Chapter 1 #2
“And yet, the dominos are still in motion,” Blake replies coldly.
“However, I will concede that it does seem you were genuinely unaware Shade is part of my court. An egregious error on your part, but seeing as I was able to stop you before the worst damage was done, I suppose we can make a concession to avoid bloodshed.” Pausing, she taps her chin a few times before continuing.
“As you just tried to take the life of my friend, I may be willing to accept the life of one of your most trusted generals as your apology.” She scrutinizes the originals, her gaze traveling along the line of powerful warriors.
The originals all glare back at her, gripping their weapons tighter, and it’s only then that I realize Professor Yevar isn’t standing with them.
What the hell? I can only guess that somehow while Blake and her mates made their grand entrance, the traitorous professor must have made his silent exit.
Dammit. I’m about to draw attention to Professor Yevar’s absence when Nate speaks first.
“How ‘bout this dumb fuck?” he asks, hooking his thumb over his shoulder as his slitted gaze pinpoints the original, Germain, who had been trying to creep up behind them. “Somethin’ tells me we’d be doin’ you all a favor anyway.”
Germain instantly stops moving, his cheeks flushing with anger as he grips the hilt of his sword tighter.
Queen Krosia’s expression flattens. “This human’s life is hardly worth that of one of my top commanders,” she counters icily. “Besides, like you said, thanks to your efforts no real harm was done.”
Grief still clouds my senses, and at her words I can’t keep my mouth shut. “No real harm? You killed my bonded!”
“Yes. Like I said. No real harm,” Queen Krosia repeats, her face devoid of remorse as her lips curve into a cruel smile.
Instinctively, my shadows are about to react, because right now I’m daydreaming about wrapping my hands around her neck and cutting off her air supply, but Alaric moves closer behind me, and his presence keeps me grounded.
I remind myself that now is not the time to start a war.
Later, Shade. The shadow queen will get what’s coming to her.
My mates glare at Alaric’s proximity to me, but I don’t have time to worry about their possessiveness right now.
“I completely agree that it’s not a fair trade,” Blake says casually, giving Alaric and me a steadying look before turning back to the shadow queen.
“To think this…” she wrinkles her nose at Germain, “man’s life could equal Shade’s is downright insulting to my friend, but hey, I’m trying to give you an out here. Is your commander’s head worth a war?”
Alaric chuckles gruffly from behind me, and the shadow queen huffs. To my surprise, this time she doesn’t immediately reject the proposal. In fact, she almost looks like she’s considering it.
Germain must think so too, because his face goes crimson. “Your Highness, you can’t be serious—”
“Silence!” Queen Krosia snaps, cutting him off. “When I want counsel, I’ll ask for it.”
The other originals glance uncertainly at one another, but no one speaks in Germain’s defense.
I guess he is as big of an asshole as he seems.
Nate gives Germain a predatory grin, and Germain’s nostrils flare with irritation. The original stares once more at the shadow queen, before clenching his teeth so tightly it looks painful. Germain adjusts his grip on his sword, and it’s the only warning we get before he snarls a curse and attacks.
“No!” Queen Krosia shouts, but it’s too late. The damage is done.
Blake is the first to react. Flicking her wrist, she sends a knife sailing into Germain’s shoulder, followed by another blade to his abdomen.
The knives slide between the plates of his armor, and he grunts, but it doesn’t stop him.
I yelp as he lunges for me, but Alaric’s large hand shoots out, and he grips Germain by the throat, lifting the original into the air.
The shock leaves Germain’s face quickly, and his lips form an unhinged smile. Alaric’s eyes become glassy, his body going rigid, and panic surges through me.
“Oh crap! His shadow powers!” I shout, warning the others because they don’t understand what’s happening.
Callan moves forward swiftly, grabbing both sides of Germain’s head and twisting quickly until there’s a sharp, sickening crack.
For a moment, I think the archangel is going to tear Germain’s head off, but shadows wrap around Germain’s limp body, stealing him away and depositing him some distance across the sand.
The originals, Xera and Ravyn, attack, and Callan moves his focus to them, deflecting their strikes.
Freed from his trance, Alaric roars, and everything turns to complete chaos.
The shadow warriors around the stadium surge forward, screaming a battle cry as they advance, like they’d just been waiting for the moment to attack, and the other originals, Ambrose, Lankin, Jorvik, and Virelle, cry out as they join the fray.
Across the arena, Germain’s head slowly twists around like something from a horror movie. The skin and bones mend until the original is climbing to his feet again, laughing as he wipes blood from his lips and grins at the mess he’s caused.
Oh, right. He’s immortal. Crap.
Screams echo in the stadium as the warriors who advance on Blake are thrown away, like nothing more than rag dolls being tossed into the air.
It’s obvious Blake must have used her mind link and has told her mates not to slaughter everyone, considering they’re opting for less lethal methods.
The shadow warriors wink in and out of visibility, using their cloaking powers, but as if Blake and her mates have a sixth sense, they always seem to know where the shadow warriors will appear.
Alaric fights through a dozen soldiers, but before he can reach Germain, shadows swirl beside the original, and Germain’s massive hyena animali materializes at his side.
The hyena growls before launching forward, but Nate shifts into his jaguar form, tearing past Alaric and clashing with the animali.
The pair become a mess of fur and fangs, and the hyena whines as Nate tosses it across the stadium where it slams into multiple shadow warriors, crashing them to the ground.
Queen Krosia sends out her shadows as if to try and stop the madness, but soon there are warriors and animali everywhere, and the other originals aren’t holding back.
I dodge out of the way, avoiding the brunt of the fighting and aiding with my shadows where I can, but my power is nothing compared to the originals, and the strength of Blake and her mates.
Multiple times, I try to use my powers to help free my guys, but the queen’s shadows, wreathed around my mates, are like a vice.