Page 11 of Princess (Marinah and the Apocalypse #5)

Marinah

“What was your take?” King asked me.

The plane left thirty minutes ago. My guard was gathered in the argument room.

“I couldn’t see their faces or expressions,” I said, “but that might have been a good thing. It forced me to listen and focus on their voices and tone.” I tilted my head slightly, recalling the meeting.

“There was fear and anger at the start, definitely. But it shifted. By the end, I heard sincerity.”

King’s lips curled into a small, knowing smile. “They pushed my buttons.”

“And I’m so proud of you for not pushing back.” I gave him a wink.

“Good call on Beatriz,” he said.

I chuckled. “She rules the staff with a broom in one hand and a frying pan in the other.” My gaze flicked to Nokita. “Did you tell her not to give information about me?”

He grinned, amusement dancing in his eyes. “No. I only told her they were afraid and hesitant to accept our help. Her back went up all on its own when they asked about you.”

I let out a short laugh, shaking my head. “We should use her diplomatic relations abilities more often. She’s got a better natural instinct for it than most.”

My attention shifted back to King. “Do you think Landan will agree to trade with them after he gets your message?”

King exhaled, leaning back slightly. “Landan is stubborn, but he’s not stupid. He knows they’re stronger together, and their resources complement each other. I’m more worried about the mayors. Landan has three outposts who call him governor. These outposts won’t want him stepping on their toes.”

“Agreed.” I nodded. “Thankfully, Landan can handle that himself without us getting involved.” I straightened, changing course.

“I spoke with Missy before she left.” I turned to Beck.

“Don’t blame me about her flying while pregnant.

That woman could win an argument with an angry bear.

” I continued when Beck didn’t respond. “She’ll help me assign homes.

” I turned my attention to Alden. “We’ll send a group south to look for families who are willing to help.

Those families will need Warrior escorts.

You’ll be in charge of coordinating it.”

I shifted to Axel. “Garret was the perfect choice to send on the plane. Once we have his input, we’ll have an easier time matching the children with the right families.”

Axel’s lips twitched in amusement. “It wasn’t my choice,” he admitted. “Like Missy, Garret insisted. I grumbled about it, but he wants our names on the list. We’re willing to take in a child or two.”

My guard was formed to iron out politics and strategy. But it was also about people and giving them better lives. Family was special to Warriors. Garret and Axel would be great parents.

“Do you have a preference? Gender, age?” I clarified.

Axel exhaled, considering. “I need Garret in the hospital and traveling to clinics. He’s a huge help.

With Maylin’s new baby,” he cut his eyes toward Nokita, “I’m shorthanded even though Maylin is as stubborn as Missy and working part-time at the southern clinic while she’s there.

” Nokita shrugged, and Axel’s gaze returned to me.

“A baby would make things harder for me and Garret. We don’t care if the child is a boy or girl.

Above toddler age would be easiest for us.

If that’s not possible, we’ll take an infant and adjust our schedules. ”

If I’d spoken to Carmen, I would have a better idea of the children’s ages. But for now, all I could do was prepare for the unknown.

“We’ll know more when they arrive, but please consider you and Garret at the top of the list.” I shifted the conversation. “I need to bring something else up. Ruth—”

The second her name left my lips, the entire room tensed. Faces paled, even my mate’s.

I sighed but continued. “Ruth and Togg are starting a training academy for any juvenile, seven and older, provided they have parental permission, who wants to learn to protect themselves.”

Beck arched a brow; his voice laced with dry amusement. “Is that wise?”

“It keeps her from getting bored,” I countered.

“And it gives us leverage. She wants this badly, and if she pulls another one of her harebrained stunts, she’ll be removed from the program and someone else assigned with Togg.

It was her idea, and I agreed. The kids who join will feel safer if they know something about self-protection. ”

“Did you run this past Missy?”

“Not yet, but I doubt Ruth kept it from her.”

Beck’s lips twitched. “Missy will back anything that gives her more control over Ruth. Beating her isn’t an option; otherwise, the child would be black and blue.

” He paused. “I don’t speak for my mate, though.

Run it past her when you get the chance.

Every day she was around Lesley Barnes, she was thinking of ways to kill her without you figuring out who did it.

” His voice was lighter, but the truth behind it wasn’t lost on me.

“We appreciate you taking her off viper detail. Missy thinks highly of you right now.”

“It was unfair to her, and for that, I apologize.” I met his gaze. “But it did come in handy for Shadow Warrior punishments.”

That got a reaction. The tension in the room cracked as smiles broke out.

When King was in charge, he had knocked heads when needed, but that wasn’t how I handled things. The men much preferred head-knocking. Guard duty for Lesley Barnes was an undesired punishment.

“We’ll reconvene tomorrow after we know more about the children,” I said.

“Tonight, I’m feeling antsy, so I plan to go after hellhounds around midnight.

” I glanced at King, already anticipating his reaction.

Before he spoke, I held up a hand. “I know I’m pregnant.

But sitting out the discussion with Carmen and the other mayors put me on edge.

” My gaze swept the room. “If anyone wants to join me, you’re invited. ”

“I’m in,” Alden said immediately, earning a sharp glare from King.

“Too busy,” Axel replied, shaking his head.

“I’m heading south to Maylin,” Nokita added.

Beck smirked and shot a wink at King. “Missy would kill me.”

King folded his arms. “You will not be going without me.”

I gave him a knowing look. “I didn’t intend to.”

With that, our meeting adjourned.

∞∞∞

Seven hours later, just after sundown, the new children arrived.

I stood waiting with several women who had volunteered to help care for them. One woman, Maria, clutched her husband’s hand. She had given birth to a stillborn child just months before, and now, she had hope in her eyes.

The first to step off the plane was a teenage boy, maybe fifteen, his defiant sneer a challenge to the world. Two Shadow Warriors followed him, their expressions unreadable.

Garrett came next, his usual calm presence reassuring.

An island woman came after him, then the rest of the children began to descend, stepping cautiously into an entirely new world.

Most looked between five and twelve years old, their faces worn with the kind of wariness that came from survival.

I counted four older than seven or eight, including the first boy.

My biggest question was how they had managed to survive before the outposts took them in.

Finally, Missy emerged with the other two women we sent. Each cradled a toddler, their tiny arms curled around the women’s necks. Vehicles stood ready to transport them to the citadel. Missy, smiling, made her way to me with her own waddle.

“This is Fred,” she said, shifting the small boy in her arms who rested almost on top of her round belly. “He’s a handful, but also a sweetie. The four oldest children have been looking after all of them. They’re worried about being separated.”

“We’ll work something out.” I met her gaze after peering at the child who appeared to be about ten months old. “Thank you for going in my stead.”

Missy’s grin widened. “Us fat bellies need to stick together.”

I let out a small laugh, my hand instinctively resting on my stomach. “Want to trade?”

“Not on your life.”

Our laughter faded, and I shifted gears. “Did Ruth mention her plan to train the children for self-protection?”

Missy exhaled, shaking her head with something close to amusement.

“She did. I’m unsure what’s changed in that child.

I haven’t had to reprimand her once since she got back from staying with Maylin.

” She paused, lips quirking. “I think Maylin beat her. If so, it worked, and I will adopt that strategy immediately.”

Missy was in a good mood, which meant things had gone better than expected.

“Let’s grab one of the cars and get these kids settled.”

A piercing scream ripped through the night from twenty feet away.