine.

Oh Ace, my heart cried.

The president whimpered.

“Shut up, you stupid fool,” Lesley yelled at him.

“She’s going to kill me,” he croaked.

“No, she’s not,” his wife said.She turned the gun and fired again.

I felt the impact but the bullet didn’t pass through the president’s chest.She was using hollow points.I almost laughed.

His body went limp, but I kept him as a shield.

“He was nothing more than a simple-minded dimwit,” Lesley yelled.“I had to put up with him for years.I ruined your little plan to kill him, didn’t I?”

Lesley Barnes was insane.

She laughed.“I did everything.Each scientific discovery was mine.The entire plan was mine starting on day one.He took the credit and received all the glory while I was forced to stay in the background.The fools actually named him president.”

Saliva dribbled from the side of her mouth.

“You warped the formaldehyde?”I asked calmly, wanting answers.One of King’s finger’s twitched.

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