Page 32 of Princess (Marinah and the Apocalypse #5)

Marinah

Due to Nikayla, Cosway insisted we take a car to Warrior Bay.

I had no idea Cosway could drive. She often surprised me in small ways like this.

She disappeared for days at a time, and even when I questioned her, she never revealed where she went.

Ms. Beast felt no danger from her, so I let it pass.

Cosway was what you would call a free spirit.

She danced to the tune of her own drum, and it was what I loved most about her.

Endura and Amissa seemed drawn to her, just as I was.

Caleb was our escort, and he rode in the front passenger seat. I sat in the middle of the backseat, holding Nikayla, with Endura and Amissa on either side of me. The baby slept peacefully and didn’t stir during the short ride.

When we stepped from the car, the ocean breeze was welcoming. Women began walking down the gangway. Endura and Amissa stood solemnly and watched. Women and children came one after the other. The children were female, which was a bit disconcerting. Shadow Warriors produced male offspring.

Their clothing ranged from jeans and T-shirts to dresses.

There were a few babies held in women’s arms. I was curious about their lives.

These were the women descended from those who left the Shadow Warriors and went out on their own several generations before.

The history texts King gave me told nothing about their lives after they disappeared.

Blue-eyed gazes stared at me. Or maybe it was Nikayla who held their attention.

They stopped ten feet from where we stood.

I couldn’t deny the serenity they emitted.

Caleb, who had walked beside me, backed up a few feet.

I turned and looked at him, but he was watching the women with a strange look on his face. It wasn’t fear.

Endura had told me they did not share their essence with Shadow Warriors. She never said they couldn’t.

Endura followed my gaze. “We no longer teach the children to shield their essence. He is feeling it.”

I turned away from Caleb and returned the stares of the women. Some of them peered quickly at Caleb before turning back to me. They didn’t exactly have anger in their expressions, but it was definitely not joy.

Endura spread her arms wide. “We are welcome here. Marinah has given birth, and Nikayla is among us.”

It was the baby who drew their attention. I looked down at Nikayla. Her large blue eyes were open. I smiled at her because there was no other choice. I turned her and lifted her in my arms because it felt like the right thing to do. Endura’s smile encouraged me.

“They will not harm her. They wish to add their blessing to mine and Amissa’s.”

Ms. Beast purred. This felt right. It was as if something had been missing. I hadn’t known it was missing, but pieces simply clicked into place.

Tears slowly ran down my cheeks and energy swelled around us. It was the opposite of K-5, which carried rage, but at the same time, more powerful. The Shadow Warriors lost so much when the women left them.

I lowered Nikayla and walked forward. When I reached the women, gentle hands reached out and touched my arms. They also touched Nikayla’s head. My newborn child stared. Her wide eyes held knowledge, which was impossible.

“She’s beautiful,” one woman said.

“May I see her, mommy?” a little girl asked.

I took a knee and showed the little girl my child. More of the children stepped forward. Their hands going to Nikayla’s head, their eyes showing wonder.

“She has blue eyes like us,” another child said.

The essence these children carried was stronger than the adult women. Or maybe it was simply less controlled. I had so much to learn. Somehow I had to convince the women to stay and balance the Warrior aggression. Being around them was like meditation on steroids.

When I discovered I was a Shadow Warrior, pieces of my life made sense, and I finally felt that I had come home. The key element I hadn’t known I was missing were other women. Shadow Women.

I looked behind me and saw a similar expression on Caleb’s face. He looked shell-shocked, just as Cosway had.

A little girl, maybe three or four years old, touched my leg. I peered down at her and smiled. She wore a knee-length blue dress with small, colorful flowers. Her slightly chubby cheeks had dimples.

“I brought this for Nikayla. I don’t think she’s able to hold her yet. Will you give her the doll?”

The doll’s dress was made of the same cotton that the little girl wore, and the styles were identical.

“What is your name?” I asked.

“Sweeting,” she said and lifted the doll to me.

I took it. “She is beautiful, and Nikayla will love her.”

Sweeting wrapped her arms around my legs and hugged me. She then turned and ran to a woman who I assumed was her mother. She smiled at me.

Amissa placed her arms out, and I handed the baby to her. She walked forward and was surrounded by the women and children. She lifted Nikayla in her arms.

“Nikayla is ours to protect.” She turned to me. “No harm will come to your child.”

I was no longer worried about them when it came to Nikayla.

It felt like it was meant to be. Crazy, maybe, but our world was already insane.

My thoughts went to the Shadow Warrior he-men who were not ready for this punch to the gut.

Caleb continued to look shaken. I would leave my child in capable hands when I went to fight the Federation.

And I was ready for the fight. Ready to end the war and return to peace.