Beast
Page 16
Beck hesitates, and I realize he isn’t finished. “A woman showed up at the northern outpost. She wants to speak with the female Shadow Warrior.”
Marinah blinks a few times. “Why?”
“She says she knew your grandmother and has a message for you.”
She jumps up. “What?”
Beck remains silent.
Marinah looks at me. I shrug. “You wanted answers. I think we’re going to get them.”
Her gaze circles the room. “Nokita, have a plane readied. We leave in an hour. Beck, send a communication to the northern outpost and let them know we’re coming. We’ll only need my personal guard. Axel can handle things here.” She looks at me again. “You’re coming with me.” Her eyes circle the room, and the men don’t dare make eye contact. “What are you waiting for? I’ve given you an order.”
The men jump up and clear out faster than I ever made them move. Beck grins at me from the door before walking out.
Once we’re alone, I turn and look at my mate. “I would like to officially be one of your guards.”
“Duh,” she rolls her eyes.
“Duh is not very leaderish,” I tease.
She shakes her head. “I did it, didn’t I?” She looks more shocked as it sets in.
“You did.”
She stands and adjusts her sword at her hip before looking up. “I’m scared.”
“I’ve got your back.”
Her smile is hesitant. “Thank you.”
It’s time to change the subject. Marinah is better at “doing” and thinking about it only slows her down. “Are you ready for possible answers about where you came from?”
“I’ve been ready for a long time.” She grins, and excitement practically drips from her pores. “We need to hurry; get moving,” and she races from the room.
She may think she knows what she’s done, but it hasn’t fully sunk in yet.
The Queen made her debut.
Dear Reader,
Truth: My writing calendar was set up for the next Hotter Than Hell book but my creativity had other ideas. Or maybe I should say Marinah had other ideas. Her mom totally understands this statement and might be the only person who doesn’t think I’m crazy. Even while writing about Marinah, she needs to be the center of attention. She took my words, fought with me on every chapter, and decided being just an ordinary Shadow Warrior wouldn’t do. She insisted on her name at the top of Chapter One so I started there. Then it was King’s turn and my brain went blank until thoughts of Marinah drowned everything else out. So, she got the heading for chapter two. The only way I could keep her from stealing chapter three was to keep working on two until she stopped talking in my head. It also makes it one of the longest chapters I’ve written. What I learned when working with Marinah is to give in gracefully so the book will flow. Sheesh, that child.
See? crazy!
I hope everyone caught Marinah’s “bulbus head” comment about Smythe. I’ve always hated that particular term when used to describe a man’s penis. Again this could just be the weird me but I’ve always wanted to use it to describe an evil bald-headed man and who better that dickhead Smythe.
In writing about Marinah’s transformation to the Warrior I’m preparing you for, I’ve used a lot of what I went through mentally at the police academy. Self-doubt was at the top of my worry list and from the first day I suffered. When I went out on the street alone for the first time, the doubt ate me again. I was highly trained and still I wondered if I had what it took. Then I became a detective and so on. I really think the best people/leaders should doubt themselves. When I made decisions as an officer, people could die. It’s a very eye-opening experience. I hope I didn’t make Marinah too doubtful, I just wanted people to understand that her transformation still had/has far to go.
I’m horrible with names and use the internet to find most. “Anshi” the name for a Nova Warrior was no exception. It’s taken from zhànshì which is the Chinese word for Warrior. I found the description for a Mortuary Sword in a large hardback book of weapons I recently purchased. That one find made the price worth it. I also knew the sword had to be a double-sided blade and most of the ones I looked up on the internet were single sided. The new book also came in handy for the Russian weapons and Marinah’s rifle.
Last but not least, Callie. She was Marinah’s cat in life and I had to put her in the book. I’m going to let Marinah’s mom, Dinah, tell you Callie’s story. Again I want to thank Dinah for trusting me with Marinah. I am so honored to learn more about her life and I feel privileged to hear so many wonderful Marinah stories. Even though I never met her, I miss her and Dinah’s strength is something I hold onto when my demons decide to activate. If you connect with these books, you understand a mother’s love because it’s Dinah’s love that shines through these pages.
Special thanks to the Wicked Warrior Street Team. They don’t just spread the word about my books, they find those last ridiculous typos that drive us authors crazy. We all hang out in my Holly’s Wicked Wonderland Reader’s Group if you would like to join the fun. This isn’t the street team just a Facebook group where we share fun, books, and hot guys. Join me at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/621928737864921/
Now I’m going to turn this over to Dinah so she can tell you Callie and Marinah’s story. I’ll be back when she’s done.
**********
From Dinah
Marinah got Callie (and her littermate Lexie) as kittens when she was about 6 years old. Callie was originally hanging out with Marinah’s older sister Nikayla but Marinah absconded her for herself.
I always joked that Callie had Stockholm Syndrome because she always put up with Marinah doting on her and always picking her up and dragging her around, but Callie still adored her. Even as a young adult if Marinah saw Callie giving someone else attention she would go and pick Callie up and take her off to her room.
Marinah said Callie was her soulmate and we worried about what Marinah would do when Callie died, especially after Lexie’s death.
We never considered needing to worry about what Callie would do if Marinah were to pass on first. Never. When Marinah passed away Callie would sit outside her bedroom door and meow and would sound so distressed. There was nothing anyone else could do for her, she adored Marinah and that’s who she wanted.
Callie died less than two months after Marinah. She couldn’t handle Marinah’s death. Those two really were inseparable. I always figured that Marinah reached down and grabbed her just like she did in life and Callie was ready and waiting for her.
**********
This is one of many stories that helped shape Marinah in the pages of Shadow, Warrior, and Beast. On the first anniversary of Marinah’s death I was invited by Dinah to do a simple act of kindness and share it on Marinah’s Memorial Page. I did my act of kindness but didn’t feel right sharing what I had done. Then came the second anniversary of Marinah’s death and I finally shared. This is before Shadow, Warrior, and Beast came to light in my brain. Dinah’s response helped me understand how much it meant to her that I shared my act of kindness. It wasn’t about me, it was about Marinah’s legacy for her family. If you have time, please post a comment that you read the book(s) and have learned about Marinah’s life. It means so much to her family. If you would like to add a simple act of kindness in Marinah’s name, please do. Thank you!
Marinah’s memorial page: https://www.forevermissed.com/marinah/
I am currently working on Street Fight and I’m about halfway through. It WILL be my next release no matter how much Marinah pouts. After that I have two more books planned for the Hotter Than Hell series. Thank you to all the HTH fans who are beating me with sticks to continue writing these books. I hear you! If you haven’t read the HTH series, full warning, they have strong sex, violence, and language. Heat is the first book.
Thank you again for reading my work. If you have time please consider leaving a review at the retailer you purchased from. Every review helps! Here are my
social media links if you’d like to connect:
Facebook
Facebook Reader’s Group
Instagram
Twitter
Website
Genetically Modified Novels (paranormal)
Shadow
Warrior
Beast
Hotter Than Hell Series (contemporary romantic suspense)
Heat
Sizzle
Burn
Street Justice
Ignite
Combust
Inferno
Completion Sports Series
Play *USA TODAY Bestseller
Strike
Kick
Slam
Ruck
Goal
Writing as D’Elen McClain (paranormal)
Fang Chronicles
Amy’s Story FREE (please check, prices change)
Emily’s Story
Zenya’s Story
Mandy’s Story
Dmitri
Ivan
Tyboll *USA TODAY Bestseller
Esha’s Story
Fire Chronicles
Dragons Don’t Cry 99 cents (please check, prices change)
Dragons Don’t Love
Dragons Don’t Forgive
Dragons Live Forever
Dragons Don’t Lie