Page 43 of Beast

“You can use it only in emergencies when you or someone you know is in danger,” I told her.“Help me unfasten the strap, and you can wear the scabbard on your hip.”

Her pants were held up by a belt that barely did the job, but she eagerly reached for the sword.I moved it back.“You unbuckle me, and I’ll hold the sword.Is there enough room to practice in your bedroom?”

She bounced on her toes, practically vibrating with excitement.“Yes, there’s room!”

“Okay.”I slipped the scabbard off my belt after Ruth handled the buckle, then had her refasten it on her belt under my direction.When she finished, I slid the blade home.

“Do not remove the sword, or I won’t show you how to use it properly,” I warned, handing it to her.“The adults need to talk, and I want you waiting in your room.I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“You’re sending her to her room alone with the sword?”Missy’s irritation was written all over her face.

I looked at Ruth and asked, “Will you take the sword out?”

“No, ma’am,” she said solemnly.

Every head in the room turned toward her, jaws dropping at the unexpected “ma’am” that had just come out of the hellspawn’s mouth.I ignored their stunned expressions.“She won’t take the sword out,” I assured Missy.

Missy gave Ruth a wary look, but the child was already racing toward her room.“Walk,” I called after her.Ruth slowed her pace but added a little skip as she made her way to her door, closing it behind her.

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” Missy mumbled.

“So do I,” I admitted.“But I promise, she won’t remove the sword.”

Missy nodded once.“That child has so much hero worship for you, I doubt she will.”Her lips curved into a small, worried smile.“It’s a mother’s job to worry.Ruth is willful and rash.Maybe she’ll listen to you.”

Her words echoed inside my head.She was saying exactly what King and Labyrinth had told me before: rash behavior will get you killed.And they were right.I was rash.Ruth didn’t obey her mother, and by ignoring her, she put herself in danger.

The problem was, I didn’t like obeying orders either.It rubbed me the wrong way, made me feel like I was being treated like a child.But was that really what King was doing?

The truth hit me hard.King wasn’t treating me like a child.He gave me the same orders as he gave his men.He didn’t leave me behind and he trusted me to fight.He expected me to pull my weight, and I did.

It was exactly like my theory about Ruth.If I made her feel useful, she’d stay out of trouble.King made me feel useful, and when I didn’t follow his commands, he lost his mind.It was all on me.My heart went out to those weaker than me and part of that was I saw myself in them.I didn’t look at the entire picture and sometimes that picture saved more lives.It wouldn’t be easy to change, but I had to.I couldn’t live with someone’s death on my shoulders if it happened because of one of my rash decisions.

My thinking had to readjust or something horrible would happen.

I no longer wanted King to worry about me.I had to do everything in my power to obey his commands and find a way to save my questions for after the threat passed.It was time to grow up and act like a Warrior with a leader and there was no better leader than my mate.

I walked over to King, placing my palm on his arm.He glanced down at my claws before slowly lifting his head to meet my eyes.

“I’ll follow all orders,” I said firmly.

I swear I felt the relief course through his body.

“We need to leave in the next ten minutes,” he said.

“It’ll take me five minutes to handle Ruth, and I’ll be ready,” I assured him.

“If the Federation sticks to their usual strategy, they’ll send the hellhounds in first.”

“Are we waiting for that to happen?”I asked, already knowing the answer.

When a Warrior smiles in true form, it’s unsettling.When King smiled just then, it was downright terrifying.“We won’t be waiting.”

“Do you want me out here while you finish strategizing?”

“No.Get Ruth squared away,” he said, pulling me close.His jaw brushed against mine, the rough texture of his affection reassuring me.For a moment, we stood there, holding each other tightly.I loved this man with everything I had, and tonight, one of us might not make it.

The thought burned in my chest, unsettling me.The last thing I wanted was to break down in Beast form.With one final squeeze, I pulled back.

---