Page 21 of A Bond So Deadly

“I know.”

She stops walking, turning to face me. “I mean it. I was worried. I truly thought…well, I thought we’d lost you for good. It was driving me crazy. Driving us crazy.” High above the treetops, light shines from the academy windows, glowing in the darkness.

Guilt has me swallowing hard. “I know,” I repeat, because I’m not sure what else to say.

“You’re family,” she goes on. “And this…” She gestures to the academy building. “It’s the most relaxed we’ve been since we discovered you were missing, and that’s saying something.”

My heart aches as I think about how Blake and her mates must have felt when they’d discovered I was missing from the human realm. At how they’ve likely spent every waking moment trying to find me. And I’d been here the whole time. Okay, so sure, it’s not like I was sipping cocktails and prancing through meadows, but I still feel guilty…

“I’m sorry,” I say, though the apology feels inadequate.

Blake sighs heavily. “I am too. But…” She perks up. “Here you are alive and well, and with four very interesting companions. Shade, only you could end up in this mess.”

I snort as a grin crawls back onto my face, but it doesn’t last. “So,” I say. “Are you going to tell me the truth?” As much as I’m sure Blake is enjoying my company, I doubt it’s the only reason she’s brought me out here alone. She might believe that Raith and the others are my mates, but that doesn’t mean she trusts them. “How much trouble are we really in? Don’t think I haven’t noticed the way you keep staring at that shadow dagger.”

She snaps her gaze away from the weapon. “It’s only a precaution,” she says dismissively.

My brows lower. “Blake, what really happened during your meeting with the shadow queen?”

Shifting her stance, she scans the trees one more time before speaking again. “Things here in Kiru are tense. I had no idea the war here was this bad.”

“So you knew about it?” I remember when Blake had retrieved the jeweled shadow blade from this realm. It had been a test given to her by the demon king, but Blake hadn’t ever mentioned the war with the Xalgrith. To be fair, the demons were deep in trouble of their own, but I’m still surprised she never told me.

“Dad made sure I knew about all the realms and their wars,” Blake answers carefully. “Just like I know about the unrest in the beast realm, and how the beasts are on the brink of a civil war. But this war with the Xalgrith… Dad didn’t know too much about it. This realm is neutral territory, and I guess he figured Queen Krosia had it handled. At least, that’s what he told me.” She frowns, considering. “I had no idea he’d turned down her request for assistance years ago.” Her shoulders dip like she’s feeling the weight of ruling the demon realm.

I nudge her. “It’s not your fault. The demons had enough on their plate, and there are only so many wars you can participate in. If the situation was that dire, Queen Krosia should have made it known.”

“Maybe,” Blake replies, her expression still weary. “In any case, Queen Krosia is obviously hiding something, not just from us, but I suspect, even from her own warriors. It’s getting bad out there with these Xalgrith soldiers.”

“Ah yes, the cum monsters.”

“What?”

“Oh nothing,” I say with a stupid grin. “You’ll see when you fight one.”

She narrows her eyes at me, but I don’t give anything away. Like I’m going to spoil that surprise. “So what do you think the shadow queen is hiding?”

We start walking again, picking a path through the trees.

“I don’t know but…I feel like it has something to do with you,” Blake comments. She stares at me like I’m a puzzle she’s trying to solve. To protect. My heart warms.

“Well, we already know Queen Krosia is upset about the prophecy and the fact I’m fated to my guys,” I point out, swirling my hand through a cloud of fog that drifts up toward me. “It makes sense that she’s worried about me making them lose the war. And then there’s the fact I can speak to the zenali…”

“Zenali?” Blake asks.

“Some of the more intelligent shadow creatures,” I explain. “That’s what Thane was suggesting earlier. That I speak to some of the creatures and try to find out any information that might tell us the Xalgrith’s intentions. If I can help find out what the Xalgrith want I will.”

“Anything that gains you the favor of the shadow queen is probably a good thing at the moment, but I don’t know…” she trails off. “I get the feeling it’s more than that. Something at that shadow palace felt…strange. I just have this feeling that I’m completely missing something, but I don’t know what.” She lets out a frustrated huff.

I pretend I’m not worried, though my heart has started racing. “Psssh. It’s totally fine. I’m sure it’s nothing. War is stressful, and I bet Queen Krosia is just feeling the burden of it.”

“Maybe.” Blake stares off into the trees. “Well, I guess let’s just focus on freeing you from this place for now. I don’t want you here when things get bad.”

I stop walking and blink at her. “I’m sorry, did you miss the part where I’m a prisoner at Shadowbone, and probably will be for the rest of my life?” I chew my bottom lip. “Please tell me you’re not thinking about risking the alliance for me.”

“Relax. I know I can’t help you escape,” Blake says coolly. “I have the demons to think about. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find a way.”

“A way to what?” I gape at her. “You heard Queen Krosia. If I try to leave this place, she’ll kill me. What am I supposed to do?”