Page 37 of Princess (Marinah and the Apocalypse #5)

Marinah

“How will you survive if you send that number of troops?” Landan asked, his voice dropping.

The governor didn’t know how many Shadow Warriors we had, and any guess he made was likely far lower than actuality.

We were sending a thousand Shadow Warriors his way.

I didn’t tell him a third. I trusted Landan, but this kind of information had to be kept hidden.

It was one of the reasons the Federation sent me to the island to begin with.

I was a glorified spy, along with being a sacrificial lamb.

They wanted to know the number of Shadow Warriors on the island, their weapons, and anything else that would help destroy them.

Those days were long over, and I was their enemy now, exactly like I wanted it.

“We are fighting for our lives, and we will win this,” I told him. “The Warriors will begin flying out this afternoon and arrive at your end tonight. We are sending tents and supplies with them.”

“Okay, we’ll be ready.”

“Weapons and ammunition too. We have a large stockpile.”

Ten seconds of silence met this declaration.

“Thank you, Marinah. Good luck on your end,” he finally said.

I sat for several minutes after radio silence filled the small room. The island and Landan’s outposts would be the safest. The Warriors with me would be in the most danger. Deciding who would go to Louisiana would be hard. There was no way we would get through this without casualties.

My thoughts turned to Nikayla. I couldn’t imagine not seeing her grow up, but with or without me, I wanted her to live under the banner of peace. I felt as if my entire life had been heading to this one point in time.

We had to win. There was too much at stake. If President Barnes escaped, we were going after him this time. We would track him until he was eliminated. I stood and headed back to the argument room. Only Axel sat inside.

“King sent everyone for food, and they will be back in thirty minutes. He has breakfast waiting in your room,” he said.

“Why aren’t you eating?” I asked.

“I will, but I needed to say something before the next meeting.” He stood up and faced me, shoulders squared.

“I’m going with you. Garret and Kenneth will remain on the island.

” He shook his head before I argued. “You need me. And you owe this to me. I will not stay behind when you are taking the biggest risk. If anyone can keep you alive other than King and your Nova, it’s me. ”

I walked over and hugged him. He’d been on my side since the day I arrived on the island. At times, he was my only friend. Boot finally came around, but in the beginning, it was Axel. After a tight squeeze, I pulled away.

“You’re right. We need you. Thank you.”

“I’ll bitch and grumble about every scrape and bruise. Thank me after we kick the Federation’s ass.”

“That’s a deal.”

I found King in our room with a fussy baby.

“She’s hungry, and I seriously doubt one of my pecs will make her happy.”

“It was worth a try.” I gave him a comical look of defeat. “The food smells delicious.”

King’s nose wrinkled. “There is something called tofu on your plate,” he grumbled.

“That’s why it smells so good. I’ve been requesting tofu, and it turns out the Shadow Women brought it with them.”

“You’re actually craving that sh, I mean, um, food?”

I huffed out a laugh. “Amissa believes the baby craves it, and I’m tuned into her wants and needs. I can’t argue because the thought of meat turns my stomach.”

“I hope you don’t mind, but I’ll stick to bacon.” He lifted a piece and placed it in his mouth.

It did absolutely nothing for me. Gone were the days I could eat a pound of the stuff in one sitting.

“How did Landan take the news?” King asked after we finished the first round of food.

“Surprised we’re sending so many Shadow Warriors. Thrilled about the guns and ammo.”

King contemplated my answer. “He needs us. I hope they don’t stab us in the back afterward.”

I placed my hand over his. “They will not do what the Federation did to you. It’s different now. They know who the enemy is.”

His gaze remained on mine. “What would you do if they did turn on us?”

“End them. Nikayla will grow up in peace. I will eliminate each and every threat, no matter where it comes from.”

He smiled, a wicked, satisfied grin. “I will always have your back.”

“I know.”

He leaned over and kissed me softly on the lips.

“It’s time to go to the meeting,” I said with a catch in my voice.

“Finish your breakfast. They will wait.”

“I’ll drop Nikayla off with Amissa and Endura.”

“I don’t mind carrying her,” King said. There was a softness in his eyes when he said it. Soft and King had never gone hand in hand. Our child tempted me with tofu and him with gentleness.

“I’m worried you will need to behead Beck. I’ll take Nikayla to the women.”

We finished our meal.

“We will leave at daybreak,” I told the Shadow Women. “You will be escorted to the southern part of the island and wait there in the tunnels. It’s possible fighting will reach you.”

Amissa grabbed Endura’s fingers and squeezed them. “We are ready. Fighting is not something we are looking forward to, but we will protect the children.”

“I know,” I told her. “Nikayla is in good hands.”

I left them with my child and went to the argument room where the others waited.

“We will start this meeting with meditation. We need clear minds to make decisions.”

No one argued, and it was hard not to grin when I remembered how this went down in the beginning. Five minutes of silence later, I opened my eyes. Beck was staring at me; the rest, including King, had their eyes closed. I winked at Beck, and he gave an almost imperceptible grumble.

The presence of K-5 was low. It would change as soon as Beck decided he didn’t like something, but for a few minutes, we were calm.

“I want the submarine here guarding the island,” I told Nokita.

“Good call,” he said. If he had doubts, he didn’t show it.

“I won’t be on it,” he said. “My fighting skills are useless if I command the craft. Alfred will be in charge of sixty men. He knows the submarine like I do.”

I wasn’t sure why that relieved my mind, but it did. Nokita was too valuable as a fighter to have him on the sub.

“Do the men understand the danger of their job?”

“Yes.”

I inhaled slowly. The men onboard were human. It shouldn’t matter to me, but I saw Shadow Warriors as the protectors. I was wrong though. All of us were fighting for our lives and for peace. People would die, and I couldn’t dwell on it.

“After this meeting, we will meet with Alfred and anyone else you think needs to be informed of our plans,” I told him. “It’s vital that the sub takes out a ship or two before those ships reach the island.”

I looked around the table and stopped at Rodrigo. “Have you made your decision?”

He nodded solemnly. “I will stay here and defend my people. My men were given the choice, and we are staying behind.”

I looked at my guard again. I cared about them. They cared about me.

“We have family and friends on this island. It’s our home, and the only way we can defend it is to wipe out the Federation.

The Warriors going to Landan’s territory will leave late this afternoon.

The rest of us have tonight to say our goodbyes.

We leave at dawn. Our destination is a small landing field, fifty miles from the Louisiana coast. Landan has people waiting for us.

Axel and King are coming with my team.” I looked at Beck. “Is Missy planning to fight?”

His neutral expression turned to exasperation. “She’s exhausted from the birth but I can’t stop her. Half her archers will stay under Rodrigo’s command here at the citadel, and the rest will go with her once we decide where she can me most strategic. They’ve been training for close-quarter combat.”

“And you?” I asked. From the look on his face, I knew he didn’t like what he had to say next.

“Missy wants me with Landan to protect her friends.” He shook his head in resignation. “Can you spare me?”

Beck guarded King’s back and it had been that way since Caleb stepped down as King’s second. When I took command, it didn’t change. King had my back, and Beck had his. This couldn’t be easy for the grumpy Shadow Warrior.

“Landan needs you, and I feel better knowing you’re with him. Inform your men that they leave this evening. Nokita?”

“I want to go with you and King.” His eyes flashed with anger. “I want revenge for Maylin.”

“How does Maylin feel?”

“That she needs to be kept under guard and no one can risk that she will die and turn into a monster. The Shadow Women have agreed to watch our children.” He grit his teeth and then forced himself to relax.

“They also agreed to do what needs to be done if the worst happens. I don’t think I could. I am more useful to you.”

“Then you’re with us.” Nokita and his family didn’t deserve this. He would get his revenge.

I turned my attention back to Rodrigo. “You will command five hundred Shadow Warriors here at the citadel. You are their leader. Trevor will be your second, if you approve.”

“He is out for blood. I need him.”

I looked at Caleb, Eagle, and then Alden. “What is your decision?”

“With you,” said Alden.

“The island with Rodrigo,” Caleb tossed out.

“Eagle?” I asked when he didn’t immediately answer.

“With you. Elright will keep half the snipers and the rest will come with us.”

These men knew their job. “It’s settled. Meet with your commanders and give them their orders.”