Chapter 11 #2
“Despite this being an illusion,” Thane explains, “Raith demonstrated perfectly how the Xalgrith have an ability very similar to our own. Unlike shadow warriors who are able to cloak themselves, the Xalgrith can make their bodies temporarily incorporeal. As far as we can ascertain, they have the ability to become almost wraith-like. As shadow warriors, we’re more in-tune to sensing when this will happen, and we’re able to use that knowledge to determine when to attack. ”
The demon commanders are paying more attention now, like this information has intrigued them. I’ve already heard this before in our classes, but it’s such a strange concept.
“It will be more difficult for the demons to detect, but not impossible,” Thane goes on.
“One of the more obvious signals that we believe you should be able to recognize is the slight change to their eyes. When they’re using their incorporeal abilities, their eyes lighten a fraction.
It’s almost imperceptible, and you’ll miss it if you’re not paying attention. ”
Thane gestures to Galen, and the second Xalgrith illusion advances toward Raith. My mate rolls his shoulders, loosening up before the attack, and when the illusion lunges, Raith is quick to block its blade.
“There.” Thane points to the illusion’s eyes. “Notice the color has lightened to an almost silver.”
“They look the fucking same to me,” the demon commander from earlier complains.
Raith and the illusion battle it out for a short time, and Raith’s sword passes through various places on the warrior’s body as he demonstrates how the Xalgrith fight.
The moment his sword passes through, the Xalgrith warrior goes to take advantage of the situation, but Raith is too quick and aware to be taken off guard.
It’s clear that anyone without knowledge of the Xalgrith’s ability would struggle to win against such a foe.
I lean forward, taking note of the way the Xalgrith illusion’s eyes turn silver in intervals when the warrior is using its power. Flecks of light also seem to illuminate its body, and I wonder if that’s another signal. Maybe one of the signs the demons wouldn’t be able to detect.
My thought is shattered when Raith beheads the Xalgrith, and the illusion dissolves. His muscles ripple as he pulls back his sword and rests the blade on his shoulder.
Around the arena, the students are all leaning forward like they didn’t want to miss a thing. Even Satine’s back is ramrod straight as she stares at my mate, and I’m pretty sure the students aren’t just impressed by his sword techniques.
I roll my eyes, smiling. “Careful, Raith. You’re making the students thirsty.”
My mate’s dark chuckle reaches me, and I’m surprised when it’s his monster who whispers in my ears. “As long as it pleases you, tiny mate.”
I shiver, warmth already gathering between my thighs. Oh, damn it.
When he sees me squirm, Raith gives me a mischievous grin before turning back to the warriors in the arena.
I swear I see a ghostly outline of shadow horns above his head before they’re gone again.
It’s almost like Raith’s monster wants to remind me that he’s there, and I bite my lip at the thought of my monster claiming me again.
“Yeah! Show us how it’s done!” Blake laughs as she shoves more popcorn into her mouth.
I grin because Nate is glaring at my friend, clearly annoyed that his mate is giving Raith attention. In one swift move, Nate shreds his shirt, showing off his hardened abs, and it makes Blake laugh harder.
“You forgot the pants!” I call out, unable to help myself, though now it’s Raith who’s glaring at me.
Blake and I laugh until tears stream down our cheeks, and Kenzie ducks her head as she shields her face. “You two are so embarrassing,” she hisses, though a small smile tugs at her lips.
Blake shrugs. “I just like messing with them. These guys have been sizing each other up since they met. And my mates have been getting a little cocky lately.”
“You’re not worried about them killing each other?” Kenzie asks, looking genuinely curious.
“Oh, they might try, and I will definitely be getting punished later,” Blake replies, smiling as she keeps her eyes trained on her men. “But trust me when I say they need this. The sooner they get this out of their systems, the faster this training will go.”
Kenzie looks like she still doesn’t understand, but I do.
For weeks, Blake and her mates have been stressed out while they tried to find me, and now we’re one slip up away from all out war between the shadow and demon realms. The academy is on edge.
Our mates are butting heads, and everyone just needs to let off some steam.
“Besides, this is what the shadow queen ordered,” Blake adds with a grin. “It’s just a happy coincidence it’s also entertaining.”
Nate prowls forward, taking up a spot near Raith.
“I still don’t see what’s so hard,” the jaguar shifter says. “Move fast enough and their ability shouldn’t be an issue.”
A few of the demon commanders laugh, nodding their heads like they agree with him.
“Fine. Obviously a more hands-on demonstration is needed,” Thane rumbles. “See if you can dispatch these next Xalgrith warriors.”
Nate bounces on the spot, loosening up his body before drawing his sword and dropping into a fighting stance. “All right, then. Let’s see ‘em.”
Raith moves away, and when Thane gestures his head at Galen, power swirls in the air, and now there are six Xalgrith warriors.
Nate grins at the extra illusions, but he doesn’t hesitate and rushes in quickly. The jaguar shifter moves incredibly fast, and he grins when his sword runs through the first two illusions easily and they dissolve.
“See. Nothin’ to it,” he chuckles
The third Xalgrith illusion is harder to take down.
Nate’s blade runs through the warrior on multiple separate occasions, but each time it does nothing to harm the Xalgrith.
Another illusion lunges from his other side and comes close to landing a strike, but Nate is too fast, moving out of harm’s way.
When Nate dispatches the third and fourth illusions, he’s still grinning, but his smile isn’t as wide.
He rolls his wrist, spinning his blade and stalks toward the fifth illusion.
This time he struggles to land a hit, because everywhere his blade seems to land it does nothing but pass through the illusion.
The sixth illusion lunges, and Nate is distracted enough that the Xalgrith’s blade slices along his cheek.
Nate jerks back, spinning away, and he frowns when he lifts his hand to his face and discovers blood on his fingers.
“What the fuck? I thought these were only illusions?”
Galen’s lips quirk up. “I can make my illusions solid for small periods of time. That’s why this works. I figured it would be most useful for these illusions to seem as real as possible.”
Nate narrows his eyes at my shadow mate, but that smile still lingers on his lips.
The cut on Nate’s cheek heals near instantly, leaving only a smattering of blood behind.
This time when he attacks the last illusions, Nate moves so fast I almost can’t track him.
It takes a few hits, but he manages to defeat the Xalgrith warriors without too much effort. The shifter grins triumphantly.
Thane’s brows lower. “With your abilities, I don’t doubt you could fight many Xalgrith, but learning their patterns will make you more efficient.
Your demon warriors don’t have your speed, and they won’t fare so well on a battlefield.
You need to take note of the Xalgrith and the way their color changes.
Watch the color of their eyes.” He nods at Galen, and Galen creates three more illusions.
This time the three illusions attack Nate at once, and even with the shifter’s incredible speed and reflexes, he struggles to keep up.
His blade keeps slicing through areas of the illusion’s bodies where they’ve made themselves incorporeal, and the illusions don’t stop coming.
One slices a line on Nate’s bicep, while another goes for his legs.
Blake watches intently, no longer eating her popcorn, but she doesn’t intervene and neither do her other mates.
They all want to see what happens, and Nate isn’t in any real danger.
The shifter is bleeding from multiple wounds before he finally listens to Thane’s advice, and I notice the change in his movements.
His focus becomes more intense, and the next time the silver disappears from the Xalgrith warrior’s eyes, Nate slices his blade across the warrior’s torso, severing the illusion in two.
The illusion dissolves, and Nate makes quick work of the remaining Xalgrith.
“Better,” Thane praises. “Now that you’ve grasped the basics, let’s make it more interesting. Raith. Lend him a hand, will you?”
Raith and Nate both look unimpressed at that idea, and my mate grumbles under his breath as he moves closer to the jaguar shifter.
Galen and Thane share a long look, and I’m not sure why, but I get a funny feeling.
“What are you up to?” I shadow whisper to Thane.
“Just watch, mate. This demonstration is about more than simply showing the demons how to fight any singular Xalgrith warrior,” he replies.
“What does that mean?” But Thane doesn’t answer me.
Galen’s power fills the air, and my brows rise when more illusions come into view. This time there are a couple dozen of the Xalgrith warriors, and they circle Raith and Nate, smiling horribly as they advance on the pair.
“Is this supposed to be challenging?” Nate laughs.