Page 25 of Princess (Marinah and the Apocalypse #5)

Marinah

“Torpedoes,” Nokita shouted. “They’re aiming for the docks.”

“Radio the planes and see if they can blow that damn sub from the water,” I told him. “Everyone else on me,” I shouted.

Another explosion detonated, sending debris in all directions. My side stung for a moment.

Kill , whispered Ms. Beast.

Yes, time to kill.

My sword was strapped on my back, and I never considered using it. My rage overshadowed everything else. I needed blood on my teeth and claws.

A hound zeroed in on me and launched itself. King leapt and intercepted before it reached me. I let out a cry of frustration, then quickly found my next target. There had to be over a hundred hellhounds. We’d checked the surrounding area throughout the night.

Where the hell were they coming from?

Within a few minutes, the air thickened with the scent of death, machine oil, and something similar to burnt hair. My guttural growl vibrated. I locked eyes with another hellhound. Its curved claws clicked on the ground as it ran forward, its hungry eyes glued to me.

I leapt, a blur of dark fury, and launched forward aiming my claws at the hellhound’s throat.

It jumped aside at the last moment, and I only managed to rake a furrow across its side.

The hellhound turned, and its snapping jaws missed me by an inch.

I lashed out again and penetrated its flank.

The hound shrieked, twisted, and flew at me again.

I lifted my clawed foot and drove it into the beast’s gut, then withdrew.

It snarled and began to circle, feinting left, then right, its eyes fixed on me.

Another low rumble emanated from my chest. The hellhound darted in again, this time aiming for my legs, a tactical lunge designed to bring me down.

Its claws raked my thigh, tearing deep. Pain and rage kept me going.

The hound tried to bite my lower leg, but I brought my powerful fists down, one after the other, on the hellhound's hunched back; each blow landed with the force of a jackhammer. The hellhound tried to get away. I roared again.

Battles took place around me. Eagle was as good as his word and other than the hound I fought, the ones nearest me had their lives cut short by sniper fire.

I bit into the hellhound’s shoulder and grabbed its front leg.

It tried to twist away, but I got my other clawed hand around its throat.

My jaws replaced my hand, and I bit into putrid flesh.

The hellhound thrashed wildly, its powerful legs kicking, its teeth snapping futilely.

I jerked my head to the side and tore its body apart.

“Marinah,” King called.

I looked in his direction. There were only a few hellhounds left. One of Rodrigo’s human men lay on the ground. He’d been bitten.

I moved toward King while looking for another attack. A sudden sharp pain took my breath away, and I stopped. My eyes looked downward where liquid slipped between my legs. Another jagged pain ran through me, and I dropped to my knees.

My side hurt, the hellhound bite on my thigh burned, but the pain in my stomach overshadowed everything.

“She took a bite,” King shouted to someone.

“Where are you injured?” Axel asked urgently.

“Thigh. My water broke, and something is stinging my side,” I gasped.

Axel lay me on my back.

“She’s got a piece of shrapnel above her hip. I need her back at the citadel.”

“The baby,” I said as another pain assaulted me.

King lifted me and started running toward the vehicles. I hurt so much I couldn’t breathe, and the jostling didn’t help.

“Can you get the shrapnel out?” King asked Axel after placing me in the back seat.

“She’s losing blood, and I’m afraid she’ll lose more. I can’t do anything until I know what we’re dealing with.”

“Fuck,” King said.