Page 67 of A Bond So Deadly

He stares at me, holding my gaze. I want to look away, but it’s as if I can’t. Cruelty shines in those milky depths, and my mouth goes dry, but I force myself to speak. I have no idea when or if my guys will rescue me. “The students,” I say, bringing them up again. “What have you done with them?”

A smile curves his lips. “Ah, the humans. I was skeptical when General Yevar first told me of his plan to bring them here, but they have proven to be most useful.”

General Yevar? I barely have time to think about Professor Yevar’s different title here, because the king gestures toward a side door, and my heart hits the floor as two humans walk out.

Jensen no longer has a mohawk, and his movements are stiff as he walks to the side of the king’s throne and stops, but his other features are unmistakable. Beside him, the other man does the same, though I don’t recognize the student.

Without thinking, I rush forward, stopping in front of my friend. “Jensen! Are you okay?” Relief fills me, and I realize that until this moment, deep down I’d thought the students were dead. “It’s me, Shade. You know, new girl,” I say.

My relief slowly fades when I realize neither of the students are looking directly at me. Their milky eyes are unfocused, and they stare blankly ahead. Patches of translucent skin cover parts of their body, and they’re dressed in the same battle armor as the Xalgrith warriors, with two curved swords at their sides. My gaze lowers to Jensen’s right hand, and when I see the severed stump where his index finger used to be, nausea hits me.

“Holy crap! Your finger.” I lean forward, reaching for Jensen’s injured hand, but the moment my fingers touch his, he lashes out, throwing me across the room. I land in a heap on the warm, stone floor, and my bones ache at the impact.

“Don’t touch me, human,” Jensen rattles, and his voice is hoarse and broken.

“Now, now,” Professor Yevar says calmly to Jensen. “That’s no way to treat our guest of honor.”

Jensen’s expression doesn’t change. He stares blankly ahead again, and he straightens his stance. “Yes, Commander,” he replies woodenly.

My body aches, and I’m pretty sure I’ll have a few bruises tomorrow, but I don’t think anything’s broken, and I struggle to my feet. “What have you done to him?”

King Malgur leans back and smiles. “Our new hybrid warriors have proven to be a great addition to our army.”

Hybrid warriors? Does he mean like super soldiers?

I don’t want to believe it. I want to think that Jensen is the same aloof guy who used to train with me at Shadowbone, but the throbbing in my muscles makes me wary.

“You’ve possessed them,” I accuse, gesturing to Jensen and the other student.

“Possession?” King Malgur laughs. “We don’t need such methods. No, the students came to see reason after some…persuasion, and perhaps, a little of my influence. Now they’re as loyal as my own warriors.”

My stomach roils. “They brainwashed the students,” I rasp to Elgen and Tarlaz in horror.

“They’ve done more than that, girl. Look at their eyes,” Elgen comments.

I study Jensen’s face, but he still isn’t looking at me.

“This is barbaric,” I say. “How could you do this to them? Cutting off their fingers and torturing them.”

“Cutting off their fingers?” King Malgur looks offended. “Now why would I do that?”

I blink, surprised by his answer. “But you’ve obviously hurt them.”

King Malgur smiles wickedly. “Jozrac, a demonstration please.”

“Who the hell is Jozrac?” I murmur to the shadows.

“Oh, prepare yourself girl,” Elgen replies. “It’s about to get messy.”

“What?” I don’t understand what she’s talking about until Jensen pulls out one of his daggers.

“No,” I whisper. “Oh, please tell me he’s not going to…” My heart stutters as he lifts his other hand, and he positions the blade above one of his fingers.

“I’m not sure if that’s loyalty,” Tarlaz comments. “But it’s certainly compliance.”

“Stop!” I shout, but Jensen doesn’t listen to me.

He begins to carve the blade slowly into his finger, and blood oozes from the wound.