Chapter 2 #2
Queen Krosia’s brows lower, but she doesn’t seem too bothered by Blake’s proximity. “Obviously you’re not willing to see reason, so I must act. This human has enchanted you, somehow. Once she is gone, you will see—”
“Take her life, and you’ll die with her,” Blake snarls, closing the distance between them and pressing a dagger to the shadow queen’s neck.
A laugh rattles out of Queen Krosia. “You think your blade can kill me?”
Blake smiles wickedly. “Not my blade, no. But this isn’t my blade.”
Queen Krosia abruptly stops laughing, and when her gaze lands on the jeweled hilt of the dagger, her face pales. “Where did you get this?” she hisses.
“Oh, you know. Around,” Blake replies casually, still gripping the dagger. It’s a distinct blade with rich red jewels decorating the hilt. A dagger I remember all too well. Blake’s father, the demon king, had tasked Blake to steal it from the shadow realm some time ago as part of one of his tests.
A hysterical giggle threatens to burst out of me, and I barely keep it in.
Blake leans in close, whispering to the shadow queen. “We both know that with this blade, I can make sure you won’t be executing anyone.”
The shadow queen lifts her chin slightly, her throat bobbing. “Perhaps. But I’ll still kill your friend before I die.” Her shadow tightens around me until it feels like I’m being crushed. Raith’s monster snarls and tries to claw it off me, but it’s no use.
“And such is our predicament,” Blake says, pressing the blade even harder against the shadow queen’s neck. “Release Shade to me, and I’ll bring her back to the demon realm. She won’t be a danger to your war if she’s under my supervision.”
I let out a small, distressed sound as the shadow continues to squeeze, and Blake’s face hardens to stone.
“She can’t go with you,” Knox explains. “Once a human has been marked as a student of Shadowbone Academy, they can’t go to any other realm unless they’ve gained their immortality. To do so would result in their death within days.”
A chilling smile lifts Queen Krosia’s lips. “Yes, quite the predicament. So you see, there really is no other choice.”
Blake’s eyes flash with anger. “Then I shall enjoy making you suffer,” she growls, ready to slice the dagger across the shadow queen’s neck.
I close my eyes, because this is it. I brace for the pain. For the inevitable moment my end happens, but my heart stutters when Queen Krosia hisses, “Stop! All right.”
I’m not breathing. I’m not sure if it’s because of the shadow constricting me, or if it’s simply because of my suffocating fear.
“What did you say?” Blake snarls, her voice so low I almost don’t hear it.
I pry my eyes open to see Queen Krosia lick her lips nervously. “This realm needs me,” the shadow queen concedes. “I suppose there may be an agreement we could reach.”
Blissful air flows back into my lungs as the queen’s shadow loosens just a little, and I cough and splutter, feeling like I’ve been stuck under water for too long.
“Speak then,” Blake snaps.
Queen Krosia swallows. “There may come a time when we need the assistance of the other realms to fight this war. It was an idea rejected by your father long ago, but the Xalgrith are strengthening their numbers, and we could use the support. Your voice would hold weight with the royals of the other realms, and while your warriors aren’t as equipped to fight the Xalgrith, they could still be useful. ”
I can tell Blake is surprised, and I understand her resistance.
She’s not afraid to fight, but she’s reluctant to force her soldiers back into another war, so soon after all they’ve endured with the witches.
She likely never truly believed that simply trying to save my life would end in another war.
Oops.
“Your…friend would, however, be confined to the grounds of Shadowbone Academy. I am not willing to grant her immortality and allow her to become more of a threat, but I suppose provided she stays within that barrier, our deal would stand and she can live.”
“You mean as a prisoner,” Blake says.
The queen shrugs nonchalantly. “I have a duty to this realm and the war. I can’t have her traipsing around the shadow realm. This is the only way she stays breathing.”
“And her mates?” Blake asks, somehow knowing what I was thinking.
“What about them?”
“You must allow her mates to stay with her,” Blake says.
Queen Krosia narrows her eyes. “Now that I cannot do. If she stays at the academy, she must be kept away from them.”
I let out a distressed noise, and Raith curses. Knox and the others remain silent, listening intently as the conversation plays out.
“I think you’re forgetting I’m the one holding the blade,” Blake says coldly. “You said yourself, Shade won’t be immortal, so where is the harm? Command your warriors not to bond with her. And if they do, then the deal will be broken.”
Queen Krosia’s top lip curls. “Fine. Your friend will be confined to Shadowbone Academy and her mates will be allowed to see her, but if any of these terms are violated, her execution will be swift, and if there is retaliation from you, it will be known throughout the realms that the demon queen couldn’t uphold her agreement. ”
Blake stares Queen Krosia down, despite being shorter than the shadow queen. My heart thrums, even though I know I’m being selfish to hope. This isn’t fair to the demons. Despite the guilt that winds through me, I’m relieved when Blake nods.
“Oh, and if she’s going to stay, then she may as well be useful,” Queen Krosia adds.
Blake frowns. “Useful, how?”
“We’ve recently discovered this Shade of yours has a particular gift with languages.
She will be required to utilize this gift for the good of the war,” Queen Krosia says.
Then, noticing Blake’s scrutiny, she adds, “Still within the safety of the walls of Shadowbone Academy, of course. I trust that since she has no desire to make us lose the war, she’ll be happy to aid us instead. ”
Blake pauses, her mind working as she peers at me. I give her a nod. It’s likely that the shadow queen wants to use me to speak to the zenali. I can do that, and it may help if I’m showing an effort to aid in the war rather than against it.
“Fine,” Blake says.
“Then it’s agreed,” Queen Krosia practically purrs. I doubt this was her plan in the beginning, but it’s clear she’s happy with how this has played out.
Blake leans in close, getting into Queen Krosia’s face. “But I think I’ll hold onto this,” she says as she pulls the jeweled dagger away. “Just in case I discover you don’t uphold your part of the deal.”
The shadow queen gives her a withering glare. “Oh, not to worry. I shall give you no reason to use it.” With a tight smile and a wave of her hand, Queen Krosia’s shadow releases me completely, and I sag on Bonfang’s back. Raith immediately grabs me, and my mates fuss over me.
“Good,” Blake says, taking a step back as she slides the dagger into its sheath. “I’m glad we have an understanding.”