Page 40 of A Bond So Deadly

He cups my cheek with his hand. “Even now you still don’t understand, do you?” His eyes bore into mine, searing me with their intensity.

“Understand what?” I ask breathlessly.

“That you’re ours, little shadow. You always will be. And we’ll do anything to keep you safe. That includes ensuring your comfort.” Our clothes conveniently disappear, and he slides his hand between my thighs, finding me ready for him.

Pleasure goes through me, instantly dulling the pain, and I lean back against his chest as he strokes through my wetness.

“Never keep your pain from me, mate. For I would do anything to keep you well,” he murmurs, his fingers driving me toward a release that my body so desperately craves.

I don’t tell him that’s what I’m afraid of. That when it comes down to it, there will be no escaping the prophecy. That I don’t want to be their weakness and the one who makes us lose the war. I tell myself that seeing Professor Yevar hasn’t gotten to me, but I know it has. He was a reminder of how big of a risk I am. I hate feeling like I can’t even trust myself. Not even when I’m with the ones I love.

But pleasure drives those thoughts from my mind, and it feels so good to be with my mate. Even if we’re not bonded. It doesn’t take long before I’m tipping over that delicious edge, crying out Galen’s name, and I’ve barely stopped shuddering before I’m turning around and straddling Galen.

I whimper as I lower myself onto him, loving the way he stretches me. My body doesn’t have to shift for him, but I’m still incredibly full as he pushes against my walls. His shadows find my ass as I bounce on his cock, and I’m completely lost to him.

More.

I could never have enough of my mates. Could never tire of being with them and enjoying the way they make me feel.

But as Galen and I find our release together and the pain disappears again completely, that lingering fear comes back, the words of the prophecy haunting me.

Beware the bond of your beloved mate.

Chapter Fourteen

~ Shade ~

The next day the first zenali creature is brought to the academy for questioning. Ambrose is the one to notify Thane, and my mates all insist on joining me for the conversation. That’s right, a conversation, because I refuse to call it an interrogation, no matter what the shadow queen would prefer.

My mates lead me down to the dungeons beneath the academy, and I feel my throat closing as we descend the stone steps and pass the first barred cells. The last time I was here I’d found Satine, her mind almost broken. And the time before that…I shudder, thinking of the cell Professor Yevar had placed me in all those years ago. I hadn’t known where I was at the time, and it’s so strange thinking about it now.

Sensing my unease, Thane clasps his massive hand around mine and squeezes. “You have nothing to worry about, mate. We’ll be with you the entire time,” his shadow whisper brushes my ears.

Ambrose and Germain walk at the head of our group, and they stop when we reach a cell at the far end of the dungeon. It’s three times the size of the other cells, and instead of bars, it has a thick iron wall at the front.

Ambrose frowns when he sees Thane holding my hand. I go to pull away, but Thane grips my fingers tighter.

“Jorvik and Virelle have brought us a shekel,” Ambrose says, gesturing to the cell. “Apparently, it was in the area during one of the first battles with the Xalgrith. Virelle believes she saw a Xalgrith warrior talking to it. We can’t be sure this is the same creature, but the shekel still lives in the same region, and it’s the only one that has the same thick red line on its back like Virelle remembers. Your job is to find out whether it’s the same shekel, and if so, find out what it discussed with the Xalgrith and whether it has any idea what the Xalgrith are after.”

My pulse spikes, and I try not to fidget. “And what if it’s not the same shekel?”

Germain stares at me like I’m an idiot. “Then you fucking find out where you can find the real one.”

Whoa. Okay, then.

Knox’s shadows stir, and a growl begins to rumble in Raith’s throat, but I subtly shake my head at them. I can handle Germain’s attitude, and the last thing we need is Germain and Ambrose reporting to Queen Krosia that we were difficult.

It’s just talking, Shade. You love talking. You can do this. “Okay, got it,” I say. “Easy peasy.” I force a smile, pretending that I’m not secretly terrified.

Ambrose seems satisfied by my answer, and his shadows move to the iron door, pulling it open to reveal a sparse room. The shekel is kneeling beside a small drain, its wrists cuffed, and the chain tying him to the stone floor. The creature’s back is curved, bones protruding against its scaly skin, and its head is fish-like with fins for ears.

The shekel smiles at me as we move into the room, and it bares its bloodied fangs. Multiple wounds cover its body, including gashes on either side of its chest, and despite how unsettling its black gaze is, I can’t help but feel sorry for the creature.

“What’s happened to it?” I ask.

Germain gives me a horrible smile. “He was resisting.”

I frown, thinking about what I’d read about the shekels in the oracle’s journals. Ordinarily, as far as the zenali creatures go and despite their somewhat scary appearance, the shekels are one of the more peaceful species in the realm.