Chapter 6
Chapter Six
~ Shade ~
“Unfortunately, it’s impossible for us to make Shade immortal,” Galen explains. “Queen Krosia uses her power to give the selected humans immortality. She draws on the energy of the shadow realm, essentially binding a part of it to them and transforming them in the process.”
Blake’s brow furrows. “But if she’s the one who can make the humans immortal, why doesn’t she build up her army more?”
“It’s not so simple,” Galen continues. “Turning humans immortal takes considerable energy and Queen Krosia is right to be selective. The Xalgrith king has the power to infiltrate the minds of the weak. Not everyone is well suited to a battlefield.”
Yeah. Like me. I decide not to point that out.
Blake taps her nails on the table. “Okay, but what about when you all first came to the shadow realm, then? When Queen Krosia arrived, who made her immortal? Someone must have.”
My mates all share a look.
“The oracle,” Thane replies.
“Okay, so we find this oracle, bring them here, and get them to make Shade immortal,” Nate comments. “What are we waitin’ for?”
Galen places down his glass. “That would be a solid plan, except unfortunately, the oracle is gone.”
I stare at my mate. “What do you mean, gone?”
“We’ve only seen the oracle twice,” Galen replies. “The first time was when we were initially summoned here and given the choice to take the oath and join the war. When we agreed, we were given our immortality.”
Alaric’s gaze hardens. “And the second time?”
“That was a short time later when the oracle summoned us and gave us our individual prophecies,” Thane answers.
I blink in confusion. “And in all these years you’ve never tried to contact the oracle since?”
“Oh, we’ve tried,” Raith says, pushing his plate away. “A few days after hearin’ our individual prophecy, we’d been arguin’ about the full extent of what it meant. We wanted to discuss the meanin’ of it with the oracle, but…”
“But what?” Blake interrupts, narrowing her eyes.
“Well, the oracle wasn’t there,” Galen answers.
“We searched the oracle’s cave but found nothin’,” Raith adds. “I guess he figured his work was done and he no longer wanted to be disturbed. In any case, the oracle was gone, Krosia became the shadow queen, and she’s been the one turnin’ the humans immortal since.”
Blake clasps her hands together, and her brow wrinkles.
“The oracle has to be out there somewhere. Are you sure you’re not remembering the words of the prophecy wrong?
Maybe your mate isn’t destined to destroy you after all?
If that were the case, then Shade wouldn’t be a threat to the war, and her life wouldn’t be in as much danger. We need to keep searching.”
My mates consider this.
“The words were clear, but it’s worth trying to find the oracle again,” Galen says, sliding his turquoise gaze to my friend.
“I agree,” Knox comments. “But we can’t leave this academy.
Not while Germain and Ambrose are here. No doubt they will be watching us carefully and reporting everything to Krosia.
We should lay low for a time and hope that when the demons leave, Germain and Ambrose will be called back to the shadow palace.
Until then, we’ll focus on strengthening Shade’s powers. ”
Everyone seems to agree on that, and I can’t help but feel like a daughter being discussed by her overprotective parents. Great.
“Child, your creature isn’t on the menu, is it?” Tarlaz’s voice sounds in my head.
I make a face. “What? No, of course not. Why?”
“Because that shifter is looking mighty interested,” Elgen cackles.
I’m about to ask again what they’re talking about, when I notice Nate’s focused gaze on my phoenix’s egg. He’s sitting preternaturally still, and the shifter licks his lips like he’s imagining devouring her.
My jaw drops. “She’s not on the menu!” I shriek, glaring at him as I drag the nest closer to me.
The jaguar shifter gives me a lazy grin.
“Nate,” Blake chastises.
“What? I wasn’t goin’ to eat her. The egg is just so…enticing,” he defends, not at all helping his case.
“Try to eat her, and I’ll make sure Blake punishes you,” I tell him.
“Promise?” he says with a devious smile.
Blake rolls her eyes, though amusement curves her lips. “Don’t worry. He won’t go anywhere near your creature.” My friend gives her mate a stern look, and he nods his agreement, but I don’t trust him.
“You know, your queen couldn’t even tell us what the Xalgrith want,” Alaric growls, pulling the conversation back to the war. “Either that, or she’s purposely keeping us in the dark.” His gaze bores into my mates, like he’s expecting them to give him the information.
Galen swallows another mouthful of wine and pulls the glass from his lips. “As far as I’m aware, no one knows why the Xalgrith are here,” he admits.
Blake’s brows slam down. “What do you mean, no one knows?”
Thane lets out a weary sigh. “There’s never been a pattern to their attacks. Nothing to make it clear why they’re here or what they’re after. They come, they kill, and they leave.”
Callan tucks his wings in tighter. “What about interrogation?”
Thane shakes his head. “No one can speak their language, and in any case, their warriors don’t break. We’re not sure how, but they always manage to commit suicide while they’re in custody.”
“They explode,” Raith elaborates. “Makes a real fuckin’ mess, too.”
I wince, thinking about the smell of the Xalgrith warriors’ blood.
Huh. Well, that explains why my guys always seem to have the stuff all over them.
Another thought occurs to me then, and I pipe up.
“But Professor Yevar can talk to them. At least, I’m assuming he can.
Otherwise, how else would he be on their side?
Not to mention, I’m pretty sure he’s the one who organized the foxrets. ”
“It’s probable,” Galen agrees.
“Who’s Professor Yevar?” Blake asks.
I go on to explain all about the professor and how he has been abducting students from Shadowbone.
Blake and her mates look equal parts infuriated and shocked when I talk about how he’d kidnapped and tortured me, and it had ended with me being trapped in my crow form.
But they don’t interrupt me, waiting until I’ve explained everything, including my private conversation with the professor in the amphitheater.
“Holy fuck, you can shift?” Nate comments when I’m done. “Wait. Can you take on my form?”
I shrug. “Maybe. So far I’ve only turned into animals. I have my memories, too.”
Blake’s brows lift. “Your memories?”
“It’s not that interesting,” I say, brushing it off, but she gives me a look that says she’s expecting me to explain everything later.
“This is why we’ll be training her and testing the limits of her power,” Thane says, and his gaze lands on me. “Because your gifts will help to keep you alive.”
“Hold on, Queen Krosia said something about you having a gift with languages too, didn’t she?” Blake asks.
“Oh yes. During the games, our newest little student showed us she has a way with words, didn’t you human?” Germain croons, cutting into the conversation.
I nearly jump as Germain and Ambrose stride into the dining room. Germain stops at the end of the table, and he smiles, like he’s enjoying the surprise on my face. “It’s one of the reasons Queen Krosia was willing to spare her,” he says.
Oh crap. How much did they hear?
My mates don’t look too concerned, so I’m guessing they can’t have heard much.
“Her name is Shade,” Raith growls low.
Germain ignores him, and Ambrose stands at the opposite end of the table. Shadows coil around his amber curls, and he scowls at us.
“You know it’s quite rude to have a dinner party without inviting all the guests,” Germain says like he’s insulted.
Alaric clenches his fist like he’s imagining bringing it down onto Germain’s head, and that thought makes me grin.
“Is it? Good. I guess we’ll have to make a habit of it then,” Blake replies dryly.
Germain simply smiles, an arrogant smirk climbing onto his face as he picks a kebab from the platter in front of him and closes his teeth over a section of beef.
“But seeing as you’re here,” Blake says coolly, “do tell us what the shadow queen meant when she said Shade will be required to utilize her languages gift for the good of the war.”
Germain takes his time chewing exaggeratedly before swallowing his mouthful. “Well, you see, after all these years we still don’t know what the Xalgrith are after. Any time we manage to capture one of their soldiers, we have no idea what words they’re spewing.”
“We’re aware,” Alaric replies gruffly.
Germain dips his head. “And now we’ve finally found someone who seems to have a gift for speaking with other species…”
I stiffen, not liking the look in his eyes.
“I’d hardly call it talkin’” Raith replies, casually brushing it off like he can sense I’m uncomfortable. “It was more like some grunts and groans.”
“They were conversing,” Ambrose states.
“If they were,” Galen says, picking his words carefully. “There’s no guarantee that it could happen again. And in any case, she spoke to a shadow creature. The Xalgrith are from a completely different realm.”
“It’s worth a shot,” Ambrose says. “We’ve long since been desperate to know what the Xalgrith are after. If there’s anything to this, it’s worth trying.”
“Shade is not permitted to leave this academy,” Knox reminds everyone, his words carrying a lethal edge. “And you’re talking about what? Getting her to interrogate captured Xalgrith warriors in the time before they explode?”
“If that’s what it takes,” Ambrose replies.
Blake lifts to her feet, resting her hands on the table. “I agreed to this alliance because Shade was not meant to be harmed. Are you saying your queen is already testing that agreement?”
“As long as this war is ongoing, Shade is in harm’s way,” Ambrose states. “If anything, using her abilities to help us solve this mystery would look good in her favor. Our captains have already been given the order to capture and contain any Xalgrith soldiers they encounter.”
“No,” Knox snarls, his shadows dancing around him. “You’re suggesting you bring Xalgrith warriors to our dungeons for Shade to interrogate? It’s too risky.”
Ambrose looks like he wants to interject, but Thane speaks up first.
“We’ve never had a warrior who could speak to the zenali,” Thane agrees.
“Let’s start with the shadow creatures rather than the Xalgrith.
Our information has been limited to what our army and scouts have seen.
Have Shade speak to some of the ancient zenali creatures, especially ones who were around when the war first started.
They might have information to offer us. ”
Ambrose cocks his head. “And if that doesn’t yield results?”
“Then we’ll discuss where to go from there,” Thane says, his penetrating gaze unwavering.
It all sounds pretty terrible to me. From what I hear, many of the zenali creatures are just as deadly and terrifying as the Xalgrith warriors, but I trust my mate.
“Fine,” Ambrose states. “That may satisfy the queen for now.”
Blake grinds her jaw like she still wants to protest, but she doesn’t.
Like me, I’m guessing she can see the logic in Ambrose’s argument.
Considering the shadow queen is afraid I’ll make them lose the war, helping out and making myself useful seems like a good move.
Besides, I want this war over just as badly as Ambrose and the others do.
Especially now that the demons are involved.
If the war ends, there will be less casualties and I might get my freedom back.
“Just know that if Shade is harmed, it’s not the Xalgrith you’ll have to worry about,” Blake says so calmly, her words are like a knife cutting through the dining hall as she stares at Ambrose.
The general doesn’t flinch as he holds her gaze, and I wonder what Ambrose has seen for him to remain unshaken by her stare.