“Do you try to control her when you’re in Nova form, or only during the transformation?”he asked.
I shook my head glumly.“Yes and no.I haven’t figured out the exact science of bringing her out.The other day, I thought it was just going to be Ms.Beast, but Nova came instead.It felt, I don’t know,” I shrugged, “different.”The frustration built inside me.
Axel checked my blood pressure, reflexes, and wounds.As he removed the stitches, I sighed with relief, finally free of their constant pull.Warrior healing was fast, but it didn’t make the process painless.
When he finished, he rolled his chair back and gave me a small smile.“You’ve been under a lot of stress.Doctor’s orders: do whatever warlords do after a battle and then head to your love nest with King.You both need a break.Want me to write a prescription to make sure you actually follow through?”
I couldn’t help but smile.“You think I’m a warlord?”
“I don’t know what else to call you,” he said evenly.“You’re a one-woman wrecking crew, and the amount of information you’ve absorbed this past year should have melted your brain.You don’t give yourself enough credit.There’s no such thing as a perfect leader.Mistakes happen, and you’ll learn from them and move on.You’re alpha, and the only person doubting that is you.”
I’d heard this before and thought I’d overcome it.“So, a potentially exploding brain is your professional diagnosis?”
He groaned in annoyance.“That diagnosis is as good as any,” he finally replied, his voice laced with sarcasm.Then his tone shifted.“When was your last period?”
The world froze.
“I don’t know,” I murmured, my voice barely audible.My head spun, a thousand thoughts crashing into each other.
He handed me a gown and quietly left the room to give me privacy.I stared at the soft fabric in my hands, unblinking.Slowly, my gaze dropped to my stomach.
Protect,Ms.Beast whispered softly, her voice resonating from within.
Chapter Twenty-Three
King
Seven Warriors lost their lives with several humans in critical condition, but so far, none had died.Marinah’s strategy to keep humans away from hellhounds and act solely as support personnel or long-distance archers had paid off.With the loss of the Warriors, she didn’t see it that way.Each one of us, including her, understood the risk each time we went into battle.
I gave an internal sigh.I took the deaths as hard as she did, but I didn’t want my mate suffering the same guilt I carried.It was wrong of me; I simply didn’t know how to break the pattern.
My thoughts weighed heavily as I sought out the wives of two of the fallen men.From past experience, there was a look people got when death became a certainty.I wanted to reassure them, to make them understand that as the wives of Shadow Warriors, they would be cared for and had a home with us, even after we left the island.If we ever left.These thoughts kept turmoil raging inside me.
I spoke to the wives but the grief in their eyes left no room for comfort.Death didn’t care for promises.
Would it ever end?The thought gnawed at me as I walked away.
I didn’t have the answer.When we came to the island, the plan was to take over temporarily.The people here had put up little resistance.They were starving, short on medical supplies, and needed us as much as we needed them.We’d thought once the world was settled, we’d return the island to its people.But on days like today, I couldn’t see a future.
Beck found me as soon as I returned to the citadel.“There’s a problem at the shipyard,” he said without preamble.“Nokita’s asking for you.”
Of course, there was a problem at the shipyard.I changed direction.
The sun beat down as Nokita launched into a detailed explanation of the parts he needed for the submarine.I stood there, trying to track his words while wondering what had elevated this to a crisis.He droned on, and I fought the urge to tap my foot.
Abruptly, he stopped speaking and looked down at the ground.
“What is it?”I asked, my patience stretched thin.
He glanced up at me briefly before turning his eyes away.“Maylin is pregnant,” he said quietly.
That caught my attention.“How old is Baby Boot?”I asked, tilting my head.
“Almost a year.”
I couldn’t help but smile.“You could have waited a little longer, but if Maylin’s happy about it, I don’t see a problem.”I paused.Maylin wasn’t exactly known for her cheerful disposition, but working with Axel in the infirmary and having Baby Boot with her had softened her edges somewhat.Nokita had known exactly who he was choosing when he mated with her.
“She’s happy,” he admitted, but his tone betrayed his unease.“I’m worried.”
