Chapter 2
Chapter Two
~ Shade ~
Raith’s monster runs toward the demon, howling as his shadows dance around his muscular form.
Dante is quick to send out another volley of stars, but Raith’s shadows deflect most of them.
Most, but not all. A blade buries into Raith’s left bicep, while another embeds in the monster’s chest. But it doesn’t slow him.
My mate roars, and when he’s close, Dante dodges the monster’s massive swinging arms, leaping into the air and delivering a spinning kick that sends Raith flying backwards.
My mate crashes into the stands, but he’s on his feet quickly, and he sends a large chunk of stone hurtling back toward the demon.
Dante dodges out of the way and the stone sails past him, slamming into three shadow warriors instead.
“That’s enough!” Thane shouts, sprinting for me, but he only manages to get a few more paces before Callan is in front of him. The archangel spreads his wings, descending on my mate, and the clang of steel rings out.
Galen materializes from shadow behind the archangel, but Dante yanks him back, drawing Galen’s attention to him.
Raith jumps and lands close to me, snarling, and the ground trembles beneath his clawed feet, but just as I think he’s going to reach me, Alaric is there to fight him off.
I would laugh, except for the fact my mates are outmatched.
It’s a small mercy Blake’s other mates are busy with the other originals.
My men might be some of the most powerful shadow warriors in this realm, but Blake has already bonded with her mates, and they’ve all levelled up and received the power boost that comes with a bond like that.
“Stop! Please!” I shout again desperately. “You’re being ridiculous! If you’re trying to protect me, you’re doing it wrong!” But they continue to ignore me. I roll my eyes at everyone, unable to believe this mess.
When I turn my attention back to Galen, I have to blink twice because there are ten more of him on the sand. His illusion power, I marvel.
Unfortunately, no matter how good his illusions are, Dante hunts him out.
A section of the amphitheater crumbles, dust filling the air, and I cough, my eyes widening as I spot Queen Krosia and Blake fighting atop the rubble, shadows flying and power crackling in the air.
Knox approaches them, but Xera and Ravyn appear, uncertain but ready to defend their queen.
When Knox sends out his shadows, the originals are quick to react.
I’m distracted by the fight between Alaric and Raith, and the next time I look back, Xera and Ravyn are nowhere to be seen, and Knox goes for the shadow queen.
Queen Krosia brings her sword up just in time to block Knox’s blade, but Blake uses the opportunity to slice her sword across the shadow queen’s arm.
Queen Krosia staggers backward, glaring at her two powerful attackers.
For a fleeting second, I swear I see fear flicker in the shadow queen’s eyes, but it disappears quickly and Queen Krosia snarls, lunging for Blake.
As she moves, she draws more energy to her, and her shadows go for Knox, winding around his legs and making his knees buckle as she ties them together.
Blake lands another hit, this time to Queen Krosia’s collarbone.
The cut isn’t deep, but surprise has the shadow queen jerking backward, her eyes burning with anger as she redirects more shadows to slam into Blake.
My friend is thrown backward, but she flares out her wings, and she’s quick to advance on the shadow queen again.
Raith’s monster roars, and I look back in time to see him grab Alaric by the throat and start squeezing.
Alaric doesn’t squirm. Instead, he smiles, his body starting to shift as he takes on his giant form.
Oh crap. Dante has Galen on the ground, and Callan has his sword at Thane’s throat.
Ambrose is standing with Mason’s spear buried in his shoulder.
This is so freaking messed up!
Now that the dust has mostly settled, there’s a clear view through the wrecked section of the amphitheater, and I gasp as I see rows and rows of the demon army.
The soldiers watch on in anticipation, roaring and shouting, their tails flicking and swords hammering against their breastplates as they pound a steady beat.
Before them, creating a barrier in front of the amphitheater are countless rows of shadow warriors.
Queen Krosia must have commanded most of her warriors to form ranks out there.
It made sense that she’d leave her originals to take care of Blake’s mates.
Especially after it became clear how easily Blake and her mates could carve through the other shadow warriors.
Blake cracks her neck and smiles at Queen Krosia as she stands on the pile of rubble.
Glowering back at her, the shadow queen watches Blake closely, ready to lash out.
Knox frees himself from the shadows around his legs, and when Blake attacks, my mate lunges from behind the shadow queen.
The pair of them are almost upon Queen Krosia when power ripples from the shadow queen, darkness spreading from her as her shadows push the pair of them back.
Knox is thrown backward, and the first sign of sweat shines on Blake’s brow as she steadies herself using her wings.
Nate and Mason move to join her, but before they reach her, Queen Krosia bellows, her sharp voice like a dagger cutting through the chaos, her command reverberating around the amphitheater. “Enough!”
The air changes around me, my skin prickling like we’re in a lightning storm, and I don’t realize what’s happening until one of Queen Krosia’s shadows spear toward me, crashing into me with such force that I’m almost thrown from Bonfang’s back.
The wolf growls, digging his paws into the sand as he fights against the force, and I gasp as the thick band of shadow winds around my torso and neck, squeezing the air from my lungs. Suffocating me.
“No!” Raith’s monster roars.
My shadows react, trying to free me, and my mates send out their shadows as well, but it’s as though Queen Krosia’s darkness has fused onto my skin. I attempt to change form, to see if I can dislodge her shadow, but my power won’t respond.
Everything stops.
Even the demon army quietens as everyone watches to see what will happen next.
Queen Krosia’s lips form a triumphant smile, and she straightens, standing tall on the tower of rubble.
“Like I said,” she seethes at Blake. “You cannot have this human. Not only is she marked as a candidate for our war academy, but she’s the fated mate of these four.
” She indicates to my mates when she says the last part.
Alaric, who was still holding Raith’s monster, instantly drops him, and the monster lands in a crouch, growling.
“Well, fuck. That explains a lot,” Dante drawls. He watches Galen warily as he removes the blade from my mate’s throat.
Callan steps away from Thane, and my mate adjusts his hold on his sword.
With Blake’s mates no longer there to stop them, Thane, Galen, and Raith rush toward me. They stop a couple of paces away, assessing the queen’s shadows that are still wrapped around me.
I wheeze, only just getting enough air, my head growing light.
“It will be okay, tiny mate,” Raith’s monster growls.
All I can do is nod, and it’s the tiniest fraction of movement, because of how tightly Queen Krosia’s shadow is holding me.
Nate is back in his human form, and he folds his arms across his broad chest as he watches my men. “Damn, girl. You were busy while you were away.”
My cheeks would have flushed if I wasn’t too focused on trying not to die.
The originals back off, waiting for Queen Krosia’s orders.
“And that’s supposed to mean something?” Blake says, addressing the shadow queen’s earlier statement.
“Yes,” Queen Krosia replies. “By being fated to those four, it means she cannot be allowed to live.”
Fire dances in Blake’s eyes at the queen’s words, but she keeps her cool and cants her head, observing my mates. “An interesting match for sure, but I hardly see why them being fated mates means Shade must die. If anything, those four should count themselves lucky.”
Despite my predicament I can’t stop myself from grinning. I really have missed my bestie.
Unlike me, Queen Krosia doesn’t appreciate Blake’s words.
The shadow queen’s expression is cold and emotionless when she speaks.
“This human must die because of the prophecy regarding our war. 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.”
“Ah,” Blake comments dryly as the information falls into place. “And let me guess…these are the four lucky ones prophesied to close the fold?” She indicates to my mates.
“Yes,” Queen Krosia confirms. “So you see, this human is destined to make us lose the war that we’ve been fighting for centuries. You of all should understand that I cannot let one human be the reason the realms perish. Her life threatens everything, including your own realm.”
Blake’s eyes widen for a fraction of a second before the surprise is gone. “As poetic as your prophecy is, it only talks about them having to be wary of bonding with their fated mate. And from what I can sense, those five haven’t bonded yet.”
As she says it, Raith’s monster lets out a possessive growl.
“You’re not grasping the gravity of the situation,” Queen Krosia insists, still staring gravely at Blake.
“Everything we’ve fought for is at risk.
She cannot be allowed to live. I will not allow it.
” Power swells around the shadow queen again, and just as I feel she’s about to erase me from existence, there’s a blur of movement.
A heartbeat later, and Blake clicks her tongue from where she now stands closer to the shadow queen. I hadn’t even seen her move. “Oh, I understand perfectly, but I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” she tells Queen Krosia, and despite her playful tone, I’ve never seen Blake’s expression so dark.