Page 59 of Princess

I turned several corners and almost ran into Cosway.

“You had the baby?”she asked with a wide smile.

“She’s with King.He’s learning to be a dad.Could you come with me now?The Shadow women are here, and I think they want to see the baby, but I need to know what their intent is first.”

“Yes, I will protect you,” Cosway said.

I didn’t correct her.Cosway thought about life very differently from the rest of us.Her simple ways didn’t show how smart she was, but I knew the truth and had no problem listening to her wisdom.

I entered the sitting room.Beck stood inside the door along with Caleb.My eyes zeroed in on Endura, who walked toward me.Her calming essence was in full force along with a smile that enveloped me with serenity.

She wore jeans and a T-shirt, which made her appearance disconcerting for some odd reason.I always pictured her in the same loose cotton dress that had flowed around her the first time we met.She looked different now.More modern.

I turned to the men.“You may leave,” I told them.

Caleb moved immediately, but Beck hesitated.I narrowed my eyes, and he followed Caleb.

“It’s good to see you,” I said when I turned back to Endura.

“I did not think we would meet again,” she said, and before I asked why, she continued, “You have had the child.”

“How did you know I was pregnant?”I asked instead of answering.

She turned to another woman, about ten years older.“This is Amissa.She sees that which has not happened.”

Amissa was dressed very similarly to Endura, but her T-shirt held the slogan, "I predict I need more coffee."Did this mean she had a sense of humor?It was something lacking in our current world.Fighting hellhounds will do that to a person.

Amissa bowed her head.

“You see the future?”I asked somewhat skeptically.

Amissa looked into my eyes.“The gift was passed down from my mother.I knew you were having a daughter.A few weeks ago, I understood that we, the Shadows, have a part in what is to come.We are here to protect Nikayla.”

Beck had said the name, but it had no effect on me.Now, it hit like a lightning strike, and I stepped back slightly.I looked at Cosway, and she appeared shell-shocked.Then her eyes took on a dreamy look, and her lips curved upward.She swayed slightly.

I looked back at the women.“Can she feel your essence?”

Endura smiled.“Most humans cannot, but she does feel it.She has a pure heart.”

Strange.I knew there was nothing pure about mine, but the essence was stronger since they said that name.Nikayla.It buzzed strangely through my body.

“Who is Nikayla?”I asked.

The women smiled.

“She is your daughter,” Amissa said.“Nikayla is her given name.”

“You seem very sure,” I replied a little stiffly.

“When you hold her and say the name, you will know.”

I already knew, but that didn’t mean I liked this mystic shit.

“Why Nikayla?”

Amissa smiled again.“The name has two powerful meanings.The first, 'No One is Like God.'Your enemies think they are God.Nikayla strikes that down.The second meaning is 'Victory of the People.'”

Hmm.The name continued to buzz as I repeated it inside my head.“Is this why you are willing to fight now?”I tried to keep ire from the words but failed.

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