Chapter 1 #3
I grunt in frustration, and I’m working on Thane’s restraints when the sound of gnashing teeth fills my ears.
I turn as Virelle’s animali, a huge jackal with razor claws, rushes at me.
I start running as my shadows lash out, wrapping around the jackal’s front legs, and the creature pitches forward.
The animali’s teeth just miss my right arm, but I lose my balance, falling backward onto the sand.
Before the jackal can go for me again, there’s a thunderous roar, and I nearly sob as Kazer appears.
The massive black lion latches his powerful jaws onto the jackal, and he shakes the animali before throwing it across the sands.
Bonfang, Arizak, and Rinoc appear next, stepping from shadows and circling me protectively. Blake shouts something and aims her sword at Bonfang, but I wave my arms frantically.
“No! They’re friendly!” I scream, my heart pounding wildly.
I indicate to where my mates are still struggling against their restraints, and relief floods me when realization fills Blake’s face.
She winks at me, seemingly glad that I now have some bodyguards, and she spins to block Xera’s sword before driving the flat of her palm into the original’s chest, sending Xera soaring across the amphitheater.
The original crashes into a stone pillar, and the stone cracks on impact, showering Xera in rubble.
I scramble to my feet, but there’s snorting to my left, and Ambrose’s bull animali charges toward me. Rinoc runs out to meet the creature, and the bear jumps into the air, wrapping its powerful arms around the bull and sending them both crashing to the ground.
Bonfang paces, ready to assist, but when it’s clear Rinoc has it handled, the wolf grabs the front of my clothes with his fangs and tosses me onto his back. I scream at the unexpected motion. Oof. My thighs slide onto Bonfang’s soft fur, and I hurry to grab hold, desperate not to fall off.
I can’t see Xera or Ravyn anywhere, and Blake converges on the shadow queen.
Queen Krosia’s shadows spear outward, and Blake dodges the black tendrils that shoot toward her.
The shadow queen barely manages to block Blake’s first attack when the demon queen reaches her and brings down her blade.
There’s the ringing of steel as Queen Krosia lifts her sword, and the pair enter a dance of parries and attacks, a mess of shadows, and a blur of movement.
A sharp bellow comes from someone to my right, and my heart stutters as my mates finally break free from their restraints. I can only guess that now that Queen Krosia is busy with Blake, the power in her restraints must have weakened.
Raith instantly changes form, his body growing and morphing until the man is no longer standing there but his monster. He lets out an ear-splitting roar that makes my ears ring.
All four of my mates stare at me as they stand there, and their gazes are so heavy it’s like being touched all over.
Well, damn. Now is definitely not the time to be getting all hot and bothered, but the raw possessiveness in their gazes has me breathing heavier.
Focus, Shade. We’re not out of this yet.
Knox’s dark gaze roves over me, inspecting every inch.
“Take care of our mate,” he tells the others.
“I need to end this.” It’s only when he starts toward Blake and Queen Krosia that I realize what he means.
Oh crap. He’s going to try to kill the shadow queen.
It’s not that I’m surprised, exactly, not after Queen Krosia tried to take his mate from him for the second time, but it’s clear his power can’t match the shadow queen’s, and concern has me clenching my jaw.
“Knox!” I call out, but he doesn’t turn.
Panic makes my senses sharpen as my mate clasps his sword and approaches two of the most powerful beings in this realm.
Blake and Queen Krosia are still locked in deadly combat, and the power encircling them, shadows and golden light, is keeping everyone else back.
Before Knox can reach the queens, I’m distracted when Raith’s monster comes for me, followed by Thane and Galen.
Unfortunately, Blake’s mates must think Raith’s monster is coming to kill me, because they step into his path. What the hell? Didn’t Blake pass on the message that they’re my mates?
“Stop!” I shout as Dante whistles a playful tune, eyeing my mates as he twirls his throwing stars. “He’s not going to eat me. He’s my mate!” I pause. “Okay, so yeah he probably does want to eat me, but not in the way you’re thinking!”
But Dante doesn’t respond, and I’m guessing he can’t hear me over the sound of Raith’s monster roaring and snarling, or the noise of the battle. The demon flicks his tail, and Dante’s lips curve into a smile before he sends his throwing stars flying into Raith’s chest.
“No!” I scream as the circular blades sink deep, and Raith’s monster roars as he rips them out, tossing the stars to the ground, infuriated.
“You’re not enemies!” I shout, but no one’s listening to me, and Blake is still busy with the shadow queen.
Raith’s monster shakes his massive horned head and gives Dante a crude smile, baring his fangs. “Insignificant insect. You think you can keep her from me?”
No. No. No! I facepalm. Oh, this is just great. Now our mates are going to kill each other.