Page 7 of A Bond So Deadly

“It was truly an incredible display of strength from our students,” the shadow queen goes on. “But in saying that, it is clear that I may have…overestimated the abilities of some of the newest members of the academy.” She sends out a burst of power and shadows wind around a few dozen students. “Those I have selected have earned their immortality and the honor of joining the shadow army to fight and protect the realms. As for those who remain…” Queen Krosia glances at my mates, her attention lingering on Thane before returning to the students, “you are not yet worthy. You shall remain at Shadowbone Academy and train until it is time to compete in the next graduation games.” Her eyes harden, her gaze becoming cold and unforgiving. “We cannot have the weak joining our army and risking our warriors.” The look is brief, but when she smiles again, cruelty still glimmers there. “But now, let us congratulate our newest graduates!”

The applause from the crowd is weaker this time, and I almost jump when Nate starts clapping loudly and wolf whistling. “Yeah!” he shouts. “You join that army!”

Blake’s other mates all smirk and start clapping politely.

“You’re overdoing it, brother,” Callan says, leaning toward the shifter, but Nate doesn’t let up. He whistles again, louder this time, and I’m pretty sure I see Queen Krosia’s eye twitch, but she doesn’t comment. Surprisingly, the crowd follows Nate’s lead, the shadow warriors working themselves into a frenzy of cheering once again.

“I can’t believe you know these assholes,” Knox shadow whispers into my ear.

I grin as Nate fists his hand and pumps it into the air like he’s really getting into it.

“What can I say?” I whisper back. “They grow on you.”

My mates look skeptical about that, and Galen mumbles something under his breath.

By the time the cheering starts to taper off again, the selected students are grinning and patting each other on the back. But they grow silent when the queen’s shadows engulf them entirely and they disappear from the arena. With them gone, I scan the students who remain. Kenzie is still standing there, and not far from her is Satine along with dozens more. Satine’s minions, Izzy and Paiton, plus Ian’s friends, were all selected, and I breathe a sigh of relief. At least, I won’t have to worry about them anymore. I’m a little surprised Satine wasn’t chosen, but I guess almost being killed by Ian made her lose some points.

Queen Krosia addresses Ravyn and Xera. “Return to the city and see to our new graduates.”

“Right away, Your Highness,” the originals reply in eerie unison. I might be imagining it, but it’s almost as if Xera gives Knox a look before she opens a shadow pathway. She turns from him quickly, and she and Ravyn step inside, disappearing from the amphitheater.

“Now,” Queen Krosia shouts to the shadow warriors outside the amphitheater. “Go and prepare, for the end of this war is finally near!”

The shadow queen is definitely getting ahead of herself, and Blake’s lips thin, but there’s more cheering, and soon the shadow warriors start disappearing. I’m surprised at how little time it takes before the shadow army is gone, except for the few guards still situated inside the amphitheater.

Huh. Well, that’s an efficient way to move an army.

The moment they’re gone, Queen Krosia turns and eyes the dagger on Blake’s hip. Pretending not to care, she gives Blake a confident smile. “Well, now that we have our agreement, it seems appropriate that we should further discuss the terms of our peace. Your army is no longer needed here for the time being, and Jorvik and Virelle will escort you to my palace after you’ve had a moment with your…friend.” She then turns to the other originals. Going by the way Ambrose and Germain tense, I’m guessing she’s using shadow whispers to speak to them.

When she’s done, Queen Krosia peers at me with disdain before addressing my mates. “As discussed, your mate will be allowed to live provided she stays within the barrier of Shadowbone Academy. But if I find out she leaves this place or if you bond with her, that agreement will be dissolved. I trust you understand the severity of what this means.” She lifts her right hand in the air, and shadows dance on her palm before spearing out in all directions. Power ripples in the air around us making the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. “There. I’ve adjusted the barrier around the academy, so I’ll know if our agreement is ever violated. We wouldn’t want you feeling tempted, now would we?”

Knox grinds his jaw, but Thane keeps his expression passive.

“Of course, Your Highness,” Thane rumbles. “Shade will remain here as agreed.”

“Excellent,” Queen Krosia replies, then she smirks at Blake. “We shall expect you at the palace shortly. Preparations for your arrival are being undertaken as we speak.”

“We’re looking forward to it,” Blake replies not hiding her sarcasm.

Queen Krosia simply smiles, and without another word she disappears in a cloud of shadows, taking her remaining guards with her.

It’s only then that I remember I still haven’t been able to draw attention to the fact Professor Yevar is a traitor, but I figure now isn’t the time.

The moment the shadow queen is gone, the air seems to calm, though the remaining originals still stare at Blake and her mates warily.

Professor Lankin creates a large shadow pathway and starts ushering the unselected students into it. Kenzie hesitates, but I give her a wave. Later, her eyes promise, and I nod before she disappears into the pathway.

Once the students are gone, Blake addresses the demon army with her kings by her sides. The commanders follow her orders to send the demons home, creating massive portals for them to travel through. I smile at Sebastian, one of the demon generals, before he disappears. He scowls at me, no doubt still annoyed from that time I had escaped his supervision in the human realm and had gotten him into trouble with Blake. Yep, he forgives me, I tell myself.

When the demon army is gone, Blake strides over to where I’m still in the possessive grip of Raith in his monster form. She takes one look at my obsessed mate and tsks. “Hand her over, big guy.”

Raith growls possessively, and Blake rolls her eyes. “Calm down. I’m not taking her anywhere. I just want to make sure she’s okay.”

Raith growls again, but he reluctantly sets me on my feet. The moment my boots hit the sand, I run to Blake, crushing her in a hug. She laughs, squeezing me back just as tightly. Nate is quick to join in, grinning at me from over Blake’s shoulder as he wraps his muscly arms around us, and to my surprise, Mason and the rest of Blake’s mates also add to the pile. Even Alaric joins in, no longer in his giant form, and hugging in a way that’s so uncharacteristic for the large man. Tears fall down my cheeks as they embrace me, and once they start, I can’t stop the tears from flowing. “You came,” I rasp in between sobbing breaths and sniffles. “You came for me.”

“Of course we did,” Dante drawls. “From the moment we discovered you were missing from the human realm, not a moment went by when Blake didn’t mention you and talk about bringing you home. It’s a relief to all of us that you’ve finally been found.”

“I’ll say,” Nate comments.