Chapter 40
Chapter Forty
~ Shade ~
We stay in bed for hours until music starts playing throughout the academy.
“I guess I should get moving,” I sigh as the haunting tune floats through my bedroom. “I wouldn’t want to be late for dinner and get into trouble with my professors.”
Galen’s lips quirk up, and he traces a finger down my body, making me shiver. “Don’t worry, treasure, something tells me you would enjoy whatever punishment your professors deemed fitting for the transgression.”
I grin, knowing I absolutely would. I’m tempted to stay where I am, but Thane holds his hand out to me. “Come mate. We should attend. As much as I wish we could stay here for eternity, we must explain our situation to the students. Who knows how much time we have.”
Telling the other students that the shadow queen has left us here to die doesn’t exactly sound appealing, but I take his hand and move from the bed.
With barely any effort, I conjure a black leather outfit decorated with black feathers that shine in the dim lighting, and Galen creates a shadow pathway that leads to the dining hall.
The music has stopped by the time we step into the corridor.
“I’d better go in first,” I say, but as I start toward the open double doors, Knox grabs my hand.
“Now, why would you do that?” he questions.
My brows lower. “I’m still a student. Though, I guess I could probably sneak in while the others are distracted watching you guys.”
Knox pulls me in for an all-consuming kiss, and I’m dazed when he releases my lips. Damn, is this seriously my life? I am one lucky bitch.
“No, my love. No more hiding,” he tells me. “You’re our bonded mate, student or not. You sit with us.”
“But—” Before I can finish, Knox clasps our hands together and pulls me with him into the dining hall. The others follow close behind, and we move together as a unit, our shadows coiling in the air around us.
The chatter in the dining hall quietens, and the students all stop and stare as they rise to their feet.
More than one student gasps when they see me covered in the same tattoos as my mates.
Power radiates out from our group, spreading in all directions, and I have to admit, this reaction is way better than the first time the students at Shadowbone watched me enter this dining hall.
Kenzie gapes at me with her jaw on the floor, and I grin at her, giving her a small wave. Even Satine looks stunned, though she schools her expression quickly when I look her way. She’s standing beside Kenzie, and that makes my smile widen even more. It’s funny how things can change like that.
Knox leads me toward the professors’ table on the dais, and I tug on his hand.
“I can’t sit here,” I murmur in my mind to my mates, using our new mind link. “I’m not a professor.”
“You’re bonded with us, sunshine. That means you share our power and everythin’ else. Includin’ our position within this academy,” Raith replies. He pulls me from Knox and lifts me into his arms, carrying me the rest of the way bridal style.
The students watch wide-eyed, but no one dares to comment.
I guess after Queen Krosia spilled the beans about our fated mates bond during the graduation games, this isn’t as surprising to them as I thought it would be.
Once we’re on the dais, Raith sets me on my feet, and we stand behind the table as Thane addresses the students.
“Good evening, warriors. I trust you’re rested after your day off,” Thane calls out.
I can’t help the snort that escapes me, because resting generally doesn’t happen much in this place. Most of the time, the students still spend their one day off a week training. Realizing my mistake, I cough, smothering my amusement. “Sorry,” I mutter. “Continue.”
Raith chuckles under his breath, and Thane peers back at the students.
“But the time for rest is over,” Thane goes on. “This is a time of war, and I won’t shield you from this next truth. The Xalgrith army is coming to Shadowbone, and we must prepare for battle.”
“Okay, well that’s one way to rip the band aid off,” I mutter to my mates.
I’m not sure how I expect the students to react.
Maybe some terrified wailing? Or even some shouting?
Instead, the dining hall remains deathly silent as unease settles over the room.
No one even looks surprised. If anything, they almost look relieved, like they’d been waiting for some bad news and it’s a relief to finally know what it is.
The tension in the academy has been high ever since the graduation games, and I guess now the students have some insight into our future.
The silence stretches, and it’s Satine who speaks up first. “When will the shadow army get here?”
Knox is the one to answer. “They won’t.”
“You mean Queen Krosia has abandoned us?” Another girl asks, fear finally touching her features.
Thane clenches his jaw. “We will face the Xalgrith without the shadow army, yes.”
At that, the room erupts into chatter and panicked whispers, like the tension has finally snapped.
“But we can’t fight the Xalgrith on our own,” another student blurts. “And why now? Why are the Xalgrith coming here?”
Guilt twists in my gut, and I open my mouth to explain the truth, but Thane speaks before I can. “All that matters is that we must prepare for battle,” he repeats. “So enjoy your evening meal, because after that the preparations begin.”
“But what about the demon army?” Kenzie questions, giving me an imploring look.
This time, Thane doesn’t answer for me, and I try to look brave. “Queen Blake will come,” I say confidently. “We’re not alone in this.”
“How do you know?” a student with curly red hair asks.
Truthfully, I have no idea when Blake will get here, I just trust that she will. My girl never lets me down. “I just…do. Okay?” It’s a terrible answer, but I don’t know what else to tell them.
The red-haired student looks like she wants to ask more, but the double doors open again, and my brows lift in surprise as Professor Lankin strides into the room.
She doesn’t look shocked to see me on the dais, and she simply stands behind one of the chairs on the end beside Galen, her fox animali sitting behind her.
“Professor,” Galen says politely.
Professor Lankin dips her head at him in acknowledgment, but she doesn’t say anything.
The red-haired student no longer looks like she wants to ask any more questions, so Thane leads us in reciting the prophecy.
“Where the black sky weeps and shadows reign
A darkness stirs, born of pain
They must rise, shadowed blades
Take the oath, decide our fates
Where the land bleeds, and the skies fall
Forests of ash, before the final call
Stand as one, our forgotten, lost warriors
For without you…
There will be no times at all.”
When the chanting finishes, we all sit as shadows gather on our tables, and in seconds, platters of food appear around the room. The students sit silently, and my stomach grumbles. How long has it been since I last ate? It feels like it’s been forever.
I’m about to grab a bread roll, but then I realize the students are waiting patiently as they watch us. Right. Because they always wait for the professors to eat first. I scowl because I’ve never liked that rule.
Raith goes to spear a hunk of meat with his fork, but before he does, I blurt out across the dining hall, “Eat! Please.”
Silence follows my words, and when no one moves I frown.
“Aren’t they hungry?” I murmur to my mates.
Raith grins, spearing the meat and shoving it into his mouth. “That’s not how this works, sunshine.”
I give him a stubborn look. “Well, it should be. I’m not going to sit here and stuff my face in front of them. The rule about them having to wait until the professors are finished is ridiculous. If we’re all going to die soon, the least we can do is eat together.”
Raith swallows his mouthful. “She has a point,” he says to the others as he waves his fork in the air. “I was never on board with Professor Yevar’s suggestion that we make the students wait.”
“You heard her!” Raith calls out to the students. “Let’s fuckin’ eat!” And he lifts his fork, stabbing a larger piece of steak and slapping it onto his plate.
Kenzie is one of the first to listen, but soon all the students are eating, and I smile, filling my plate and digging into my own food.
Thankfully, Professor Lankin doesn’t protest, but I can’t help but wonder why she’s even here.
We’re halfway through the meal when curiosity gets the better of me.
“Professor Lankin, why are you here?” I blurt.
The professor looks up from her plate, and she returns my stare. My cheeks flush as I realize I’ve overstepped, but my mates peer at the professor like I’ve simply voiced what they want to know as well.
“I mean, of course we love having you here, and you have every right to be here more than I do,” I ramble, getting flustered, “but it’s just…I thought Queen Krosia would have warned you before she sealed the barrier.”
Professor Lankin places down her fork.
“It’s a fair question, Lankin. What the fuck are you doin’ here?” Raith rumbles through a mouthful of food, and he points his fork at her.
She gives him a tight smile before turning her shrewd gaze back to me. “Her Highness did advise me, but I opted to remain.”
Surprise hits me. “What? But why would you do that?”
“I am a professor of this academy,” she replies calmly, lifting her chin.
“As I have been for centuries. I have a responsibility to my students. I’m not interested in abandoning this academy in its time of need.
And I have never agreed with Her Highness that the weak are simply… ” her gaze lingers on me, “worthless.”
I’m not sure if I should be offended at that or not, but I grin anyway.
“The queen will see your actions as an act of treason,” Thane warns.
“Well, Professor Thane,” Professor Lankin replies, “considering we’ve all been left here to die, I don’t foresee any impending punishment being an issue.”
Good point. I put my head down, focusing on my food.
“Well, we’re glad to have you,” Thane replies. “We need all the help we can get.”