Page 6

Marinah

Sharp pain hammered through my skull like a team of wild horses trying to break loose. Since becoming a Warrior, I’d rarely dealt with aches or pains. Getting my butt kicked during training didn’t count; it was expected. But this throbbing headache was different, and it was souring my mood fast.

The night had been brutal. I helped Nokita send dispatches to the outlying villages, coordinated supply lists, and personally drove most of the equipment to the runway. A team was loading everything as we prepped for departure. By the time I finally stepped into our bedroom, it was nearly four in the morning.

My eyes went straight to the bed. It called to me, a siren’s song of rest. But I needed to clean up. A yawn cracked my jaw as I headed to the bathroom, hoping a shower would ease the pounding in my head.

I had just stepped under the warm spray when the bathroom door creaked open. A moment later, King joined me, his arms wrapping around me as he pulled me close.

“You okay?” he murmured, his lips brushing the top of my head. My forehead found its usual resting place against his chest, and I sighed.

“Headache,” I admitted, the word muffled against his skin.

He tilted my head back gently, his piercing blue eyes scanning mine. “You need sleep,” he said firmly.

I yawned again, unable to hide the exhaustion weighing me down. “I really do.”

“We need to be at the airport in forty-five minutes. You’ll sleep on the plane,” he promised.

Leaning back against his chest, I let my eyes drift closed. “Wake me when it’s time to leave.”

King grabbed the soap and began running it over my back and shoulders, his strong hands massaging knots of tension as he worked. When his hands slid across my chest, I let out a low groan. “You’re making me reconsider sleep.”

He chuckled but didn’t take the bait. “Relax. Let me wash you up. Then you’ll get a few minutes of rest before we go. Once we’re on the plane, you’ll sleep.”

“That’s not what I meant,” I murmured, tilting my head back to meet his gaze, hoping he could see the spark of desire still flickering behind the exhaustion.

His slight smile melted me. “I know what you meant,” he said softly. He guided my head back down to his chest, his hands resuming their slow, deliberate motions. I didn’t fight it. For now, I let him take care of me.

A few minutes later, King carried me to bed. I barely stirred until he shook me awake a little while later. My head spun from the lack of sleep, but I got up, letting him lead me to the bike.

“Hold on tight and don’t fall off,” he yelled over the roar of the engine.

“Wait!” Maylin’s voice rang out. I opened my eyes as she ran toward us, a bag clutched in her hands. She thrust it toward me. “This is my way of thanking you for taking care of Che.”

“You know I don’t need thanks,” I replied, but the scowl that usually painted her face softened into a rare smile before she turned and hurried back inside the citadel.

Sinking against King’s warm back, I cradled the clunky gift on my lap and let myself drift during the twenty-minute ride. The hum of the bike, the steady rhythm of the engine, and King’s solid presence lulled me into a hazy state.

The sound of plane engines roaring to life jolted me from my half-comatose state. I blinked, clearing the cobwebs from my mind, and glanced down at the bag Maylin had handed me. It was still there. A pang of guilt hit me for not telling her about Che’s little escapade. She’d tan his hide, which was probably exactly what he needed. But punishment wasn’t coming from me. That kid had me wrapped around his finger tighter than I cared to admit.

Once King and I dismounted the bike, I took in the scene. The airstrip buzzed with activity. Warriors shouted orders as supplies were loaded onto the planes. Amid the chaos, my eyes caught a familiar figure: Axel. I did a double take, not expecting to see him here.

He strode toward me as King headed off to join his men. “You look tired,” Axel said with concern.

He, on the other hand, looked surprisingly rested. Whatever time away he’d had, even while working, seemed to have done him good. “You look out of place,” I teased.

We both smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling in good humor. “Maylin made it clear she can handle medical emergencies while I’m gone. I’m taking her up on that offer.”

Surprisingly, relief flooded through me. I had grown very attached to our doctor. He had become one of the few people I could rely on completely. He didn’t trigger King’s ever-present mating rage for some reason, and he treated me like any other Shadow Warrior. His direct eye contact, his acknowledgment of my presence in a room, and even the occasional hug (though it did leave King grumbling) had solidified his place as my best friend. King’s Beast tolerated Axel, while most of the other men set him off. That alone made Axel invaluable.

Axel’s sharp eyes scanned me, stopping at my hand. The stitches looked ready to pop, and the bruising made it appear worse than it actually was. “You’re a one-person walking disaster. Of course, you need me.”

“Harsh,” I replied, feigning offense. Under his watchful gaze, I pulled out the stitches and flexed my fingers. Shadow Warriors healed incredibly fast. It was only one of many perks.

“You need a full-time babysitter,” he muttered.

King’s arm slid around my shoulders, pulling me into his warmth. I leaned against him, grateful for the support. “She’s about to collapse. I’m putting her on the plane where she’ll sleep through the flight,” he declared.

Axel didn’t even blink. “Who made you doctor?” He turned his focus on me. “Get on board and sleep. Doctor’s orders.”

King growled low in his throat, but I couldn’t help laughing. Axel might be the only person alive who didn’t take King seriously. I reached up, rubbing the hand resting on my shoulder and traced along his arm. It was an awkward position, but I needed the contact. “I always follow doctor’s orders.”

That earned me growls from both men. Fighting a yawn, I turned toward the plane, King close behind me.

“I’ll see you after we land,” Axel called after us.

Neither of us replied. I was too tired to bother, and King was too… something. Probably just as exhausted as I was. We stepped inside the plane, and King steered me toward the back. “We’ve got the last row so you can sleep,” he said.

My legs moved on autopilot, dragging me down the aisle. I collapsed into the seat, letting out a relieved sigh. King gently pushed me down until I was lying flat, then lifted my legs onto the seat. He tucked a light blanket around me before settling into the seat across the aisle. At least, I thought he did. My brain felt foggy, and before I could even process his next move, sleep claimed me.

“Marinah,” came a small, childish whisper. I had no idea how much time had passed.

King’s pissed-off voice followed. “Ruth. What did I tell you?”

“She moved,” Ruth replied defensively.

I didn’t need to open my eyes to know what happened next. Large arms scooped Ruth up, and she floated through the air, carried away by King. My groggy mind made it seem more surreal than it was. Stretching my arms, I shifted slightly so I was more on my back, willing my body to fully respond.

King’s face appeared above me, his blue eyes flashing with a mix of amusement and sternness. “Go back to sleep,” he ordered.

I yawned and fought the urge to obey. “Hmm, I think I’m good. I could use some food. Did you sleep?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

“A bit,” he said without hesitation.

“You liar,” I muttered with a smirk.

His only response was a quick grin before he leaned down and kissed me. When he released me, I sat up, my head spinning briefly before settling. The dull ache that had been pounding through me earlier was gone. Stretching again, I looked around, trying to get my bearings. “How much longer?”

King sat down in the seat beside me. “About thirty minutes,” he said.

That meant I’d slept for over three hours. It wasn’t perfect, but it was enough to make me feel human again. As if reading my mind, King handed me a burrito wrapped in wax paper. I unwrapped it greedily and shoved nearly the whole thing into my mouth.

“Hungry?” King asked with a teasing glint in his eyes.

I ignored him, focusing on devouring the rest of the burrito. Food and I had reached an understanding. For all the calories I’d skipped during my early years of trying to maintain a figure, my Warrior metabolism now let me eat anything I wanted. My body burned it up for energy, and I wasn’t about to waste the opportunity to indulge.

King chuckled at my lack of restraint, giving me one of his signature side grins. “Once we’re on the hunt, it’ll be MREs or animals we kill in Warrior form. No fires, and we’ll be on the move constantly.”

I spoke around the last bite. “I hate MREs. Go away.”

King grinned again and handed me another burrito. If he kept them coming, maybe I’d forget about the terrible meals awaiting me in the near future. I shifted in my seat, hearing the crinkle of the bag I’d put on the floor before falling asleep. After inhaling the second burrito, I placed the bag in my lap and opened it.

No way. It couldn’t be. I froze, staring at the contents in awe. Slowly, I pulled out the most incredible, amazing gift ever.

Doc Martens.

I checked the size. Nine. Perfect.

“Boots?” King asked, raising a brow.

I tried lifting my foot, but my legs were too long, so I had to turn sideways. “Move to the other side so I can try these babies on.” I shot him a grin. “These aren’t just boots. They’re Doc Martens. The most kick-ass boots ever made. I can’t believe Maylin found them.”

King glanced at the boots, then back at me, looking unimpressed. “Shift once while wearing them, and bye-bye boots.”

I gave him a small shove to make room. Once he was out of the way, I twisted around, propped my legs up, and started pulling on the leather. As soon as my feet slid into place, I knew they were perfect.

“They don’t look any different from the military boots I gave you,” King said, unimpressed.

“Sacrilege,” I muttered, running my fingers lovingly over the leather. “These babies have PVC air-cushioned soles. They’re indestructible.”

King whistled. “One emergency Shadow Warrior shift, and you’ll learn that no footwear is indestructible.”

I glared at him, already prepared to bite off his head, but the captain’s voice came over the loudspeaker. “Please take your seats for landing.”

“I want boots like that,” Ruth chimed in from above me. I looked up to see her standing on the seat in front of us.

“Turn around, put on your seatbelt, and do what the pilot says,” I commanded firmly. “If you do, I might let you touch my new boots.”

“What would touching do?” Ruth asked, her curiosity tinged with defiance.

I fixed her with a hard stare. “I did something good and got a reward I wasn’t expecting. I earned these boots. If you don’t turn around and buckle up, you’ll earn something too, and trust me, you won’t like it.”

My glare did the trick. Ruth sank into her seat without another word and disappeared from view. King raised an eyebrow, his lips quirking into an amused smile. Ruth actually followed my command, and the surprise on his face mirrored my own.

I propped my feet on the seat in front of me, admiring my boots as we prepared for landing. King’s grin only widened as he watched me.

“Boots are your Kryptonite. Good to know,” he teased.

“Not just any boots,” I corrected, running my fingers over the leather again. “These are Doc Martens.”