Page 2 of A Bond So Deadly

Queen Krosia’s expression flattens. “This human’s life is hardly worth that of one of my top commanders,” she counters icily. “Besides, like you said, thanks to your efforts no real harm was done.”

Grief still clouds my senses, and at her words I can’t keep my mouth shut. “No real harm? You killed my bonded!”

“Yes. Like I said. No real harm,” Queen Krosia repeats, her face devoid of remorse as her lips curve into a cruel smile.

Instinctively, my shadows are about to react, because right now I’m daydreaming about wrapping my hands around her neck and cutting off her air supply, but Alaric moves closer behind me, and his presence keeps me grounded. I remind myself that now is not the time to start a war. Later, Shade. The shadow queen will get what’s coming to her. My mates glare at Alaric’s proximity to me, but I don’t have time to worry about their possessiveness right now.

“I completely agree that it’s not a fair trade,” Blake says casually, giving Alaric and me a steadying look before turning back to the shadow queen. “To think this…” she wrinkles her nose at Germain, “man’s life could equal Shade’s is downright insulting to my friend, but hey, I’m trying to give you an out here. Is your commander’s head worth a war?”

Alaric chuckles gruffly from behind me, and the shadow queen huffs. To my surprise, this time she doesn’t immediately reject the proposal. In fact, she almost looks like she’s considering it.

Germain must think so too, because his face goes crimson. “Your Highness, you can’t be serious⁠—”

“Silence!” Queen Krosia snaps, cutting him off. “When I want counsel, I’ll ask for it.”

The other originals glance uncertainly at one another, but no one speaks in Germain’s defense.

I guess he is as big of an asshole as he seems.

Nate gives Germain a predatory grin, and Germain’s nostrils flare with irritation. The original stares once more at the shadow queen, before clenching his teeth so tightly it looks painful. Germain adjusts his grip on his sword, and it’s the only warning we get before he snarls a curse and attacks.

“No!” Queen Krosia shouts, but it’s too late. The damage is done.

Blake is the first to react. Flicking her wrist, she sends a knife sailing into Germain’s shoulder, followed by another blade to his abdomen. The knives slide between the plates of his armor, and he grunts, but it doesn’t stop him. I yelp as he lunges for me, but Alaric’s large hand shoots out, and he grips Germain by the throat, lifting the original into the air.

The shock leaves Germain’s face quickly, and his lips form an unhinged smile. Alaric’s eyes become glassy, his body going rigid, and panic surges through me.

“Oh crap! His shadow powers!” I shout, warning the others because they don’t understand what’s happening.

Callan moves forward swiftly, grabbing both sides of Germain’s head and twisting quickly until there’s a sharp, sickening crack. For a moment, I think the archangel is going to tear Germain’s head off, but shadows wrap around Germain’s limp body, stealing him away and depositing him some distance across the sand. The originals, Xera and Ravyn, attack, and Callan moves his focus to them, deflecting their strikes.

Freed from his trance, Alaric roars, and everything turns to complete chaos. The shadow warriors around the stadium surge forward, screaming a battle cry as they advance, like they’d just been waiting for the moment to attack, and the other originals, Ambrose, Lankin, Jorvik, and Virelle, cry out as they join the fray.

Across the arena, Germain’s head slowly twists around like something from a horror movie. The skin and bones mend until the original is climbing to his feet again, laughing as he wipes blood from his lips and grins at the mess he’s caused.

Oh, right. He’s immortal. Crap.

Screams echo in the stadium as the warriors who advance on Blake are thrown away, like nothing more than rag dolls being tossed into the air. It’s obvious Blake must have used her mind link and has told her mates not to slaughter everyone, considering they’re opting for less lethal methods. The shadow warriors wink in and out of visibility, using their cloaking powers, but as if Blake and her mates have a sixth sense, they always seem to know where the shadow warriors will appear.

Alaric fights through a dozen soldiers, but before he can reach Germain, shadows swirl beside the original, and Germain’s massive hyena animali materializes at his side.

The hyena growls before launching forward, but Nate shifts into his jaguar form, tearing past Alaric and clashing with the animali. The pair become a mess of fur and fangs, and the hyena whines as Nate tosses it across the stadium where it slams into multiple shadow warriors, crashing them to the ground.

Queen Krosia sends out her shadows as if to try and stop the madness, but soon there are warriors and animali everywhere, and the other originals aren’t holding back.

I dodge out of the way, avoiding the brunt of the fighting and aiding with my shadows where I can, but my power is nothing compared to the originals, and the strength of Blake and her mates. Multiple times, I try to use my powers to help free my guys, but the queen’s shadows, wreathed around my mates, are like a vice.

I grunt in frustration, and I’m working on Thane’s restraints when the sound of gnashing teeth fills my ears. I turn as Virelle’s animali, a huge jackal with razor claws, rushes at me. I start running as my shadows lash out, wrapping around the jackal’s front legs, and the creature pitches forward. The animali’s teeth just miss my right arm, but I lose my balance, falling backward onto the sand. Before the jackal can go for me again, there’s a thunderous roar, and I nearly sob as Kazer appears. The massive black lion latches his powerful jaws onto the jackal, and he shakes the animali before throwing it across the sands.

Bonfang, Arizak, and Rinoc appear next, stepping from shadows and circling me protectively. Blake shouts something and aims her sword at Bonfang, but I wave my arms frantically.

“No! They’re friendly!” I scream, my heart pounding wildly. I indicate to where my mates are still struggling against their restraints, and relief floods me when realization fills Blake’s face. She winks at me, seemingly glad that I now have some bodyguards, and she spins to block Xera’s sword before driving the flat of her palm into the original’s chest, sending Xera soaring across the amphitheater. The original crashes into a stone pillar, and the stone cracks on impact, showering Xera in rubble.

I scramble to my feet, but there’s snorting to my left, and Ambrose’s bull animali charges toward me. Rinoc runs out to meet the creature, and the bear jumps into the air, wrapping its powerful arms around the bull and sending them both crashing to the ground.

Bonfang paces, ready to assist, but when it’s clear Rinoc has it handled, the wolf grabs the front of my clothes with his fangs and tosses me onto his back. I scream at the unexpected motion. Oof. My thighs slide onto Bonfang’s soft fur, and I hurry to grab hold, desperate not to fall off.

I can’t see Xera or Ravyn anywhere, and Blake converges on the shadow queen. Queen Krosia’s shadows spear outward, and Blake dodges the black tendrils that shoot toward her. The shadow queen barely manages to block Blake’s first attack when the demon queen reaches her and brings down her blade. There’s the ringing of steel as Queen Krosia lifts her sword, and the pair enter a dance of parries and attacks, a mess of shadows, and a blur of movement.