Chapter 3
Chapter Three
~ Shade ~
Regaining her composure, Queen Krosia turns to address the shadow warriors outside the amphitheater. She lifts her sword into the air, and shadows crawl over her blade.
“Warriors of Kiru,” she calls out, projecting her voice toward the ranks of soldiers.
The demons pay attention too, listening to the words of the shadow queen.
“While their appearance was most unexpected, let us celebrate our newly formed alliance with Queen Blake and the kings from Seral! Let this be the start of a strong friendship with the demons, and one that will finally see us defeating the Xalgrith once and for all!”
Beats of silence follow her statement, but then a few shadow warriors begin to cheer. The applause spreads like wildfire, and soon the entire shadow army is cheering at the news. The demons watch on silently, and I remain quiet like my mates.
Germain is grinning like an idiot, but I guess considering he just avoided death, it makes sense.
I’m surprised the shadow warriors are so quick to celebrate this new alliance, but then I spot the relief on a few of the closest faces.
I can’t tell if the warriors are just glad they don’t have to fight Blake and the demons, or if they genuinely believe Blake and the demon army will be able to help them end the war. Both, probably.
When the applause dies down, Queen Krosia flicks her hand, and her shadows fly toward the holding cell where the students have been locked away during the battle.
The steel gates open, and the students stream out, moving onto the sand.
Kenzie’s gaze connects with mine, and for a moment, I think she’s going to race over to me, but she doesn’t.
Instead, she stands dutifully with the other students as they gather, and the queen assesses them with her shrewd gaze.
“But I suppose we should address the reason why we’re all here in the first place,” the shadow queen goes on, talking like the graduation games were never interrupted.
“To determine those who have earned their right to graduate and, in doing so, have earned their immortality. Our next batch of warriors!”
Nate stares at the students who are grouped together.
Most of them are bleeding from various wounds and scratches, and some are even cradling broken bones.
After a quick assessment, the jaguar shifter lets out a low whistle under his breath.
“Fuck. Did she just say these are their newest recruits? No wonder they need our help.”
Clearly offended, Professor Lankin glares at him, and Callan clears his throat, jabbing Nate hard in the ribs with the tip of his wing.
Nate coughs and lifts a hand in a placating gesture. “Sorry,” he tells Professor Lankin and gives her a thumbs up. “I mean, they look promisin’. Won’t at all die within the first few seconds on a battlefield.”
Professor Lankin sniffs and looks away, and Blake’s lips twitch as she shakes her head at her mate.
I would also be offended on behalf of my classmates, except I have to admit they do look like they’ve been through hell and back.
They don’t exactly seem like they’re ready to take on Xalgrith monsters, or you know, anyone really.
“It was truly an incredible display of strength from our students,” the shadow queen goes on.
“But in saying that, it is clear that I may have…overestimated the abilities of some of the newest members of the academy.” She sends out a burst of power and shadows wind around a few dozen students.
“Those I have selected have earned their immortality and the honor of joining the shadow army to fight and protect the realms. As for those who remain…” Queen Krosia glances at my mates, her attention lingering on Thane before returning to the students, “you are not yet worthy. You shall remain at Shadowbone Academy and train until it is time to compete in the next graduation games.” Her eyes harden, her gaze becoming cold and unforgiving.
“We cannot have the weak joining our army and risking our warriors.” The look is brief, but when she smiles again, cruelty still glimmers there.
“But now, let us congratulate our newest graduates!”
The applause from the crowd is weaker this time, and I almost jump when Nate starts clapping loudly and wolf whistling. “Yeah!” he shouts. “You join that army!”
Blake’s other mates all smirk and start clapping politely.
“You’re overdoing it, brother,” Callan says, leaning toward the shifter, but Nate doesn’t let up.
He whistles again, louder this time, and I’m pretty sure I see Queen Krosia’s eye twitch, but she doesn’t comment.
Surprisingly, the crowd follows Nate’s lead, the shadow warriors working themselves into a frenzy of cheering once again.
“I can’t believe you know these assholes,” Knox shadow whispers into my ear.
I grin as Nate fists his hand and pumps it into the air like he’s really getting into it.
“What can I say?” I whisper back. “They grow on you.”
My mates look skeptical about that, and Galen mumbles something under his breath.
By the time the cheering starts to taper off again, the selected students are grinning and patting each other on the back.
But they grow silent when the queen’s shadows engulf them entirely and they disappear from the arena.
With them gone, I scan the students who remain.
Kenzie is still standing there, and not far from her is Satine along with dozens more.
Satine’s minions, Izzy and Paiton, plus Ian’s friends, were all selected, and I breathe a sigh of relief.
At least, I won’t have to worry about them anymore.
I’m a little surprised Satine wasn’t chosen, but I guess almost being killed by Ian made her lose some points.
Queen Krosia addresses Ravyn and Xera. “Return to the city and see to our new graduates.”
“Right away, Your Highness,” the originals reply in eerie unison. I might be imagining it, but it’s almost as if Xera gives Knox a look before she opens a shadow pathway. She turns from him quickly, and she and Ravyn step inside, disappearing from the amphitheater.
“Now,” Queen Krosia shouts to the shadow warriors outside the amphitheater. “Go and prepare, for the end of this war is finally near!”
The shadow queen is definitely getting ahead of herself, and Blake’s lips thin, but there’s more cheering, and soon the shadow warriors start disappearing. I’m surprised at how little time it takes before the shadow army is gone, except for the few guards still situated inside the amphitheater.
Huh. Well, that’s an efficient way to move an army.
The moment they’re gone, Queen Krosia turns and eyes the dagger on Blake’s hip.
Pretending not to care, she gives Blake a confident smile.
“Well, now that we have our agreement, it seems appropriate that we should further discuss the terms of our peace. Your army is no longer needed here for the time being, and Jorvik and Virelle will escort you to my palace after you’ve had a moment with your…
friend.” She then turns to the other originals.
Going by the way Ambrose and Germain tense, I’m guessing she’s using shadow whispers to speak to them.
When she’s done, Queen Krosia peers at me with disdain before addressing my mates.
“As discussed, your mate will be allowed to live provided she stays within the barrier of Shadowbone Academy. But if I find out she leaves this place or if you bond with her, that agreement will be dissolved. I trust you understand the severity of what this means.” She lifts her right hand in the air, and shadows dance on her palm before spearing out in all directions.
Power ripples in the air around us making the hairs stand up on the back of my neck.
“There. I’ve adjusted the barrier around the academy, so I’ll know if our agreement is ever violated.
We wouldn’t want you feeling tempted, now would we? ”
Knox grinds his jaw, but Thane keeps his expression passive.
“Of course, Your Highness,” Thane rumbles. “Shade will remain here as agreed.”
“Excellent,” Queen Krosia replies, then she smirks at Blake. “We shall expect you at the palace shortly. Preparations for your arrival are being undertaken as we speak.”
“We’re looking forward to it,” Blake replies not hiding her sarcasm.
Queen Krosia simply smiles, and without another word she disappears in a cloud of shadows, taking her remaining guards with her.
It’s only then that I remember I still haven’t been able to draw attention to the fact Professor Yevar is a traitor, but I figure now isn’t the time.
The moment the shadow queen is gone, the air seems to calm, though the remaining originals still stare at Blake and her mates warily.
Professor Lankin creates a large shadow pathway and starts ushering the unselected students into it. Kenzie hesitates, but I give her a wave. Later, her eyes promise, and I nod before she disappears into the pathway.
Once the students are gone, Blake addresses the demon army with her kings by her sides.
The commanders follow her orders to send the demons home, creating massive portals for them to travel through.
I smile at Sebastian, one of the demon generals, before he disappears.
He scowls at me, no doubt still annoyed from that time I had escaped his supervision in the human realm and had gotten him into trouble with Blake. Yep, he forgives me, I tell myself.
When the demon army is gone, Blake strides over to where I’m still in the possessive grip of Raith in his monster form. She takes one look at my obsessed mate and tsks. “Hand her over, big guy.”
Raith growls possessively, and Blake rolls her eyes. “Calm down. I’m not taking her anywhere. I just want to make sure she’s okay.”