Page 42 of Warrior

The officer cleared his throat.“They will follow us to the underground quarters.We have soldiers assigned to see to their needs.”

And monitor their every move, no doubt.

“Thank you.Please take me to the president,” I said evenly.

We had agreed I would show only a small amount of concern for the Shadow Warriors.I needed the Federation to think I trusted my government.

I followed Officer Daniels to a single tank that would transport me from the airfield to the underground.Behind us, the Shadow Warriors lined up in neat rows, ready to run the distance.

My palms itched to join them, to feel the ground beneath my feet and the wind on my face.Instead, I looked at Daniels and tried to focus.

“I’m sorry, I don’t remember your name,” I lied, adding a faint smile.“I was so nervous when I left.”

“Officer Daniels,” he said gruffly, his face devoid of warmth.

It wasn’t lost on me that Officer Daniels hadn’t used my official title, though it had only been part of the window dressing to send me to Cuba.Chances were good that my so-called position would be terminated.

The thought alone sent my temperature rising.

With a few slow, deliberate breaths, I forced Ms.Beast to settle.

We wait, we see, we calculate, we take action,I told her firmly.

The ride to the president took thirty minutes.I could feel the presence of the Shadow Warriors running alongside the tank.It wasn’t telepathy, just a sense of connection to their energy.Right now, that energy hummed with high alertness, giving me a sense of comfort even though I couldn’t see them.

When we finally stopped, I disembarked and followed Officer Daniels inside.As I stepped out, I caught Labyrinth’s eye, and he gave me a small, almost imperceptible nod.

I drew in a deep breath and followed Daniels.

Let the real show begin.

President Barnes was waiting inside the first metal enclosure.His eyes flickered nervously toward the door as it closed behind us, cutting off the Shadow Warriors from view.He let out a long exhale, clearly relieved to be separated from them.

No, President Barnes didn’t like the Warriors, and his reaction made that painfully obvious.

He was dressed in a suit, and it seemed even more laughably out of place than it had before.I’d spent too much time with Shadow Warriors, and they didn’t care about appearances or comfort.Combat readiness trumped everything.Uncomfortable shoes and tailored suits had no place in their world.

It no longer had a place in mine either.

“Ms.Church,” Barnes greeted me with forced congeniality, stepping forward and wrapping me in a surprising hug.

His touch sent revulsion crawling across my skin.It was all I could do not to recoil or demand an immediate shower.

King had warned me that I wouldn’t like being touched by the opposite sex, and unlike the mating rage, this visceral reaction would never go away.

Yet, I wasn’t entirely sure if the discomfort came from my Warrior instincts or if it was just because the hug came from him.

Barnes was a scientist; a man who had kept the human population he was sworn to protect in the dark about the dangers they faced.

He wasn’t my friend.

Not now.Not ever.

When he released me, I forced a bright, thousand-watt smile onto my face.

“Mr.President, thank you, sir.You honor me by seeing me today.”

The sugary sweetness dripping from my words made me want to gag, but I suppressed the reflex.I teetered on my shoes a bit for effect.

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