Axel cleared his throat.“It might be safer for the humans to leave the island and join the outposts,” he suggested cautiously.
I leveled my Nova death stare at him, and Ms.Beast added another cycle of K-5 for good measure.Satisfaction coursed through me when he flinched.“They are safer here,” I said, my tone final.
They wouldn’t leave.”The women of the island had taught me that.They were terrified of the hellhounds and the Federation, but this was their home, and they were willing to fight for it with their men and the help of our Warriors.I shifted my attention to Nokita.“We need a way to jam the signal so they can’t release the hellhounds.I needed it yesterday.”
His eyes went slightly blank as he considered the challenge.After a moment, he nodded.“I’ll get it to you as soon as possible.”
“You have two hours.Go.”
Nokita left, and all eyes returned to me.I turned my focus to Labyrinth.“How many working whistles do we have?”
“Two hundred and fifty,” Labyrinth reported.“The damaged whistles couldn’t be salvaged and were destroyed per your orders.We’ve checked all the whistles distributed to the islanders, and they’re good to go.”
“Distribute the remaining whistles to anyone who doesn’t have one going as young as eight years old,” I ordered.“If Nokita doesn’t come through with the jammer, I want the humans protected from the hounds.Their parents can give them brief instructions.”My fingers drummed on the conference table as I thought.“Can we bomb the Federation ships before they enter our waters?”
“Yes,” Labyrinth said confidently.
I shifted my gaze to Cabel, who blinked, waiting for what was coming.“I’ve got a job for you.You’re not going to like it, but it’s critical.”He tilted his head slightly, a sign he was bracing himself.“We can’t wait to see if Nokita delivers the jammer; your team will eliminate as many hellhounds in the ocean as possible.”
His expression didn’t change.“We’ll take their heads,” he said matter-of-factly.
“There are thousands chained underwater, by King’s estimate,” I explained.
Cabel’s eyes met mine, his lips quirking into a small, almost feral smile.“We’ll take their heads,” he repeated, with the kind of enthusiasm only he could muster.Ms.Beast grumbled at the prolonged eye contact, and he averted his gaze.
“I also need a full map of where the hellhounds are located and their reach along the coast,” I added.“Get me numbers and precise locations.Take a hundred men.Report back once you have what I’ve asked for.”
Turning to Alden, I gave him his assignment.“The tanks and artillery are yours.Position them strategically around the citadel.Tow in the non-operational ones and make them look functional.They won’t know they’re useless, and it’ll make us appear stronger.Knet was never privy to our full battle plans outside of the hellhounds.If we can discredit him, the Federation will doubt the rest of what he’s told them.”
Beck’s low growl broke the moment.“If Knet comes with the Federation troops, he’s mine.”
“You command all the fun,” Alden said with a grin.“Does that mean if I get to him first, I have to save him for you or can I at least break a few bones?”
I looked between the two men.“I want him alive, but if he’s only barely alive, I can live with that.”
“Done,” Alden said, his grin suggesting he’d enjoy the task more than he probably should.After the dust settled over our original disagreement months ago, I’d come to value his judgment.I couldn’t say the same for Beck, who seemed to make it his life’s mission to get on my nerves.Too bad I liked Missy and Ruth so much; otherwise, Beck might have mysteriously disappeared by now.The thought of swinging him around by his legs and listening to him scream brought me a sliver of satisfaction.
I met each man’s eyes.“We need a plan B.”
“Why?”Beck asked, because, of course, that’s what Beck does.
K-5 stirred inside me; a restless, pulsing energy that made me want to shut him up permanently regardless of his family.I wasn’t King.I didn’t have the patience for Beck’s constant questioning, and it was something I’d be addressing soon.If ripping out his throat wouldn’t work, I’d settle for something more subtle, like dislocating a few joints.
I took a deep breath, forcing the K-5 energy back down, and replied in the calmest voice I could muster.Bonus points for not speaking to him like a two-year-old.“Because if we can’t stop the release of the hellhounds or manage to cripple the Federation ships before they arrive, we need a backup plan.”
Beck knew this, of course.He drilled me in warfare constantly, enjoying every moment of making me feel inadequate.This stuff came naturally to him and King.They were born for war.Me?I’d been learning on the fly.One day, Beck had caught me reading The Art of War by Sun Tzu, and I’d had to endure an hour-long lecture about why it was overrated and how Vom Kriege (On War) by Clausewitz was the definitive text on warfare.Sheesh.I was pretty sure my eyes had glazed over five minutes in, but that hadn’t stopped him from continuing.
While I fumed silently, I noticed something odd.The men were unusually quiet, exchanging glances and then lowering their eyes, as if they knew something I didn’t.
“What?”I finally snapped, irritation sharpening the word.
My mate stepped in before I lost my grip and started tearing limbs off.“You, Marinah,” King said, his voice laced with a trace of humor.“You’re the backup plan.”
Someone strangle me, please.My patience was hanging by a thread, and I was about to snap when a soft shuffle at the door pulled my attention.I shot to my feet, crossed the room in three strides, and yanked the door open.
Two children tumbled inside.Che looked guilty, his wide eyes darting everywhere except at me, while Ruth wore an irritated expression that practically screamed, How dare you catch me?
I grabbed Che by the back of his shirt, lifting him off the ground until his face was level with mine.His big, pleading eyes stared back at me as he dangled in my grasp.
