Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
~ Shade ~
For the next few nights, the guys don’t let me join them when they go out to hunt creatures for the games.
They all agree it’s too risky considering how things went down the last couple of times, and I don’t argue.
As fun as it was with Raith in the forest, there was a moment there with the foxrets when I really questioned whether I was going to get out of there alive.
It’s also been nice staying with Kenzie for a change, even if Raith does get Kazer to guard me every night, with strict instructions for his animali to cloak himself if we get company, and an order to kill anyone who tries to harm me.
My guys are such possessive sweethearts like that.
Kenzie and I have been using some of the time to search the forbidden rooms in the academy, looking for the missing students.
We still haven’t found any trace of them, including any clues that may tell us where Leira went, Kenzie’s roommate who disappeared before I arrived at Shadowbone.
Most of the rooms we’ve entered have been empty, but some have been filled with old broken furniture.
Going by the layers of dust, the rooms haven’t been opened or lived in for some time.
Okay, so that’s not exactly true. Aside from the furniture we did find something else.
Or more so, many other small, furry things.
Rats. There are so many rats who have built their homes in the walls and created nests in the old mattresses.
I wonder if the professors even know how infested this academy is.
This building has a real problem. I’ve wanted to bring it up with my guys, but that would mean explaining what Kenzie and I have been doing, and considering they warned me not to explore the academy because they’re worried I’ll get lost, I figure I’ll keep my mouth shut for now.
Thankfully, Kenzie has been good at ensuring we don’t lose our way, and Tarlaz and Elgen have been helpful, too.
Truthfully, because Kazer has been my personal guard while they were away, I was sure Raith would find out about us exploring the academy, but if Raith does know, he hasn’t said anything to me.
It’s probably a good thing. Considering the way I found Satine in that cell not too long ago, a part of me still can’t help wondering if Knox has anything to do with the disappearing students.
I realize deep down I’ve been avoiding asking the guys the question.
Because what if they are responsible? What if Knox is an evil villain or something?
It won’t change the fact that I’m fated to him.
But Kenzie deserves the truth, so I’m going to have to ask eventually.
My guys always steal me from my dorm in the early hours of the morning, so Kenzie and I are careful not to stay out too long.
Tonight, I sit by the window, my pencil gliding over the pages of my sketchbook as Kenzie rests on her bed, and Kazer relaxes by my feet, the huge lion close enough that his shaggy mane brushes against my toes.
Through the window, three pairs of red eyes watch from the academy forest, and though I can’t see them fully, I know it’s Arizak, Rinoc, and Bonfang. It feels wrong to have Kazer here without them, but the creatures would have filled our entire dorm if they were all in here.
Turning from the window, I finish my sketch, shading around Raith’s dark eyes as his monster form stands tall on my page. The thought of him taking me in the forest has my heart racing, and I clear my throat, pushing the memories from my mind.
After the episode in the forest during the foxrets’ mating moon, there were plenty of questions from my guys when we returned from the academy, but none I could answer.
We still have no idea why I can speak to some of the zenali shadow creatures, or how I was able to accommodate Raith.
And then there’s my power… I’m gaining more control of my magic, but so far, I’m still not sure if I’ll be strong enough to survive the games.
On the bright side, at least I’ve been able to sleep soundly without any weird nightmares.
Some of my memories are trickling back to me during the day, but so far, they’re not filling the blanks too much, though I do get glimpses of who I used to be.
Glimpses of worn boots, piles of library books, and a rubbish diet.
I’m pretty sure before I was turned into a crow, there was a time when I was living on the streets.
Or really, the library, I should say. Because I’d found a way to sneak in there and hide until dawn.
It’s ironic, really, considering how I’d been locked in the library when all this started, but it explains why I’d been drawn there.
Maybe my subconscious was remembering that for a while, it had quite literally been my home.
“Do you think we’ll make it?” Kenzie says softly, and I look up, surprised that she’s still awake. I thought she’d fallen asleep at least half an hour ago.
“Make it?”
She stares at the ceiling. “Yeah, through the games.”
Oh right. I place down my pencil. “Girl, if anyone can I’m sure you will.”
“Yeah, right,” she scoffs.
“Come on. You’re doing great and you know it,” I say.
She sighs heavily. “Doesn’t mean much though, does it? I still don’t have an animali.”
“You can do more than I can,” I point out. “And do I need to remind you that I don’t have a creature either?”
She lifts her arms, propping her hands behind her head. “Yeah, but you have four professors who want to see you live,” she replies. She doesn’t sound bitter about it, but she says it like she’s simply stating a fact.
I close my sketchbook. “Once the games start, they can’t be with me.”
She shrugs. “I don’t know… I’ve seen the way they act around you. Something tells me if you were about to die, they’d find a way to save you.”
“Maybe,” I mumble, my heart twisting at the thought.
“But come on, you’ve seen me out there. I’m still way behind everyone else.
” We’ve practiced two other obstacle courses since that first one where I nearly fell, and I haven’t finished either of them.
I’ve been lucky Thane was there to help me each time.
Kenzie laughs, then covers her mouth. “Sorry,” she says, stifling her smile. I was just picturing the way you slid off that last obstacle yesterday.”
I grin. “You mean when I landed on my ass and nearly thought I’d broken my tail bone?”
“Yeah,” she says, still stifling her laughter. “I so thought you had that one. The obstacle wasn’t even moving.”
“What can I say?” I reply with a shrug. “I have a gift.”
This time we both laugh, because what else is there to do when discussing your impending doom than to laugh about it?
I sigh heavily when our laughter dies off. “At least, I should make the games entertaining for the queen.”
Kenzie’s smile fades, and she rolls onto her side, resting her head on her hands as she faces me.
“What’s your plan, Shade? I know my fate.
I’ll either die during the games, or I’ll gain my immortality and serve the queen as a soldier for the war.
But what about you? If you gain your immortality, how does that work with the professors? I mean, they’re your mates.”
I smile weakly. “I have no idea.” Pausing, I wet my lips as I wonder whether I should tell her this next part.
I haven’t told Kenzie about the prophecy that concerns me and the guys.
I hadn’t wanted to worry her, but with the games getting closer, I decide I can’t keep it a secret from her any longer.
“They think I’ll destroy them,” I say softly, because she may as well know.
“What?” She blinks at me.
Taking a deep breath, I recite the part of the guys’ prophecy that Kenzie hasn’t heard, “When the time comes to close the fold, four must stand against the bitter cold. Only one can make you break, beware the bond of your beloved mate.”
There’s a long stretch of silence as she simply stares at me and the words sink in. “But that doesn’t mean you’ll destroy them, Shade. That means…” she trails off when I give her a look, and she’s lost for words.
“What do you think they’ll do?” she eventually asks instead. “Does the queen know?”
I lean back, closing my eyes briefly before opening them again. “She suspects something is up, but I don’t think she knows I’m their mate. The plan is immortality and then…” I shrug. “I have no idea.”
There’s more silence after that, until Kenzie says, “I refuse to believe you could be responsible for making us lose the war. You’re one of the kindest people I know. I can’t believe you’d be capable of that.”
I feel heavy, like exhaustion is weighing me down. “I have no idea what I’m capable of,” I reply quietly. I might not have all my memories back, but a sense of foreboding has been hanging over me since my time with the foxrets, and no matter what I do, I can’t shake it.
Wanting to change the subject, I say, “Some of the originals will be here by the end of the week to erect the stadium.”
She arches a brow, no doubt realizing I’m trying to change the subject and going along with it. “What do you mean erect it?”
There’s a dirty joke in there somewhere, but neither of us comment on it.
“Yeah, I’m not sure what it means, exactly, but apparently when we feel the ground shaking, we should make sure we look out the front windows of the academy,” I say, remembering what my mates told me earlier.
Kenzie nods. “Okay then. Remember to look out the window.”
Sliding my sketchbook under the cushions, I pull my knees to my chest and stare out of the window as we both grow quiet again, and I wonder who or what my guys are currently hunting.