Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
~ Raith ~
“What the actual fuck are we lookin’ at?” I scratch the back of my head, not sure what to make of the scene in front of me. The students are formed into groups, each with one of the demon generals instructing them on combat techniques. And they all seem to be…gettin’ along.
“They’re training,” Thane rumbles with approval.
“Yes, we can see that,” Galen drawls. “But…together?” My friend looks just as confused as I am.
“Oh, you’re back!” Shade calls out, bounding over excitedly.
Her long pink hair falls freely over her shoulders, and her expressive brown eyes sparkle as she reaches us.
She’s wearing an absurd leather and feather outfit that shows a decent amount of skin, and after the incident at the war council with Germain, it takes all my effort to suppress my monster.
My tiny mate. If he had his way, my monster would be tearing her clothes off and checking every inch of her body.
If he’d found a single bruise, no matter how small, he’d be hunting Germain down and tearing the bastard’s head from his shoulders. Which…wouldn’t end well for us.
Settle, I internally growl at my monster. Shade said she’s all right.
“This was your idea, wasn’t it?” Thane murmurs to our mate, pride touchin’ his features as he gestures with his head to the demons and students.
Shade blushes. “Yeah, I guess I’m the torturer this time,” she admits.
“The torturer?” Knox asks, leveling her with a dark stare.
She waves her hand dismissively. “Thane gets it.”
I grin as Thane nods, not denying the claim as he curls a hand around Shade’s waist. “The pain helps them grow stronger,” he says gruffly, only making my grin widen further.
Shade leans into him, and I can’t help myself as my shadows steal her away. Thane lets her go, likely because he knows my monster needs her more than he does, and she giggles as I wrap my arms around her, leaning down to bury my nose into those silky locks of hers.
“Leave you alone for two seconds and this is what you get up to,” Blake says as she lands not far from us and tucks in her wings.
Her mates set down around her, and Nate jumps from Callan’s arms as Alaric moves from Mason’s back.
I would think the fact that some of the demon queen’s mates carry the others is hilarious, but there’s somethin’ about a grown male lettin’ himself be carried by his bond brothers, that has me respecting them more.
I’m guessin’ both Nate and Alaric could have reached here just as quickly with their abilities, even without having wings, and it shows just how much they trust each other.
They’re a team. A family. And the thought makes my chest hurt a little.
I’m not sure if it’s more because that’s what my monster wants above all else, a family with Shade, or if it’s because it’s what I want.
All I know is that I’d give anythin’ to bond with Shade, and ever since the games, the urge to seal that bond is becoming near unbearable.
“What can I say?” Shade replies to Queen Blake. “All I did was give your generals and the students an excuse to get together.”
The demon queen laughs. “You say that like you’ve been matchmaking.”
“And was I wrong?” Shade challenges, waggling her brows at some of the students who look like they’re getting very friendly.
One student has a demon general behind her, and the general is showing her how to move her arms, though it’s obvious the demon just wanted an excuse to get close. The general’s tail flicks the back of her leg, and the student’s cheeks redden.
“I don’t know if they’re trainin’,” Nate comments with a wry grin. “But either way, they’re releasin’ tension. Good job.”
“Get your hands off me!” a shrill voice hisses then, and we all turn our attention to where Satine and one of the other generals, Sebastian I think his name is, are glaring at each other.
“If you don’t want me to touch you, remember the moves. Your fighting is sloppy at best,” the general replies gruffly.
Blake quirks a brow.
“I take no responsibility for those two,” Shade remarks. “Though, believe it or not they’re making progress. You should have seen them before.”
Blake’s golden eyes glow in the sunlight as she watches them. “I like that one.”
“Who, Satine?” Shade asks.
“Yeah, she has fire,” Blake replies. “Sebastian has a way of intimidating some of the most seasoned demon warriors, but she looks like she’s doing just fine. I don’t think I’ve seen him that animated since the demon war.”
Shade tilts her head to the side.
“Well, he’d better not get too fucking comfortable,” Alaric rasps, and the giant shifter crosses his arms.
Shade shoots Alaric a look, before turning her gaze to Blake like she expects Blake is the only one who will answer truthfully. “And why can’t he get comfortable?”
Blake gives her a tight smile. “I told you we’d only be here for about a week. We’re only staying for a few more days, then our generals will return to Seral to start training the army, while the rest of us attempt to persuade the other realms to join this war.”
Shade stiffens in my hold, taking a step away from me and turning so she can see all of us. “A few more days? I was hoping it would be longer. You’re making it sound as if the demon army will be heading into battle soon.”
We all share a look.
“There was an attack just south of the shadow city during our war council,” Thane explains. “It’s the closest the Xalgrith have ever gotten to the city. Xera, Ravyn, and the others are helping to keep it contained, but it seems are larger attack may be imminent.”
“Queen Krosia is pushing for more momentum now that our deal is sealed,” Blake adds. “She wants more allies, and I can’t blame her. None of us want the Xalgrith to succeed in taking the shadow realm. If they did, it would only be a matter of time before they set their sights on the other realms.”
Shade exhales through her nose. “Okay, makes sense.”
“We trust you can handle supervising this while we talk to our mate?” Thane asks Blake, motioning toward the sparring students and demons.
“Of course,” Blake replies, giving Shade the hint of a smile. “Talk later?”
The grin returns to Shade’s face. “Definitely.”