Chapter 17 #2
“I wouldn’t do that ‘f I were you,” he says, slurring his words.
Has he been drinking? I think of what the guys have told me about the effects of alcohol on immortals. That it takes an immensely large amount of consumption for the originals to feel anything from the alcohol they drink. That drinking is more of a habit than anything.
Germain leans in close, his breath smelling of sour grapes and a foul savory note I can’t identify.
“No point struggling,” he tells me. “I’m not goin’ to kill you.
If I did that, things wouldn’t end well, and I have bigger plans than strangling you in your dorm.
I’m going to remove my shadow from your mouth now, but just remember, if you scream your mates will come runnin’.
They’ll find me, and they’ll kill me, and you don’t want that.
” His power recedes, and I gag as the shadow slides out of my throat.
“You sure?” I rasp, coughing. “Because I’ve always found it really satisfying when the villain dies.”
“The villain?” he laughs. “See. You’re proving my point. No matter how much we give, our efforts are never appreciated.”
“What efforts? You mean killing the zenali? Creatures you’re supposed to be protecting?”
He exhales through his nostrils. “Collateral in any war is expected. I follow my orders.”
“Then let’s just call your death collateral, shall we?”
He laughs again. “If I die, the demons may be implicated which will affect the alliance with our shadow queen, and even if your mates own up to the crime, they’ll basically be letting the whole realm know that the prophecy is right.
That they can’t be trusted to act in the good of the realm and in the interests of the war when they’re around you.
That they’d let this realm burn just to see you safe.
” He presses right up against me, his sour breath puffing on my face.
I try to control my racing heartbeat. You’re okay, Shade.
He’s said he’s not going to kill you, so get it together.
Problem is, it’s one thing to remind yourself that on a good day, but when an immortal is threatening you, it’s a different matter.
Fear chokes me, but I try to channel it into anger.
When Germain’s shadow slides across my lips again, I bite down.
Hard. The shadow is firm between my teeth, and surprise flashes on Germain’s face before the fury sets in.
Instinctively, he jerks away from me, and the distraction is enough.
I shift into a crow, escaping his shadows as I fly across the room and reform, drawing the blade from my hip the instant I’m in my human form again.
I brace for Germain’s counterattack, but he only watches me, his shadows swirling around him in agitation.
“So fucking pathetic.” He sneers at me. “How anyone can think you’ll singlehandedly make us lose this war is beyond me.”
“You and me both, buddy,” I reply, my heart hammering in my ears.
“How about you skip the pleasantries and tell me why you’re really here?
You know you can’t kill me.” I’m trying to sound brave, but it’s kind of hard to do when there’s a psychotic immortal in your dorm room and your roommate is unconscious.
Anger goes through me at the thought of Kenzie on the floor, and I grip my blade tighter.
I know that despite my training, and even if Germain is intoxicated, there’s no way I can take the immortal.
Unfortunately, the asshole knows it, too.
“I’m simply here because after your little stunt during the interrogation, I felt like you needed a reminder,” he says with a chilling smile.
“A reminder that while you may be fated to Thane and the others and have somehow wormed your way into the demon queen’s circle, you’re still mortal. A weak and dispensable human.”
“Oh, is that all. You didn’t need to remind me of that,” I say seriously, because if that’s the only reason he’s here, this guy has totally wasted his time.
My mates might have all accepted who I am, but it doesn’t change my vulnerable position.
But of course, I know that’s not the only reason Germain is here.
It’s clear that whatever is going on, this guy’s main mission is simply to torment me.
Probably because Blake and her mates damaged his ego, and he knows the demon queen cares about me. Great.
“Oh, but indeed I do,” Germain says, still smiling.
“We’ve been fighting this war for so long at this point it’s the only thing most of us know.
We can’t afford to lose now, and the fact Her Highness has decided to let you live for the time being shouldn’t bring you comfort.
When your little demon friends are gone, know that I will enjoy the moment Queen Krosia orders me to rid us of this… problem.”
I shudder. Of course, I knew this was the most likely outcome. Hell, we’d even discussed it, but hearing it from Germain hits differently. There’s something in his eyes when he talks about killing me. Something that tells me he’s looking forward to murdering me just a little too much.
Hobbies. Seriously, these immortals really need to get some better hobbies.
“Okay then, well I guess thanks for the heads up,” I reply, trying to hide the way my hands are shaking.
“The end of this war has been such a long time coming,” Germain muses, his eyes growing unfocused like he’s not even talking to me anymore, but instead, he’s stuck in his head.
Yep, this guy definitely needs hobbies.
He laughs under his breath. “Fuck. I’m going to enjoy makin’ you hurt.” At that, he turns, opening a shadow pathway, and in a mess of shadows he’s gone.