Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
~ Shade ~
The king marches me through the rows of tents, and I try to ignore the laughter and jeers from passing warriors.
We come to one of the sections where the warriors are sparring, and the soldiers follow the king’s orders and stop training.
They clear the area, forming a large circle with King Malgur, Professor Yevar, and me in the middle.
It’s easy to spot the abducted students in the crowd. The hybrid warriors stare emotionless at me, their eyes pale and distant.
“Warriors, bear witness!” King Malgur bellows, and I jolt at the sound of his voice.
The king stretches his arms wide as he addresses the crowding soldiers. “We have ourselves the Destroyer of Shadows! She is the key to us winning this war once and for all!”
A few of the Xalgrith warriors cheer, but others laugh.
“She doesn’t look like a destroyer to me,” a soldier taunts. “Maybe a toothpick for my xalfret.”
That’s followed by more laughter.
King Malgur smiles. “This female is the fated mate of four of the most powerful shadow warriors in Kiru. The very shadow demons who are causing trouble in our realm.”
At that, the laughter stops, and the warriors glower at me. A soldier spits in my direction, but thankfully, he’s not as skilled as he thinks he is, and his spit lands short.
“Then we should kill her!” a warrior calls out.
“String her up for them to find!” another yells.
I shudder, my shadows curling around me.
King Malgur lifts his hands and the crowd quietens. “She’s also the one prophesied to break them. She will be the one to help us win this war.”
Their anger doesn’t change, but the Xalgrith warriors aren’t calling for my execution anymore, so I suppose that’s a good thing.
“According to Commander Yevar, she must be able to wield incredible power if she’s fated to those four.” The king looks at Professor Yevar who nods his head.
“Incredible power? What is he talking about?” I say to the shadows. I have some power, sure, but it feels like the king is setting up the warriors for disappointment.
Elgen cackles.
“With the Destroyer on our side, nothing will stop us from taking the shadow realm!” King Malgur goes on.
This time the warriors actually cheer, and I shift uncomfortably.
“Now…” the king says as he stares at me, “it’s time for a demonstration.”
I cough. “I’m sorry, a what now?”
“A demonstration!” King Malgur snarls at me. “Show my warriors your power.”
I clear my throat, all too aware of the number of eyes on me. “Crap. This isn’t exactly the kind of torture I was expecting.”
“Would you have rathered he strung you up like the others suggested?” Elgen asks.
“Of course, not. It’s just… I don’t know what to show them.”
“Why do you even want the shadow realm?” I blurt nervously to the king. “Your land is…uh…lovely. Aren’t you happy here?”
King Malgur stares at me like he thinks I’m the crazy one.
“Show us!” he growls, not even answering me.
When I don’t move, he draws his sword and brings it down.
I jump back, and the blade carves through the air in front of me, but he follows up with a fist to my chest that knocks the air from my lungs and sends me flying.
I roll in a heap, the ground warm beneath me, and dust clouding the air.
“Well that hurt.” I cough.
“On your feet, girl,” Elgen snaps.
I don’t want to move. I’ve only had two hits from the king, and yet, I feel like I’ve been hit by a car. “Can’t I just stay here until my mates find me?” I moan.
“We don’t know how far they are,” Elgen replies. “So I suggest you get to your feet if you still want to be breathing when they get here.”
A growl has me looking up, and I roll to the side just in time to avoid King Malgur’s sword that was aimed at my stomach.
Quickly, I lift to my feet placing a little distance between myself and the king.
When he attacks again, I dart out of the way, ducking under one of his arms.
“I’m sure I don’t need to remind you that I have your creature’s egg,” Professor Yevar whispers in my ear. “You’re making this more difficult than it has to be. Show King Malgur you’re the destroyer he seeks.”
My gaze travels over the students who are still watching me passively. “And what? Become like them?” I whisper back. “You know my mates will do anything to save me. You’re making a mistake.”
Professor Yevar’s eyes darken from where he watches at the edge of the circle. “Oh, they will try, but their obsession with you is their weakness. As we speak, they are busy searching for you rather than helping to prepare their own warriors.”
“Watch out!” Elgen warns, but I’m distracted, and I’m not fast enough to avoid King Malgur’s next strike. His boot slams into my stomach, and I cry out as I’m thrown backward. I land hard near the edge of the circle.
“I told you to watch out, girl,” Elgen comments.
Pain pulses through my body, and I stay on my back, staring at the sky.
A dozen xalfrets circle high above us, casting shadows over the ground.
I could shift into a crow and try to escape, but what if the xalfrets catch me?
And even if that didn’t happen and I did escape, there’s also the problem with my magic.
I can only access my power right now because of Professor Yevar.
If I fly away from him, will my magic stop working?
Would I simply fall out of the sky to my death?
“He’s too fast,” I mumble.
A few hybrids stand near me, and I search their faces for any sign of concern. For anything that shows they’re not simply the king’s puppets, but they stare blankly ahead. I think about everything the guys have told me about the Xalgrith infiltrating the minds of the weak. He’s in their heads.
Wincing, I shift onto my side, facing the students. “You don’t have to fight for the Xalgrith,” I tell them. “You’re students from Shadowbone Academy. Deep down you must remember that.”
A few of the hybrids look at me, but they don’t say anything.
I think of the names in that cell.
Jordie.
Samuel.
Rowan.
So many names. More names than the number of hybrid warriors I see around the circle.
Anger cuts through me, and I force myself to my feet. I’m pretty sure I have at least one cracked rib, and I breathe heavily, grimacing at the pain.
“You’re shadow warriors,” I rasp, holding my chest.
The hybrid warriors stay silent, but a few of the Xalgrith soldiers laugh.
“You still don’t get it, do you?” King Malgur says.
I turn to face him, and he sheaths his sword.
“Get what?”
“They’re not shadow warriors anymore,” he replies. “The students are mine now, and soon, the shadow realm will be as well.”
My heart pounds faster. “I’m not the weapon you think I am, and even if I was, I wouldn’t help you destroy the realms.”
A sadistic smile twists his lips. “Is that so?” He peers at Professor Yevar before returning his gaze to me. “I guess it’s the hard way then.”
I’ve barely registered what he’s said when a sharp pain stabs my skull.
Invisible talons claw at my mind, and I fall to my knees, crying out.
The pain reminds me of when Professor Yevar had kidnapped me and tried to break me in the past, except this time it’s even worse.
Is that where he got that power? From the Xalgrith?
“Don’t give in,” Elgen rasps. “Fortify your mind.”
I grit my teeth, pushing against the king’s power. “I’m trying!”
“We know, girl,” Elgen replies. “But you need to try harder.”