“If I break a leg, leave me behind,” she declared.
One: she was beautiful in the dress.Two: she was taller than the woman she’d taken it from, which made the fit imperfect.The slit at the side was indecent when she walked, something she was still trying to do with a bit more grace.She saw me looking and slid the fabric aside, revealing her knife strapped to the opposite leg.
I glanced at Alden and Labyrinth.The looks on their faces made Beast growl.Labyrinth winked and turned away.Alden quickly turned his head, but I didn’t miss the grin tugging at his lips.They knew I was mostly in full control of the mating rage, and they were jerking my chain.
“What do you think?”Marinah asked, catching my attention and turning slowly.She lifted her leg and stuck it out in a vampish pose.My eyes burned as they traveled over her body.
“I prefer your boots,” I said, which might have been a lie.In truth, I preferred her in Warrior form, or naked when she was human, but that was just me.
She stuck her tongue out.“Party pooper.”
She preferred her boots too.I was half-surprised she hadn’t named them yet.I was still waiting to hear what she’d named her sword.Honestly, if she told me she’d named her big toe Adam, I’d roll with it.My mate loved ownership, and her way was to baptize what she coveted.
She took another short trip around the room, finding her balance, and looked like she’d been born for the heels.
We waited another two hours.Marinah eventually slipped out of the shoes, muttering about how much they hurt her feet.I fought back a grin.An hour into our wait, the band started playing, and the muffled music drifted into our hiding spot.We stayed put, knowing the timing had to be perfect.We needed the celebration in full swing.
“It’s party time, boys,” Marinah finally said.
We each knew the plan inside out.Dressed in our standard Federation uniforms, we’d stand out too much in the ballroom, so we were staying behind.The mission rested on Marinah now.Her job was to locate President Barnes.
She left with sultry eyes that needed no makeup, short hair giving her sophistication, her posture elegant, and perfectly balanced on the shoes.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Marinah
I struggled to hide my feelings from King.I’d just killed a woman for her dress.In order to do it, I’d brought Ms.Beast to the forefront, but I did it knowing the outcome.Who was I and did I want to be this person?I looked at my hands and saw the slightly trembling fingers.I needed to leave the guilt behind and bring it out when danger had past.
I straightened my shoulders and steadied my hands.I didn’t see how we would get out of this without killing again.I could only hope there was more cause than a dress.
I looked around the rotunda.The party turned my stomach.Starvation, death, and helplessness plagued the world while these people laughed, drank alcohol, and pretended they lived in a different era.As I strolled slowly around the room, several men smiled at me with inquisitive looks.I met their eyes and gave assessing smiles of my own while projecting confidence.
You belong.I silently repeated like a mantra.
It took twenty minutes for President Barnes to make his appearance with his wife on his arm.I’d forgotten about her.She was more than the first lady.She was a scientist like her husband, and her perfectly styled hair and regal posture made it seem as though the world belonged to her alone.Her sparkling jewelry mocked the hardships outside these walls.She lived in another reality entirely.
I had never liked her.I always thought she kept her distance from most of the government’s workings.But whenever I saw her, I felt like a lab rat under scrutiny.I hadn’t been able to place the feeling then, but I understood it now.She looked down her regal nose at everyone.I used to respect the Barneses.Now, I was disgusted by everything they represented.No, I didn’t like this woman.
A small ache went through me again over the dress I was wearing.The memory of snapping the woman’s neck made me cringe.I had to convince myself that it was necessary.This was life or death and we had a purpose.The Federation had attacked our home and I had no doubt they would have killed the women and children on the island like they had at the outposts.
We couldn’t turn back now.This plan was mine, and we were all getting out of here alive.
I moved carefully through the crowd, following President Barnes and his wife as they greeted guests.I kept people between us to avoid being seen by the president.The possibility that someone here might recognize me was real, but my short hair helped, as did the sheer improbability of my presence in this place.
Mrs.Barnes was dressed in a green sequined gown, her hair piled high with carefully placed wisps seeming to break free.She had a thin face with high cheekbones and elegant, long fingers with several diamond rings flashing on them as she walked.Earrings adorned her lobes, and an inch-wide diamond collar surrounded her throat.Did she even know there was a war going on?
“You’re new.”The man had approached me from behind.His dark hair was cut short though not in military fashion.He didn’t radiate power like an officer, but you could see in his eyes that he thought himself better than most people in the room.I had no doubt he was another politician.“Are you part of the entertainment?”he asked suggestively.
It took me a moment to understand.Then I realized some of the women here were brought in for entertainment of a sexual nature.
Kill, Ms.Beast said forcefully.I shoved her back without giving an internal response.
He leaned closer.“I like them tall,” he whispered and placed his hand possessively on my waist.
Ms.Beast roiled inside me, and it took everything I had not to grab my knife, turn, and slice his throat.Unfortunately, I would lose what little advantage I had.
“I’m a guest for a special gentleman,” I said, moving enough to disconnect from his touch.
