Chapter 7 #2
“I heard their story, sure,” Blake replies.
“But all it means is that the oracle is in hiding and you need to find him. What if the prophecy doesn’t even mean what everyone thinks it does?
I know you, Shade. You’re not a killer, and I don’t believe you’d willingly help to erase the realms. If we can prove you’re not destined to make them lose the war, Queen Krosia will have no reason to kill you. ”
“You mean less of a reason,” I correct. “Something tells me she doesn’t like me very much and might still find an excuse to kill me.”
“You need to try. It’s worth a shot.”
“And if I find out I really am destined to end the realms?” I say, voicing the worry that I’ve been carefully trying not to think about.
My bestie’s lips flatten. “Then you focus on gaining your immortality, and we try to stop that outcome. At least with your immortality, if the time comes and you can flee, then you won’t die if you leave the shadow realm.”
“But if I’m destined to break my mates and end the realms, that includes the demon realm. Hiding isn’t going to work,” I say.
Blake grabs my shoulders, looking me in the eye. “Like I said, I don’t believe that part of the prophecy, and you can’t stay here indefinitely. As long as the shadow queen thinks you’re a threat, you’re in danger, whether the demons have an alliance with her or not.”
“But—”
Blake spins, and her knives are out in an instant as she darts into the darkness of the trees. Someone shrieks from the shadows, and I rush after my friend.
I dodge past a few trees, my heart pounding as I run through the possibilities.
Has there been another breach? Have the Xalgrith made their way past the barrier and onto academy grounds again?
I spot Blake a short distance away, and my heart nearly stops.
Kenzie’s animali snarls at the demon queen.
The wild shadow dog has her lips peeled back from her fangs as she slathers and growls, but Blake doesn’t look concerned.
My bestie has her arms outstretched, each hand holding a knife that’s poised at the throats of…
“Holy crap, Kenzie?” I yelp, hurrying over to my roommate. “Don’t kill her! She’s a friend!” I blurt, eyeing Blake to make sure she’s not about to decapitate Kenzie or something equally gruesome.
“I figured,” Blake says, smirking as she removes her blade, and I pull Kenzie free.
“Considering I heard her whispering about trying to save you. But what about this one?” She’s still holding the other figure prisoner, and I stare quizzically at…
Satine? The woman’s face has gone pale, and I give Kenzie a questioning look.
“Don’t look at me,” Kenzie says quickly. “She followed me here.”
Moving the blade a few inches away from her throat, but still keeping it poised, Blake slowly circles Satine. “Is this one also a friend?”
Satine gives me a pleading look.
“Don’t kill her either, she’s harmless,” I tell Blake.
Satine looks like she wants to protest at being called harmless, but thankfully, she has enough sense to keep her mouth shut.
Kenzie calls Nellie off, and the animali reluctantly slinks into the darkness of the trees.
“What did you hear?” Blake asks, stepping back as she stares at Kenzie and Satine.
Kenzie rubs her neck. “Not much. Only that you think Shade is in danger.”
Satine doesn’t say anything.
Blake slides her gaze to me. “Do you trust them?”
I consider that. I could explain Satine is one of the least trustworthy students at Shadowbone, but then I remember how she’d saved me during the graduation games. Satine holds my gaze as I reply, “I trust they wouldn’t be stupid enough to say anything, no matter what they’ve heard.”
That’s good enough for Blake, and she sheaths her knives. “And I trust you,” she tells me.
I smile and really hope I’m not making a mistake by trusting Satine, but there’s not much of an alternative anyway. Not unless I can live with Satine being locked up in the cells again, or worse…
Now that she’s not worried about losing her life, Kenzie squeezes me in a hug. “Shade, thank god you’re alive. Never do that again.”
I frown. “Do what?”
“Almost die,” Kenzie blurts, saying it like she thinks I chose to almost be executed. “Do you know how horrible that would have been?”
Instinctively, my hand goes to my neck. “I have some idea,” I mumble.
Blinking back tears, Kenzie squeezes me tighter. “Well, good. Then like I said, don’t do it again.”
I chuckle. “I’ll try.”
When she pulls back, I note the bruises still on her face and arms. Satine looks a little better off and is wearing a fresh new set of leathers, but it’s obvious they’re both still recovering from the games. “You weren’t selected,” I say softly to them.
Satine shifts uncomfortably. “Not like that was going to happen after Ian…” she trails off.
“But hey, we didn’t die either,” Kenzie says brightly.
“Yeah, but you missed your chance at immortality,” I point out.
“You mean we didn’t end up as expendable soldiers for the shadow queen’s army just yet,” Kenzie counters. “Besides, it also means that for now I get to stay here with you. We can try and find Leira and Jensen.”
Blake looks to me for answers, and I explain more about the missing students. She doesn’t look too pleased at the idea of us searching for them, likely because she wants me working on finding the oracle, but I know she understands.
“So, this is your best friend, huh?” Kenzie asks, looking warily at Blake.
I grin and decide to introduce them properly. “Blake, this is Kenzie and Satine. Kenzie has been my roommate since I arrived at Shadowbone. Satine is…” I pause to consider my words, “an ally. Though, she doesn’t want to admit it yet.”
The ghost of a smile touches Satine’s lips. “Your Highness,” she says respectfully, dipping her head.
“Yeah, thanks for not killing us,” Kenzie says with a grin.
Light touches Blake’s golden eyes. “You’re welcome. Shade needs as many friends as she can get.”
I smile, because she’s not wrong.
“So.” Kenzie rocks on her heels. “About that. What’s the plan now?”
Blake doesn’t bring up her suggestion that I find a way to leave the academy, but I’m still surprised when she answers.
“It’s simple. We follow the agreement with Queen Krosia.
A selection of my top commanders will be arriving tomorrow, and for the next week, your professors will be teaching us tactics to fight against the Xalgrith should the time for battle come.
” Her golden gaze bores into Kenzie and Satine.
“I suggest you stay away from my demons. They don’t see humans often and have a particular fondness for your kind. ”
Satine lifts her chin as if to show she’s not afraid, but Kenzie has the sense to nod.
I smother my smile, though it’s sound advice. The demons can be…a lot.
“But until then,” Blake says, wrapping her arm around my shoulders. “Shade is going to tell me everything about her past, and also, how she met those four delicious shadow warriors. Because I need allll the details.”