Page 31 of A Bond So Deadly

This time both Tarlaz and Elgen laugh in unison, and their cackling laughter echoes through me. “Still so naïve,” Elgen says when her laughter stops.

I want to ask what she means, because if you ask me, they’re the ones being naïve, but what they’ve said makes me pause. It is strange that I’m the only one who can talk to them. I think of the nasken creature I’d spoken to during the games. He’d said something about a prophecy circulating amongst the creatures.

“Have you heard about another prophecy?” I ask the shadows. “One that’s spoken by the creatures of the shadow realm?”

The shadows are silent for a moment, but it’s Elgen who replies, “In case you haven’t listened, girl, we’ve been trapped inside this academy for centuries.”

They don’t say anything other than that, and I’m surprised when they leave the training room.

Thane stares at me impatiently. “Come on, Shade. Show us what you’ve got.”

Chapter Eleven

~ Shade ~

What we need is for you to get stronger. Tarlaz’s words stay with me as I train for the next few hours. Using my shifting abilities, I manage to change into multiple animals, but it’s the smaller creatures that I have the most success with. The birds, smaller cats, and rodents. I manage a wolf, but that’s harder, and when I try to take on the form of a bear, I can’t get it to happen at all. My shadows and cloaking abilities are more powerful now that the curse has been removed, but I can’t help wondering how much it matters. I can’t help wondering if it would be safer for everyone if I didn’t keep training my gifts.

But my mates continued to push me until morning, and I’m drenched in sweat by the time Thane lets me end the training session. Raith carries me back to our rooms, and I only have enough time to clean myself up and eat some food, before we’re needed at the small training amphitheater in the academy forest.

I sit in the front row of the stands with Blake on my right, and Kenzie sitting tensely on my left. Raith helped me create a sling that crosses over my chest, and I pat my creature’s egg that’s snuggly tucked against me. My phoenix still hasn’t hatched, and I’m trying my best not to worry.

Standing in the arena are a selection of Blake’s top demon commanders. They arrived at Shadowbone this morning, and they don’t look too happy to be here. Blake’s mates stand near them, and across from the demons, is Germain and Ambrose. My mates are positioned in the middle.

Having so many powerful beings in one place makes my eyes water, but I know this is a good thing. With the demons fighting the shadow war as well, maybe we can win.

Behind me, the remaining students at Shadowbone are spread out on the stands, and I wonder if they’re as relieved as I am that we’re not the entertainment this time.

Raith winks at me as he flexes his muscles, clearly way too excited about what he thinks is going to happen next.

“Why do I get the feeling this is going to end badly?” I whisper to Blake.

She grins widely, her golden eyes sparkling in the morning light. “Oh, I don’t know, I think they’re starting to get along.” I follow her gaze to where Alaric is glaring at Germain like he’s thinking up every minute detail on how he’s going to dispatch the shadow warrior. Not that I’d be sad if that happened, but I don’t think the shadow queen would be happy.

“Besides, we need to follow Queen Krosia’s orders,” Blake adds. “The demons must learn the best ways to fight these Xalgrith warriors if we’re going to be any help.” She pauses. “Hey, you can conjure food, can’t you?”

I frown. “Well yeah, but we’re not supposed to eat during training sessions.”

Blake gives me an unimpressed look. “What’s the point of having such cool powers if you can’t even use them? Cough up the goods, girl. I didn’t get any breakfast this morning. Let’s just say Nate and the others kept me very busy, and I’ve worked up an appetite.”

I grin, even though I’m a little jealous that she got the fun morning while my mates were busy making me train.

“Okay, what do you want?” I ask her.

“Surprise me.”

A moment later two tall, striped boxes appear in front of me, complete with buttery popcorn that’s overflowing.

“Yessss.” Blake grabs one, immediately digging her hand into the box and pulling out a fistful of popcorn. “Have I mentioned that I love you lately?” she mumbles through her mouthful.

I laugh, stuffing my own face and offering some to Kenzie.

My roommate looks horrified at the idea of breaking the rules and refuses, and a few of the students around us whisper to one another as we enjoy our snacks.

“Do we need to be here to watch this?” Kenzie asks, her attention back on the warriors who are busy sizing each other up on the sands of the arena.

Blake and I both share a look and grin. “Definitely.”

Thane looks like he’s about to speak, but Ambrose steps forward, addressing the demons before he can. “War commanders of Seral, as per the agreement with Queen Krosia, we’ll spend the next week training you how to fight the Xalgrith soldiers.”