Page 58 of A Bond So Deadly

Satine is still for a long moment, but then she snatches up her pillow and throws it at my head. I’m so surprised, I yelp when I get a face full of cotton. “You didn’t!” I squeal. “That’s it, Blake, you’re up.”

For a heartbeat, Satine stiffens and true fear crosses her face, like she actually thinks Blake might punish her for throwing her pillow at me. I quickly put Satine out of her misery, tossing a pillow back in her direction. I was aiming for her face, but it goes wide, slamming into Kenzie’s bedside lamp instead and breaking it. Oops. Either way, the effect is the same, and a grand pillow fight ensues. Blake might be protective, but she’s not a monster. Yeesh.

“No powers!” Kenzie shrieks when Blake sends her pillow flying and it lands squarely in her face.

“That was me using only a fraction of my strength!” Blake laughs.

We’re well and truly bruised by the time we collapse on the floor in a fit of laughter, tears leaking from our eyes. I’m sure I’ve used muscles I never knew existed, and I wonder if this should be added to the shadow warrior training schedule.

Even Satine is relaxed now, smiling as we stare at the ceiling.

“I get the feeling my generals are going to miss this place, too,” Blake says softly. “Despite the circumstances, it has been a pleasant getaway.”

“Like a forced staycation,” I quip.

“Exactly,” Blake chuckles.

We’re still grinning when shadows pool on the other side of the room, and a sheepish Raith pokes his head out of a shadow pathway.

We lift onto our elbows as we stare at him.

“Uh, we heard screams?” he says uncertainly. “Just wanted to make sure—oof!”

His words are cut off as Blake’s pillow soars into his face, and considering the way it explodes into a mess of feathers, I’m guessing she was using more of her strength. We erupt into fits of laughter again, and I feel bad for my mate as he hastily disappears, closing the pathway behind him.

“I’m not sure what’s cuter—that your mates wanted to check on you, or that your adorable Raith, who I’m guessing must have drawn the short straw, looked so embarrassed I thought he might combust,” Blake says, smirking.

“So you think he’s adorable, huh?” I say, still wondering if I’m going to be the one paying for Blake’s blatant attack later.

Kenzie rolls her eyes. “Come on Shade, the professors are gorgeous and you know it.”

I grin. “True. All too true. Shame that they know it as well.” That’s followed by more laughter.

When the room grows quiet again, Satine’s voice is soft when she speaks and I get the feeling she’s been holding onto this question all night. “How do you do it, Shade?” Her gaze lands on me. “How do you keep going? Queen Krosia wants you dead, you’ve got no chance of immortality, plus, you’re trapped in this place. We all know the agreement with the demons might not last. At first, I used to think you were just naive, but I’m starting to realize you’re…something else.”

Blake and Kenzie tense, but before either of them can speak for me, I joke, “Well, the amazing dick helps.” I don’t begrudge Satine when she’s simply stating the truth.

Blake snorts, and Kenzie facepalms, but no one laughs.

I bite my bottom lip before answering more seriously, “But I’m not sure. I guess it helps knowing there are people out there who would give a shit if I died.” I think of my mates and their animali, of Blake and her guys, of Kenzie and the shadows, Elgen and Tarlaz, of my phoenix in her egg, and even of the zenali who keep calling me mistress.

Satine nods, still staring at the ceiling. “I guess that’s why I got with Craig and Ian. I was hoping someone would give a shit. That somehow, they’d help me survive this place. And that once I was immortal, I would stop feeling so…alone.”

I frown, unable to stop myself from feeling sorry for her. I mean, not only had Ian not given a shit, but he’d literally tried to kill her just to make himself look good. As horrified as I was to end the man’s life, right now a part of me wishes I could do it again. Or more so, that I could offer him up to Satine, so she could get some closure.

“I’m sorry,” Satine adds quickly, almost like she’s embarrassed to say it, and I’m pulled from my thoughts of murder. “For how I’ve treated you both,” she says, staring at me and Kenzie. “I could come up with excuses, but I don’t think there’s any point.”

I’m completely stunned by her apology, and I’m guessing Kenzie is, too, but my friend recovers faster than I do. “I’m sure this place didn’t help,” Kenzie replies. “They pit the weak against the strong from the moment we’re brought here.”

Blake doesn’t comment, but I know this conversation must be affecting her too. Being born half-demon meant that despite her lineage, the demons looked down on her for a long time. That is, until she showed them she could cut off their tongues and make them eat them. Then she helped win the demon war and became one of the strongest beings in all the realms, with her five powerful mates at her sides.

I push the demon war from my mind. “Don’t worry,” I tell Satine. “We give a shit.”

There’s silence for a beat as my words sink in, and Satine sags against the mattress. Like just hearing me say those words gives her…hope.

Blake clears her throat. “Sebastian definitely gives a shit.”

That’s all it takes, and then we’re all laughing again, pretending like we’re not in the middle of a war and battle isn’t in our near future.