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Clearing my throat, I wrap my arm around Raven’s waist, pulling her against my side as her fingers stroke from my shoulder to my neck. “We should go,” I murmur, speaking into her hair, and she nods.
“I’ll catch up with you later, okay? When I’m not feeling like this,” Raven states, and Leila nods.
“Of course. I’ll make sure the professors know why you’re not there if you don’t make it back,” she offers, and Raven mutters her thanks before we turn and head for the door.
I sense them still tracking us, their eyes burning holes into our heads until we exit the dining hall and walk toward the main exit. This would be a lot easier if I were able to create a gateway, but luck still isn’t on our side with that.
The hallways are quite empty since it’s lunchtime and we manage to make our way toward the large double doors with ease. Raven glances around us before turning to look up at me as we walk.
“We probably should stick around them more to spy on him.”
“Nope,” I grumble, not agreeing with her in the slightest.
“No? Why not?” she argues, and I give her a pointed look.
“You’re in enough danger with everything else. We’re not adding that on top, as well. Rhys said to keep an eye out for him, not actively seek him and his bullshit out.”
She rolls her eyes at me but I let it go over my head. I’m going to stand by my point, and the fact that she declines to argue any further tells me she knows it’s going to be a losing battle.
Stepping out into the cool afternoon air, I glance up at the sky, wishing I could feel the sun on my skin again. The sky has been like this since Erikel arrived, a weird mirage of colors intertwining that lightens in the day and darkens at night. Another mark of his presence that pisses me off.
We barely make it to the bottom of the steps when six Shadowgrim students appear out of nowhere, creating a wall in front of us.
I really don’t have the time or patience for these fuckers right now. “Move out of the way,” I grunt, a bored hint to my tone as we come to a stop in front of them. They smirk, each shaking their head, making my tolerance of their presence fall even lower. “I. Said. Move.”
Footsteps echo from behind us and I recognize the clanging of the metal on the floor in time to turn and find the golden warrior approaching, with his treacherous leader a step behind him. It’s clear the Shadowgrim barrier was to hold us in place in anticipation of Erikel’s arrival, and I’m already over whatever bullshit is going to come out of his mouth.
His floor-length fur cape drapes around him like a protective shield, the jagged scar seeming even more prominent today as he takes a step toward my woman.
My nostrils flare as my hands ball at my sides. I want to stand between her and this fucker, but he’s the last person I want her to seem weak in front of, so I use all of my pent-up energy to remain as still as possible.
“Why is my Potens Ruby in the Realm of Shadows?” he snarls, his lip curling as he bares his teeth.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Raven grumbles with irritation, which only seems to piss him off.
“Don’t try me, Shadow Dancer.” He inches closer and it takes everything in me to stay still.
“I. Don’t. Know. What. You’re. Talking. About,” Raven bites, holding her ground when he moves rapidly, backhanding her across the face.
That motherfucker.
I lurch forward, ready to pummel him into the ground. Shifting from flesh to stone as I travel through the air, I’m held back by the golden warrior before I can connect with Erikel’s skull.
My body tenses, adrenaline coursing through my veins as I try to break free of his hold, but it’s impossible, even in my gargoyle form.
“Let me the fuck down. Now,” I spit, barely able to breathe properly as I rage with every gasp.
Neither the golden warrior nor Erikel pay me any mind as Erikel wags his finger in Raven’s face. “You have two choices. Tell me why it’s there, or take me to it.”
My jaw aches from grinding my teeth, unable to bottle up the anger building inside me. If this is Burton, he should be able to visit the Realm of Shadows like me. Why doesn’t he fucking go there and find it for himself?
I’d rather he didn’t, not wanting to put my parents in danger, but surely that should be a tactic instead of pushing harder on Raven.
Fuck.
Raven sighs, lifting her fingers tentatively to the red mark deepening on her cheek. He’s going to fucking pay for that. “I can’t do either, you fucking fool, because I don’t know why and I don’t know how to get there,” she grinds out, eyes blazing as she glares at him.
Erikel tuts, shaking his head in disapproval. “You’re a necromancer; communicating with the shadows is your primary ability.” Raven rears her head back slightly as I continue to wriggle in the warrior’s hold to no avail. Erikel’s eyes narrow as he assesses my Shadow before a flash of surprise burns deep in his irises. “You haven’t communicated with them.”
