Page 72 of A Bond So Deadly

“Yeah, well, you would too if you were in that cell,” I bite back. I probably should be watching my mouth, but I’m hungry, terrified, and at this moment I don’t really give a crap. Professor Yevar is the reason I’m here instead of with my mates.

To my surprise, Professor Yevar smiles, and power floods my system, flowing from my academy ring. Worried that it won’t last, I quickly change my clothes, removing the gunk caked to my body and creating a new, more breathable battle outfit. Then I conjure up the biggest bottle of water I think I can manage. I’ve only drunk a third of it when Professor Yevar steals it from me and throws it into the pit.

“Hey!” I protest, but my complaint is cut short when he grabs me by the neck, pulling me close.

“That’s enough,” he says coldly. “I won’t have you throwing up on me.”

I glare at him, because it’s not like I care if I vomit on his spotless outfit. In fact, I think I’d like that very much.

I jerk away from him, and my shadows pool in front of me as I try to conjure a granola bar thick with dark chocolate, and…

My brows slam down. “Why isn’t it working?” I say, panicked.

Professor Yevar flicks a spec of dirt off his armor. “We’re not in the shadow realm. I can grant you some access to your magic by using my own as a conduit, but there are limitations.”

I frown. “What kind of limitations?”

“The kind that include prohibiting you from creating any type of food.”

“You’re kidding, right?” I blurt, because I don’t believe for a second that he can allow me enough power to create water, but not enough to create a damn granola bar. I try to conjure another one, but nothing happens. “I’m not fun to be around when I’m hungry,” I warn.

“Then this should be interesting,” Professor Yevar drawls, not looking the least bit concerned.

“I’m serious.”

His lips curve into a humorless smile. “Then you can voice your grievances to the king.”

The blood drains from my face. “We’re going to see the king?”

“Yes, my dear,” Professor Yevar answers. “Because it’s time for you to show him what you can do.”

I take a step away from the professor. “Is that before or after he turns me into a mindless zombie like the other students?”

Professor Yevar tilts his head. “You mean an enhanced warrior?”

“I mean a brainwashed prisoner, or whatever you’ve done to them.” I don’t bother reminding him that he said if I came here, he’d return the students to the academy. It’s obvious he never had any intention of doing that.

Pride shines in Professor Yevar’s expression, and he clasps his hands behind his back, looking out at the Xalgrith army. “Queen Krosia might have thought the weaker students at Shadowbone Academy were a waste and nothing more than to be discarded, but where she saw weakness, I saw potential. They were the perfect candidates to turn into hybrid warriors, and that’s better than being condemned to death, is it not? Using the hybrids to defeat Queen Krosia will be my greatest achievement.”

“I don’t think any of them would have chosen to become what they are,” I counter, but as I say it, I’m not entirely sure if that’s true. If they knew Queen Krosia was going to execute them, would they have chosen this? I push the thought away. No. Professor Yevar hasn’t given them freedom. He’s turned them into monsters.

“Perhaps not,” he replies.

“Jensen wasn’t weak,” I point out, and I think about his name carved on the wall.

“Yes, well your friend happened to stumble upon something he wasn’t meant to, so I couldn’t exactly let him remain at the academy. Despite his strength, he turned all the same. Just like that girl who happened upon my plans.”

I stiffen. “What girl?” Immediately my thoughts go to Leira.

“I think that’s enough questions,” Professor Yevar replies. He lifts his head to the sky and a dark shape swoops down from above. I almost stumble off the platform when a massive beast lands near us, sending dust into the air. I’m expecting one of the xalfret, but instead, the creature has a long, scaly body with huge leathery wings, a hood framing its flat head, and unblinking reptilian eyes. Professor Yevar’s cobra is no longer the smaller snake I’d seen around the academy, but now it’s a massive beast.

The professor climbs onto the back of his animali, using his shadows to tether himself to the creature. “All you need to know, is that King Malgur is expecting great things from you,” he tells me. “Provided you prove yourself useful, you’ll have a place here.”

I shake my head. “I’m not a warrior. I don’t know what you’re expecting.”

He reaches into the shadows around his chest, and he pulls out my phoenix’s egg, letting the light shine on the black and cobalt scales. “I’m expecting you not to embarrass me,” he says as he holds my gaze. “That is, if you wish for your creature to live.”

I glare at him. “You’re a monster.”