Page 48 of A Bond So Deadly

I try to control my racing heartbeat. You’re okay, Shade. He’s said he’s not going to kill you, so get it together. Problem is, it’s one thing to remind yourself that on a good day, but when an immortal is threatening you, it’s a different matter. Fear chokes me, but I try to channel it into anger. When Germain’s shadow slides across my lips again, I bite down. Hard. The shadow is firm between my teeth, and surprise flashes on Germain’s face before the fury sets in. Instinctively, he jerks away from me, and the distraction is enough. I shift into a crow, escaping his shadows as I fly across the room and reform, drawing the blade from my hip the instant I’m in my human form again.

I brace for Germain’s counterattack, but he only watches me, his shadows swirling around him in agitation.

“So fucking pathetic.” He sneers at me. “How anyone can think you’ll singlehandedly make us lose this war is beyond me.”

“You and me both, buddy,” I reply, my heart hammering in my ears. “How about you skip the pleasantries and tell me why you’re really here? You know you can’t kill me.” I’m trying to sound brave, but it’s kind of hard to do when there’s a psychotic immortal in your dorm room and your roommate is unconscious. Anger goes through me at the thought of Kenzie on the floor, and I grip my blade tighter. I know that despite my training, and even if Germain is intoxicated, there’s no way I can take the immortal. Unfortunately, the asshole knows it, too.

“I’m simply here because after your little stunt during the interrogation, I felt like you needed a reminder,” he says with a chilling smile. “A reminder that while you may be fated to Thane and the others and have somehow wormed your way into the demon queen’s circle, you’re still mortal. A weak and dispensable human.”

“Oh, is that all. You didn’t need to remind me of that,” I say seriously, because if that’s the only reason he’s here, this guy has totally wasted his time. My mates might have all accepted who I am, but it doesn’t change my vulnerable position. But of course, I know that’s not the only reason Germain is here. It’s clear that whatever is going on, this guy’s main mission is simply to torment me. Probably because Blake and her mates damaged his ego, and he knows the demon queen cares about me. Great.

“Oh, but indeed I do,” Germain says, still smiling. “We’ve been fighting this war for so long at this point it’s the only thing most of us know. We can’t afford to lose now, and the fact Her Highness has decided to let you live for the time being shouldn’t bring you comfort. When your little demon friends are gone, know that I will enjoy the moment Queen Krosia orders me to rid us of this…problem.”

I shudder. Of course, I knew this was the most likely outcome. Hell, we’d even discussed it, but hearing it from Germain hits differently. There’s something in his eyes when he talks about killing me. Something that tells me he’s looking forward to murdering me just a little too much.

Hobbies. Seriously, these immortals really need to get some better hobbies.

“Okay then, well I guess thanks for the heads up,” I reply, trying to hide the way my hands are shaking.

“The end of this war has been such a long time coming,” Germain muses, his eyes growing unfocused like he’s not even talking to me anymore, but instead, he’s stuck in his head.

Yep, this guy definitely needs hobbies.

He laughs under his breath. “Fuck. I’m going to enjoy makin’ you hurt.” At that, he turns, opening a shadow pathway, and in a mess of shadows he’s gone.

Chapter Eighteen

~ Thane ~

I’m losing my fucking mind. Anger tears me up inside, and I struggle to keep it hidden as we stand around the thick iron table in one of the war chambers. Queen Blake and her kings are all scrutinizing the map that’s spread across the entire span of the table’s surface. Knox stands on my right beside Ambrose and Lankin, and Raith and Galen stand on my left beside Ravyn and Xera.

We’ve been going over the terrain of the shadow realm, covering the basics like where the Xalgrith attacks first started, the most difficult regions to defend, and the fortification of the shadow city, but I can hardly focus.

I’m supposed to be the fucking reasonable one, but when Germain threatened my mate during the shekel’s interrogation, I was so close to losing control. So close to splattering him on the wall and damning the consequences. I tell myself that’s because Germain has it coming. He has always been hot headed and too quick to use his sword, even when it’s not needed. But I’ve never had trouble tolerating him in the past. He has his place in this war, or so I reasoned. But now, my thoughts are consumed with ways to decapitate the shadow warrior, perhaps after a lengthy torture session.

I can’t, of course, as that would anger the shadow queen and in turn, endanger Shade’s life. Krosia will be looking for any reason to end my mate’s life, and I won’t be the fool to give her one.

At the thought of my mate, desire rushes through me. I’ve always been drawn to her, as much as I tried to deny it in the beginning, but now she consumes my every thought. I want to be with her, making her feel safe, and burying inside her and making her cry out in ecstasy over and over… The need to bond with Shade is an aching, persistent need that’s getting harder to ignore. I want to be sharing her with Raith and Galen, but especially Knox. I want to watch my two loves fall apart as we lose ourselves to the pleasure. I want our souls connected with a bond so strong that even death could not separate us.

A shadow winds around my leg. A subtle touch, hidden by the high table, and I clear my dry throat, trying to maintain control over myself. I don’t look at Knox, but I’m grateful for his intervention. Fuck.

We can’t bond. I know that. But when Shade whimpered in pain that last time, telling us what she needed, I was almost hopeless to resist.

Only one can make you break. Beware the bond of your beloved mate.

It’s probably a good thing the oracle’s gone. If he were still around, I might not be able to hold back my frustration. It’s interesting how these two lines can dictate our entire lives, placing us in a form of torture. It’s hell refusing the bond, and I can only fucking hope we can end this war, so Shade is no longer a threat. Then I will happily lay down my sword and spend my days worshipping my mate in our bed…and in my heart.

“We have scouts all around the shadow realm,” Xera says, pulling my thoughts back to the war council. “With units ready to respond with force, but for the past few years the attacks have been growing more frequent, and we’re spread thin.”

Queen Blake frowns as she assesses the map. “And there’s no known pattern to their movements?”

“None that we can determine,” Xera replies. “The last three attacks were here,” she points to a location on the map near the rocky mountains, then moves her finger to two other spots, “here and here. They’re all remote locations that have no military significance.”

Dante crosses his arms, his tail flicking in the air beside him. “How often do they attack the shadow city?”

“Rarely,” I answer this time, mostly just to keep my head straight. “Generally, they appear in locations away from the city.”

“If this was just about seizing control of the realm, you would think tearing down the monarchy and seizing the city would be their main priority. That suggests they’re after something else. Have they been amassing near any major resources in the shadow realm?” Blake asks.