Chapter 12
We’d beaten the Shadow Killer, the shadows held prisoner in the Shadow Realm were finally at peace, and Kasi had a few answers, though perhaps not as many as she’d hoped for.
In the aftermath of the final battle, I shared my dreams with her. The ones of her parents and the endless love they’d had for her, the sacrifice they’d made and the sorrow they’d felt in leaving her to live her life in a world not made up entirely of shadows.
“They knew the Shadow Realm was no place for a child to grow and thrive,” I told her. “And so they let you go. I’m not sure how you came to be born in the first place, but I know they loved you with everything in them and they gave the world the greatest gift when they let you go.”
We all cried in the aftermath of that conversation, Mikaela and I holding onto Kasi as she mourned the two parents she’d never met, but who had loved her fiercely.
Not too long after, our mates all came bursting into our room, having felt our sorrow through the bonds, and found the three of us a sobbing, disastrous mess.
Of course, they were completely useless as they panicked, trying to figure out how to get us to stop crying.
Eventually, Jahrdran just scooped Kasi into his arms and carted her into the Shadow Realm. The last we saw of them was Shadow crawling up his back, then sliding over his shoulder to stretch out in the space between him and Kasi, clearly sensing that something was wrong.
Elliot absconded with Mikaela to her room at the same time, and while I’m not certain how he and Jahrdran comforted their mates, if I had to make a guess, I’d bet their approach was similar to Vorzak’s and involved a lot of kissing and sexytimes.
At breakfast the next morning, Kasi shared the plans she and Jahrdran had made the night before. Now that we’d defeated the Shadow Killer, they planned to turn their attention to searching for shadow-beast survivors.
“I’m not ready to give up yet,” she told us. “Jahrdran believes Varulvka hunters may have suicided to protect shadow-beast survivors in hiding. If no one alive knew there were survivors, the hunters’ oath would die with the hunters and the survivors could live in peace.”
I didn’t tell her what I was thinking, that it was just as likely, perhaps even likelier, that the Varulvka had suicided because they couldn’t bear the guilt of the genocide they’d committed against an entire race of innocents.
Instead of sharing my skepticism, though, I simply hugged Kasi and wished her the best of luck.
Like Vorzak, Mikaela and me, Kasi had another year at the Academy, but she and Jahrdran planned to start their search over the summer.
As for Mikaela and Elliot, they were planning to spend the summer with family, but they too had a mission. “Elliot may have gained access to the Shadow Realm,” Mikaela confided.
“When the shadow army was streaming past and their shadows were touching mine, it was like for a brief instant, I shifted into my dragon, but not fully.” Elliot looked troubled as he explained.
“I can’t really explain it, but it’s like I had no form at all.
It wasn’t until later that I realized I’d probably shifted into shadows. Like him.”
“Like Miki-Leopard,” I corrected.
“Exactly!” Mikaela exclaimed.
“It must be because you’re Mikaela’s mate,” Jahrdran said. “That’s how I got access to the Shadow Realm.”
“That’s what I said,” Mikaela said. “Since Miki-Leopard was born in the shadows, that kind of makes her a shadow-beast like Kasi, or really, more like Shadow. Anyway, since shadow-beast mates gain access to the shadows over time, I’m kind of hoping it means that eventually Elliot’s dragon will be able to go into the shadows with us. Wouldn’t that be cool?”
I grinned as I pictured Elliot’s huge dragon racing through the Shadow Realm, spewing flames to light his way, Miki-Leopard on his back.
“We’re going to practice when we get to Elliot’s family’s land in Scotland. There’s a lot more space there for him to go flying and for us to experiment with moving in and out of the shadows.”
“It definitely sounds like an adventure,” I said.
“Oh, and their application for the apartment in Wellspring was approved, so we’re all set for the fall!” Mikaela beamed.
That wasn’t such great news for me. Though Kasi and Mikaela would still technically be my suitemates, with an entire apartment at their disposal, I knew they’d spend most of their free time there.
I’d definitely miss having the two of them around, though Vorzak and The Hissies had ensured the loneliness that had haunted me for years was now a thing of the past.
Our last week at the Academy passed quickly as we raced through the rest of our finals.
Somehow, now that the threat of Zowen no longer loomed over our heads, the stress of those last exams didn’t feel so bad at all.
Before we knew it, exams were over, and for Jahrdran and Elliot, their entire Blackthorn Academy education was done.
We spent our last night hanging out in the fourth floor common room, then retiring to our suite where we stayed up late, laughing and talking.
We were all bleary-eyed the next morning, which would explain why it wasn’t until I sat down across from Mikaela at breakfast that I noticed. “Oh, my goddess! She did it! Miki-Leopard did it!”
Mikaela grinned. “I know, right? I woke up this morning and there she was, sprawled across my shoulders and chest, like she’d been born there. She’s been moving around all morning, freaking out the other students.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t show me first.” I scowled at her.
“You were sound asleep when we got up and Miki-Leopard was full of energy. She wanted to show off her accomplishments.”
Miki-Leopard’s front legs reached all the way down Mikaela’s left arm while her back legs and tail trailed down her right.
The rest of her body curled around Mikaela’s neck, creating the illusion of a leopard draped across her shoulders.
It was the most elaborate, realistic tattoo I’d ever seen.
Probably because it wasn’t a tattoo at all, but a shadow-kitten stretching her skills in new ways.
Miki-Leopard flexed her paws on Mikaela’s arm and ten tiny claws peeked out.
“That’s the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen,” I said. I glanced around quickly, checking to make sure Vorzak and The Hissies weren’t anywhere nearby. “I really want a cat,” I whispered, then put my finger to my lips in a shushing motion.
Mikaela snickered and Kasi just shook her head.
“Just tell Vorzak,” Kasi said. “That man would get you anything you want.”
“I don’t want to hurt The Hissies’ feelings.”
Mikaela giggled. “They were pretty adamant that a cat was an unacceptable familiar for you. I wonder how they’d feel about a snake.”
The sound of hissing preceded Vorzak’s arrival.
I grimaced. “Thanks a lot, Mikaela,” I muttered.
She giggled as The Hissies shoved their way in front of my face to begin lecturing me with lots of bouncing up and down, weaving back and forth and agitated hissing.
Hissies.
Kill.
Other.
Snakes.
Dead.
I burst into laughter. “Okay, no other snakes. Besides, no snake could possibly be as wonderful as you darlings.”
Snakes.
Steal.
Our.
Sexy.
Jazzy.
“No snake is going to steal me away. I promise. I am yours.”
It took a lot of talking, not to mention chin scratches and kissies, before they finally settled down.
The entire time this conversation went on, Vorzak just grinned, his shoulders occasionally shaking in amusement as my promises of undying fidelity grew more and more elaborate.
Kasi finally teased, “You should maybe throttle it back, Jasmine, or you’ll be their slave all summer long.”
Everyone laughed and that was how our third year at Blackthorn Academy ended, with adorably cranky snakes, teasing friends and a lot of laughter.
We headed for the docks a few moments later and found them swarming with Blackthorn students ready to start their summer vacations.
“The ferry’s late again,” Jahrdran said with a snort.
“Or it’s just hiding from the students,” Kasi said.
“I’d want to hide too,” Elliot muttered, eyeing the long lines.
“Hey!” I exclaimed, happy to see Sunny and Daya at the edge of the crowded pier. “You didn’t join us for lunch.”
“Yeah, I wasn’t exactly packed yet,” Sunny said.
Daya snorted. “That is an understatement. Her room was chaos. We were running so late, I actually thought we might miss the ferry.”
Sunny rolled her eyes. “We were here a full thirty minutes early, Daya!”
“Like I said. We were late.”
Kasi and I snickered.
“Tabitha!” Mikaela called, beckoning the redhead over.
I didn’t know Tabitha well, but I did know that she was unfortunately related to that idiot Taggart.
Tabitha made her way toward us and I was dismayed to see that Taggart sauntered along at her side.
“Mikaela!” He opened his arms wide and made a beeline for her.
The minute he was in range, Elliot slammed a palm in the center of Taggart’s chest, shoving him away like a pesky fly.
Taggart staggered back, then caught his balance and grinned. “Aw, don’t be like that, Elliot. I just wanted to thank Mikaela for the save last semester.”
“Go away,” Elliot growled, the dragon very present in his voice.
Tabitha stepped between Taggart and Elliot, shoving her brother back. “Sorry he’s such a moron.” She rolled her eyes. “I have no idea how the two of us can be related.”
“No shit,” Taggart sneered. “You’re not even a real wolf.” He stalked away.
“What the hell?” Vorzak scowled after Taggart. “What kind of asshole brother says that to his sister, especially his twin?”
“Eh, I’m used to it.” Tabitha shrugged. “My foxy smell really sets off his wolf.”
We all reared back in horror.
“Oh, not that way. Ew! No.” Tabitha gagged a little. “Our mom’s a fox and our dad’s a wolf.”
“But you’re not a fox,” Mikaela said. “I saw your wolf form in the simulation last semester.”
Tabitha grinned. “Yeah, I’m a little bit of a mix of both our parents.”
“Oh, I know all about that,” Vorzak muttered, making me chuckle.