Page 81 of A Bond So Deadly

He brushes his thumb across my cheek. “We’ll find you, my love. Until then, you said King Malgur wants you to be his weapon. Play along. Do whatever you need to survive.”

“But he thinks I have some kind of great power or something.”

Knox’s lips twitch. “You do have great power, mate. You always have. Now, promise me you’ll do all you can to last until we get there.”

I clear my throat. “I-I promise.”

His answering smile makes my heart ache, and he gives me one last reluctant look before he disappears from my dreams.

I’m woken hours later when the guards replace my tray of unappetizing goop. I stare at the steaming red pile and wince.

My magic has healed the worst of my wounds, and the pain from not being with my mates hasn’t returned since my visit from Knox. But my stomach is aching again, and I know this pain is because I haven’t eaten in some time. I promised Knox I would do anything I could to last until they get here, which is why I’m staring at the goop. Damn Professor Yevar for not letting me conjure food.

“All right, you’d better say your goodbyes now,” I murmur to the shadows as I set myself down in front of the tray.

“We shall think of you fondly,” Tarlaz replies, and I grin, because this guy is really starting to get my humor.

“Oh, stop being so dramatic, girl,” Elgen berates me.

“Okay, if you don’t think it’s that bad, let’s trade places,” I reply. “I give you full permission to possess me just for this moment.”

Elgen gives me a dry look. “Our souls may be connected, but that doesn’t mean we can possess you. Just plug your nose and let it slide down.”

I grumble because I really was hoping to get out of this. I say a mental goodbye to my mates and everyone else I know. “Okay, here goes.” Reaching down, I fork some of the goop and pinch my nose with my other hand. Please let this taste better than it looks.

Grimacing, I shove the forkful into my mouth with the intention of swallowing the goop in one go, but something sharp pricks my tongue, and I throw up immediately, vomiting on myself.

When I can breathe, I push my fingers through the mush still on my plate, only to find shards of broken bones mixed into the goop. I go to vomit again, but there’s nothing left in my stomach and I retch instead.

I quickly conjure up a bottle of water, because thankfully Professor Yevar hasn’t blocked me from doing that, and I down half the bottle in one go.

The guards cackle with glee, enjoying every moment of my suffering. What assholes.

“Ah, I see you’ve found your appetite,” Professor Yevar drawls, and I look up at where he stands in the doorway. He wrinkles his nose as he sees the vomit splattered on my chest.

I glare at him, and I’m entirely ready to sling a barrage of insults his way, because messing with someone’s food is a really fucked up form of torture, but he narrows his eyes, and I remember my promise to Knox. It’s not worth it, Shade.

Using my magic, I conjure up a clean outfit, glad that I can at least do that.

“Get her up,” Professor Yevar orders the guards, and they haul me to my feet.

The professor starts walking, and the guards jab their spears at me until I follow. Once again, Professor Yevar leads me to the summit of the volcano, and his cobra is already waiting for us.

“Let me guess, you’re taking me to see the king?” I say dryly.

He gives me a dark look. “Get on.”

I don’t make him ask me twice, and once again, we fly from the volcano and over the army. This time I pay more attention, and by the time we’re landing beside King Malgur’s tent, I’ve already filed away more information to tell Knox that I hadn’t noticed the last time.

A tingle of hope goes through me. No matter how I got here, being able to see the other side will help when I get back to the shadow realm. That’s right, when. Because I will get back. I realize that before, I hadn’t really believed it. It wasn’t until Knox had walked into my dreams and made me promise to survive that I finally saw a way out. They’re coming for me. The thought makes my heart clench.

We walk into King Malgur’s tent, and my steps slow as I take in the mess. The rack of weapons is on the floor, and there are torn maps strewn across the carpet.

King Malgur’s face is red, and going by the expressions of his guards, I’m going to guess his outburst was recent.

“Well, look at that. Male tantrums are universal no matter the species,” Elgen comments dryly, and I can’t help the smile that crawls onto my face. Which is a big mistake. Huge, actually.

King Malgur is across the tent in a few strides, and he grabs my shoulder, his face inches from mine as he lifts a knife to my cheek. I freeze, having to fight against my flight reflex at his outburst.