She swallows. “Riggght, warriors.”
I hear the doubt in her voice. Not that I can blame her. As far as students go, she looks weaker than most. Her only hope of survival is if she can master her shadow gifts quickly.
“Well, I don’t know if it’s the academy that’ll kill me, or a certain man in particular,” she comments.
I follow her gaze to where she’s watchin’ Knox up ahead. “You don’t need to worry ’bout him,” I assure her. “Knox isn’t as cold-hearted as he pretends to be.”
She scoffs. “His wolf nearly ate me.”
“If Bonfang had been determined to kill you, I don’t know if Kazer could have stopped him,” I admit before frowning thoughtfully. Our creatures haven’t ever been on opposing sides like that, even with everything that’s already happened, and I’m not sure I’d want to know the outcome. “He’s just as confused as Knox is.”
“Confused?”
“Keep away from them for now. They’ll come around.”
She mumbles somethin’ under her breath, but I don’t catch it. Eventually, she turns from Knox and stares at where the shadows are like large dark clouds around us. I simply keep holdin’ her tight against me, not sure why it feels so damn comfortin’ having her there.
Chapter Seven
~ Shade ~
My clothes feel too tight as I squirm in Raith’s hold, and I can’t help wishing that I could tear them off. Or, you know, that Raith would tear them off me.Careful now, sunshine. I only have so much control. Unless you want me buryin’ inside you while we’re between realms, you might wanna stop movin’ so much.God the man’s mouth is filthy, and I am here for it. The thought of him putting his massive body to good use makes me want to take him up on his offer, but then I stare at the swirling black around us, and my thoughts sober. Distracting him while we’re in this place doesn’t sound like the best idea. The thought of getting stuck here and turning into a lost soul makes me shudder. I’ve had a bad enough time remembering how to get back to my apartment in the city, and I’ve managed to get lost on multiple occasions. I’d have no hope of escaping here if I fell from Kazer’s back. Not to mention wandering around in my birthday suit doesn’t sound that great either, no matter how good the sex might be.
Still, having Raith’s hands on me is making me crazy. I reflect on what the man said about my chances of surviving the academy, and that helps to cool me down a little. The more I learn about Shadowbone, the more doubts I have, but it doesn’t matter. I have the tattoo, and I have to find out why. Besides, it’s too late now.
Kazer’s movements are smooth as he runs, his powerful body racing along the shadow road, and it’s not long before I start thinking about Raith again. He’s pressed flush against me, and I can feel his chiseled muscles against my back, and his hard cock prodding against my ass. No doubt, he’s loving torturing me, so I make a point to wiggle a bit and torture him as well.
He groans, one hand straying to the front of my pants, but before things can escalate, the shadow road ends. Knox and Thane disappear first, and then Kazer is stepping from the darkness and onto black cobblestones. A gray landscape surrounds us, and my lips part in surprise as I stare up at the grand gates that tower before me. The letters ‘SA’ are surrounded by roses and crafted into the twisted steel bars of the gate. The thick metal connects with gray stone walls, and I crane my neck, wondering just how far those walls go.Whoa.
The gates automatically open as Kazer and the other creatures prowl forward, and a rush of air leaves me at the sight of the castle ahead. The academy is even larger than the demon palace, with six main towers and numerous arched windows dotting the sides of the structure. At the top of the building, gargoyle statues line the rooftop, forever watching like silent sentinels ready to awaken and protect the fortress. Fires burn between the statues, creating strange shadows on the stonework, and the shadows seem to change shape before my eyes, resembling creatures with limbs and claws. I frown, but when I blink, the shadow creatures have disappeared.Well, that’s not creepy at all.
Trying not to think about it, I turn my attention to the grand double doors at the front of the building. Sitting at the top of a short flight of stone steps, two large doors are positioned between massive torches. A long banner lines the wall above the doors, and I study the crest that’s so similar to the shadow rose tattoo on my back. Except unlike the tattoo I have, the skull behind this shadow rose is different. It’s like the skull of a creature I’ve never seen. Or more so, multiple creatures joined together into a single monster with high cheekbones, long wicked fangs, and curling horns.
I open my mouth to ask about it, when I notice Kazer and the other creatures keep walking right past the front of the academy. We move around the side, toward the back of the building. “Aren’t we going in?” I say instead.
“Oh, we are,” Raith rumbles.
“We're cloaked, even to those who have shadow powers,” Galen explains. “If you're seen entering with us, there would be too many questions.”
I frown in confusion. “So…you’re telling me we’re invisible to everyone else, and you’re still taking me through the back door?”Unbelievable.
The creatures stop at a smaller back entrance to the academy, and Knox and Thane dismount. Galen climbs off Arizak, and comes up to my side, helping me down. My feet feel like jelly on the ground, and I place a hand on Kazer’s side to steady myself. The massive cat twists his head around and licks my arm with his furred tongue. Saliva drips down to my fingers, and I laugh, patting his side. “I like you too, buddy.”
Raith drops to the ground beside me, his boots landing hard, and he grins. “Careful, sunshine. He won’t leave you alone if you keep treatin’ him like that.”
I don’t stop patting him. “Would that be so bad?”
“That depends,” Galen drawls. “Would you enjoy having a lazy, purring beast demanding attention at all times? Trust me, it will get old real quick.”
Raith scowls at that, and Galen’s lips curve, his focus on his friend rather than the giant feline.
Kazer hisses, and Arizak lets out an unimpressed snort like the pair of them are facing off like the two men. I would laugh if I hadn’t just noticed how Bonfang is glaring at me like I’m a trespasser.Great.
My gaze meets Knox’s, and the male stares me down making me even more uncomfortable. I want to remind him that I have the tattoo. That according to them, I’m supposed to be here, but what would be the point? I haven’t even managed to convince myself yet.
Rinoc is the first to break from the group. Thane runs his hand over the bear’s furred head, and the creature turns, sprinting toward a mass of trees in the distance. A dark forest fills the land to the left of the academy, the ancient-looking trees gnarled and twisted, and it’s not long until Rinoc is out of sight. The other three follow the bear, but Bonfang is the last to go. He keeps his red gaze on me for as long as possible before disappearing into the darkness of the trees with the others.
“Is that where they all live?” I ask, still staring at the trees even after the creatures are out of sight. Every so often I swear I see flashes of red eyes from between the branches, and it’s freaking me out a little.Note to self: never go into the creepy forest filled with shadow creatures.The thought bums me out, because I’ve missed the trees and nature. I might no longer be a bird, but I miss the scent of the leaves and the sound of the insects.
