Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
~ Shade ~
Inever thought I’d like running. And to be fair, I still hate it, but that afternoon as we endure a jog through the academy forest following Thane’s instruction, it feels good to have the blood pumping through my veins and the rush of the wind in my ears.
My shadows didn’t reappear for the remainder of Offensive and defensive maneuvers, but there’s an aching pressure in my skull that hasn’t eased, and a sense of urgency that makes me feel unsettled.
I know I need to remember something. Something important from my past, but every time I try to reach for the memories, they slip away like sand sliding through my fingers.
And honestly, it’s freaking me out, because it’s giving me such a bad feeling.
Not to mention that I’m still pissed off at Knox for what he did.
Kenzie jogs beside me, neither of us talking. Partly because I’m breathing way too heavily to hold a conversation, and also, because she’s thanked me multiple times for helping her, and I’ve already explained I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
I focus on sucking air into my burning lungs as we follow the winding path through the dark trees of the forest. As usual, we’re running far behind the group, and the rest of the students are no longer in sight, obscured by the twisted trees.
Thane pops into view, jogging beside me like he’d been there the whole time, and I yelp, almost tripping over my own feet before correcting myself.
Gasping, I clutch at my chest, slowing my pace as my heart thrums wildly. “Crap, I think you just gave me a heart attack.”
Kenzie looks as startled as I feel. “Professor,” she blurts, her cheeks going pale.
Thane dips his head, acknowledging her, before he turns his focus back to me.
“I highly doubt I gave you a cardiac episode. Let me guess, this is your excuse for getting out of running today?” There’s a hint of amusement in his voice, but I don’t answer.
Usually, I’d be looking for any reason to end this torture, but not today.
I barely register half of what he’s said because my head is still throbbing, and I keep running, staring off into the distance.
Thane frowns, and he looks inquiringly at Kenzie to fill in the blanks.
“Something happened during our morning class,” she explains looking uneasy.
“During your morning class?” Thane repeats. His frown deepens, and he’s thoughtful for a moment before he instructs Kenzie, “Please rejoin the others.” It’s not a request.
Kenzie peers at me, but I give her a small nod, and she follows his order, increasing her speed and vanishing around a crop of trees up ahead.
The moment she’s gone, Thane turns to me again. “Stop and look at me, mate,” he growls.
I keep running like I think I can outrun the urgency that’s pressing in my mind.
Thane easily keeps pace with me, briskly walking now, because one of his strides equals multiple of mine. “Shade.” His voice is filled with concern as he says my name.
I suck in another labored breath. “You want us to run, don’t you? Building endurance and all that. So that’s what I’m doing,” I wheeze. “Running.”
“There are many things I want,” he replies, his husky voice vibrating through me, “but since when do you follow my orders?”
My mouth goes dry, and when I don’t answer, he reaches out, effortlessly plucking me from the ground and carrying me bridal style.
I squeak, flailing my limbs, but I’m too exhausted to put much effort into struggling.
His heady scent reaches my nose, and I have to fight hard not to relax against him.
“What are you doing?” I protest.
“We’re not going anywhere until you tell me what happened,” he growls.
“Put me down, Thane.”
Ignoring me, he strides from the path, taking us into the trees.
My heart starts to pound harder. Have I wanted Thane to pick me up and ravish me in the forest?
Well, yeah of course I have. But now isn’t the time.
Is it? What can’t I remember? I feel like banging my head against a tree, but I don’t think that would help matters.
When the path is no longer in sight behind us, Thane stops. “Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?” my mate growls, and the vibration from his chest reaches to my bones.
“It’s nothing.”
“If it were nothing, you would be begging me to carry you for the rest of the run. In all our classes you’ve never kept your complaints to yourself before.”
I pause. Okay, so he has a point. “Well yeah. That’s because running makes no sense when you have bonded shadow beasts who can carry you.”
“Shade,” he prompts.
“Yes, daddy?” I smirk, knowing full well I’m about to piss him off.
He tenses, the bands of muscle tightening across his shoulders. “Don’t tempt me, mate,” he warns.
I roll my eyes. “Or what, you’ll spank me?”
There’s no humor in his voice when he answers. “Yes.”
Oh, holy smut gods. Now I’m officially distracted. I wiggle in his hold, not sure if he’s bluffing or not.
Sensing my change in attitude, his lips twitch. “Or should I summon Knox here, mate? Then I could punish you both at the same time and get the truth out of you.”
The idea of Thane punishing us both brings the most delicious images to my mind, and for a moment, I forget how to breathe. That is, until I remember what an ass Knox is. “The only way I’ll be happy to see Knox is if your shadows are wrapped around his neck,” I reply sweetly.
Thane studies me. “That could be arranged.”
Oh, crap. Why does he still sound like he’s being dirty? I gape at him, and he chuckles, striding further into the darkness of the forest.
“Okay, so I might not have the best sense of direction, but isn’t the path back that way?” I say, pointing back in the direction we came from. “What about the other students?”
“They’ve been instructed to finish the trail and work on their exercises,” he replies, like he’s already thought this all out. “As to where we’re going, you’ll see when we get there.”
I have no idea what that means, but my head is throbbing less now that Thane is holding me, and I finally relax against him.
I’m not sure if I nod off, or if it’s seconds later, but when I open my eyes again, we’re in a small, secluded valley.
The dell is dark and peppered with black trees.
Moss covers the ground, creeping over the tree roots like a plush blanket, and the air is warmer with a faint floral scent I don’t recognize.
A glassy, black pool stretches to the right side of the valley, the water reflecting the sky above, and standing beside it is the very man I was hoping not to see.
Knox stares into the inky water, his brow furrowed as if he’s deep in thought.
He turns as we approach, and the instant his gaze falls on me, his expression hardens.
“What is she doing here?” Knox says, and his voice is so cold and unwelcoming that I have to stop myself from flinching. Clearly, he’s not surprised to see Thane, but I on the other hand, am not a welcome visitor.
I don’t want to be here either, buddy, I think dryly, trying to give him my best annoyed expression back.
Thane strides across the space, and he stops when we’re in the middle of the dell, gently placing me on my feet. “What happened during your class this morning?”
Knox continues to look agitated, though I have no idea why he’s upset. “Is that what this is about?” He turns back to the dark water.
“What did you do, Knox?” Thane growls.
I start stepping back toward the edge of the valley. It’s obvious Knox isn’t pleased to see me, and right now, I’d rather be experiencing the torture run from hell than be in the middle of whatever this is.
Before I can move too far, Thane reaches out, and he grips my shoulder with his large hand.
“Why don’t you ask her?” Knox replies coldly.
“I did, and she refuses to tell me,” Thane explains.
“Then you have your answer.”
“Knox,” Thane growls.
There’s a beat of silence before Knox says, “I got results. You’re welcome.”
I’m welcome? That’s all he has to say? I was completely happy to keep my mouth shut and slink away when the opportunity arose, up until that point.
“You involved Kenzie,” I say, still pissed off about it.
Knox’s head turns a fraction to the side.
That’s my only warning before his shadows spear through the air toward me.
I don’t think. I simply react. He’s not sending all his power at me, but instinctively, my magic comes alive, shadows twisting through the air as they clash with his, deflecting them away from me.
I gasp as power zaps through my body, flowing from my academy ring.
The skin on my arms ripples before smoothing again, and my gaze snaps up.
Neither Thane nor Knox seem to have noticed, both of them focused on my shadows that soon disappear like puffs of smoke.
“Yes,” Knox says with a dark, satisfied smirk. “And like I said, you’re welcome.”
Generally, I can keep my zen. I don’t know if it’s the fact my head has started pounding again, or simply because his attitude is getting exhausting, but I send out more power, and my shadows appear again, going straight for him.
Knox turns to face me, still smirking like he thinks I’m a bug he’s about to squish.
His shadows reach out, but my smaller shadow’s dodge around his, going directly for his neck.
Surprise flashes on his face, and his hand flies up as he sends out more power, deflecting my shadows at the last second.
For a moment, I swear, he looks impressed, but then his expression sours, and he glares at me as I stand there heaving. Whoa. Would you look at that.
“Don’t involve my friends again,” I tell him. “You can treat me like crap, but I won’t be the reason you hurt anyone else.”
I’m not sure what it is that gets through to him, but there’s a flicker of something on Knox’s face. Regret, maybe? It’s gone in an instant, and his usual mask is back in place.
“With the ability to wield shadows, you may survive the games after all,” Knox says simply.
There’s no apology. Only the cold hard fact that now, I might just stand a chance at not being murdered by my classmates or one of the many creatures I’ll have to face.
At that, Knox turns his attention back to the water.
Thane, who has been silent this whole time, studies the both of us. “No matter the result,” he finally says, “you heard her. Don’t involve her friends.”
Knox doesn’t answer, but Thane must believe the issue is resolved, because he doesn’t say any more about it. Lifting his arm, he scrubs a hand over his jaw. “So, Galen’s theory was right.”
“I’m sorry, what theory?” I question.
“Galen believes when he slept with you it helped to unblock some of your power,” Thane explains.
“We have to wonder whether the curse the queen placed on us to ensure we wouldn’t find our mate, has inadvertently affected you as well.
Obviously, Lady Fate found a way around the curse, and it’s too coincidental that you’re getting more control of your powers now. ”
It takes a few seconds for me to process what he’s saying. “Hold on, so you think that me sleeping with you guys is helping to unlock my powers?”
“Yes,” Thane answers. “Have any of your memories returned?”
I take a moment to consider this. It’s similar to my own theories, but I hadn’t realized the guys had come to the same conclusion.
“No,” I admit. “So what do we do now? Getting my powers will help me survive the games, but it also means I’ll be more of a danger to you all.”
Thane doesn’t exactly look worried. “Your survival comes first, and it could be centuries more before we even discover the fold.”
“Centuries?” I swallow.
“Or it could be tomorrow,” Knox counters.
Thane lets out a weary breath. “Also, true.”
I look around, half expecting Galen and Raith to stalk out from between the trees considering the discussion we’re having.
“For now, we’ll continue working on building your strength,” Thane says, fixing his gaze on me. “You will graduate and gain your immortality. Then we’ll figure out what comes after that.”
I blow out a long breath. “Let me guess, this is the part where you tell me to start running again?”
Thane’s lips quirk up at the sides as he gives me a dark smile. “No, little mate.”
And then he presses his lips to mine.