Page 49 of A Bond So Deadly

I try not to look at the demon queen, because she’s playing a dangerous game. I know she’s trying to get the other originals to slip up and give us some indication as to whether they know what Krosia’s after.

“No,” Ravyn replies, tapping her chin thoughtfully with her finger. “That was one of my early theories. When they come, they don’t take anything back with them, and yet, this realm has a large supply of many resources including various minerals and natural gases. It’s almost as if they come here simply to battle us, but of course, that makes no logical sense.”

“Did questioning the zenali creature yield any information?” Lankin inquires. She doesn’t look at me or my friends. No, she directs her gaze to Ambrose, showing where her allegiance lies. I can’t blame her. The revelation that Shade is our mate has changed the dynamic. By us fighting to keep Shade alive, Lankin undoubtedly sees it as a betrayal to the war effort. It doesn’t matter if Shade is fated to us.

Blake and her mates are smart enough not to react to the question, and Blake glares at the map like she thinks it has all the answers but it’s intentionally keeping them from her.

“No, but another creature will be here tomorrow for interrogation,” Xera replies. “I’ve already checked in with Her Highness, and Jorvik and Virelle are on the hunt.”

“What creature is it this time?” Raith rumbles, annoyance flickering on his face. He’s as pissed off about Shade’s encounter with the shekel as the rest of us. It’s not just about hating that they’re putting Shade in danger. But seeing that look on Shade’s face when the creature ended its own life, tugged at something inside me. An emotion I’d buried long ago to preserve my own sanity. When that shekel had died, my mate’s sadness was real, and for the first time in a long while, I felt…ashamed.

I tell myself that’s irrational. We’re here to help this realm, and without the shadow warriors this land would have been turned to ash long ago. But that doesn’t stop the churning questions in my thoughts. Questions that I’ve ignored for way too long.

“A wespet, if you must know,” Ambrose states.

Raith smashes his fist on the table, and the tension in the room heightens. “This is madness. There are only a handful of those ancient creatures in this realm. We can’t afford to lose any more.”

“Lose them?” Ambrose says, not an ounce of sympathy in his expression as he narrows his eyes at Raith. “We’ve lost countless warriors over the centuries. What’s the life of one wespet? If we don’t find an advantage soon, none of the creatures in this realm will exist. Your so-called mate will interrogate this next creature, unless of course, she is unwilling to assist in the war effort.” He gives Raith a challenging look.

Raith opens his mouth to speak, but I beat him to it. “Shade will question this creature,” I confirm. “But Ambrose and Germain are not to be present during questioning. Also, it must be released after that. Shade will not partake in pointless murder.” I tell myself that part is for Shade, because that’s what we agreed, but as the words leave my mouth, something inside me lightens just a little.

Ambrose scowls. “You’ve forgotten what’s at stake. Your little mate is already messing with your decision-making capabilities. What is one life when its death can be the salvation of so many others?”

“Now that would be an interesting conversation,” Galen drawls, “if the wespet’s death was actually going to save lives. But as I see it, there aren’t any consequences to letting the creature live. Murdering the wespet would be needless bloodshed. Besides, if the creatures know they’ll be returned to their homes, they might be more forthcoming with information.”

Ambrose rests his hands on the table and gives me a challenging look. “So these are to be your terms then? If so, I shall relay them to the queen.”

Blake looks up from the map and rolls her eyes. “Gods you’re insufferable. Here. I’ll make this easy for you.” She levels Ambrose with a hard stare. “I have no idea what this creature is, but if it’s no threat to the war, then release it after questioning and be done with it. It’s not hard. I’m sure Raith and the others here will see to it. If anything, you should be grateful to have less clean up. I share Shade’s thoughts on cruelty, and I won’t fight for those who preach peace and yet slaughter innocents.”

“Innocents?” Ambrose splutters. “They’re creatures.” He says it like the zenali are nothing more than insignificant beings rather than the highly intelligent ancient inhabitants of the shadow realm. Inhabitants that existed here long before we did.

Blake’s gaze meets mine for a fraction of a second, just long enough for me to see she’s as pissed off about the conversation as the rest of us, despite her relaxed attitude.

“Yes, I would think needlessly slaughtering innocent creatures is below you,” Blake says, keeping her chin high. “Now unless you want me questioning Queen Krosia as to why she permits her generals to waste time killing innocent beings while claiming she fights for peace, I suggest you get on the same page as the rest of us.”

Ambrose’s nostrils flare, but he doesn’t reply. Truthfully, it’s Krosia who would have ordered the death of the creatures after questioning, but Krosia’s loyalties can be fickle, and if Queen Blake started questioning things, Ambrose must realize there’s no guarantee the shadow queen would defend him.

“Now, if you’re done wasting my time, can we get back to discussing strategies,” Queen Blake says, giving Ambrose an unnerving stare.

I swallow my laughter when Ambrose dips his head acknowledging her request. Shade had said her friend was a badass, but Blake is something else. This she-demon is fierce and calculating, and entirely what we need for this war.

The door to the chamber opens, and I don’t hide my displeasure when Germain struts into the room. He’s looking especially smug today, and I’m back to fantasizing about the different ways I could end his life. He’s purposely late, no doubt, not that I minded the fact he wasn’t here.

“Nice of you to join us,” Ambrose says, looking just as unimpressed at Germain’s late arrival. Possibly he’s annoyed Germain wasn’t there to back him up with the previous conversation.

“Figured you’d all need some time to get past the basics,” Germain replies coolly, taking a place at the table. He moves in between Lankin and Ambrose, forcing Lankin to shuffle over a little so she still has a clear view of the map. “Or did I actually miss something?”

“Only that you will not be attending any more interrogations with the zenali creatures,” Knox says coldly.

Surprisingly, Germain doesn’t look concerned. If anything, a self-satisfied smile plays on his lips. My brows lower.

“Fine,” Germain replies casually. “Watching that human was pathetic anyway. I don’t know why Her Highness bothers to⁠—”

Raith’s eyes go completely black as his monster’s low growl rumbles through the room. I scent my mate on Germain just after Raith changes form, and his monster attacks.

Raith throws Germain against the wall, holding him up with a clawed hand as the stone cracks behind him. Weapons are out in an instant, and I stalk toward Germain, with Knox and Galen on either side of me. I don’t know how Germain had initially hidden it, but now Shade’s sweet scent is all over him.

“As much as I’m enjoying this, can someone explain what’s going on?” Blake says, coming up behind us with her mates.