“Somethin’ like that,” I answer, not liking how the color is drainin’ from her cheeks.
“During the games, students will have to face a variety of shadow creatures. The nemins are merely one of the speciesthe students will encounter. They’re small, but not to be underestimated,” Galen drawls.
“And how many species of shadow creatures do you need to collect?” she asks, then her brows pinch together. “Hold on, I need to get this straight in my head. So the animali are the animal-like shadow creatures that the warriors bond with, but I thought the zenali were more intelligent shadow creatures, capable of understanding different languages? Why would the queen put them in the games?”
Galen uncrosses his legs, lifting from the couch. “For the same reason humans place animals in zoos, I suppose. The zenali are more powerful, meaning they make for more interesting entertainment during the games. We’ve never agreed with the queen’s choice to use them, but if we don’t collect them, the other originals will, and they’ll give little thought to how they’re brought in. We’ll be collecting five species in total.”
“Why can’t you just capture a few of the Xalgrith for the games instead?” she asks.
“There’s a reason all the students at Shadowbone aren’t automatically made immortal. Part of it is the importance of training in the basics before being able to wield such power and navigating the abilities that come with immortality,” Galen explains. “The other part is that the Xalgrith are able to infiltrate the minds of those who are too weak to resist them. A soldier on the battlefield unable to keep them out wouldn’t simply be a liability, they could become a weapon used against us. Placing Xalgrith in the arena with humans isn’t a good idea.”
She’s clearly still troubled by what she’s hearing, but she nods. “Fine. So when will be you be back?” she asks, and there’s a hint of worry in her voice. It warms my heart that she thinks we would be in any danger.
No one answers straight away, and I share a look with my friends.
“What?” she prompts.
“See, the thing is, I suggested you remain here, under the watchful care of our bonded animali, but Thane seems to think you wouldn’t want to miss the fun,” Galen teases.
Thane narrows his eyes at Galen. “That’s not what I said,” he growls, and he turns his attention back to Shade. He seems to pick his next words carefully. “We need bait to lure out a hollowing. They’re too smart to try and hunt us.”
“What?” Her eyes snap wide. “And you think I’m the best one for the job?”
Thane looks reluctant to answer, but Knox gives her a humorless smile. “Ordinarily, we would simply take one of the weakest students, but Thane suggested you might have a problem with that.” My brother’s dark gaze remains fixed on her while he waits for her response.
“Well,” she hesitates, licking her lips nervously.
“You’d be completely safe,” I reassure her. “We wouldn’t let anythin’ bad happen to you.”
“Oh,” she says, though she doesn’t sound too relieved. “So, the students you use as bait are usually left unharmed?”
“Not usually,” I chuckle, but my laugh turns into a cough when Thane gives me a stern look. I clear my throat.
Shade looks horrified. “Great. So, the students you usually take for bait die, but you’ll try and keep me alive?”
I run a hand through my hair. “Yep. That pretty much sums it up.”
“Unless you’d rather we select one of your classmates?” Knox suggests. He gives Shade a challenging look like he’s hoping she’ll choose that option.
“No,” she blurts quickly. She’s obviously conflicted, but our sweet mate isn’t willing to condemn anyone else. “Just promise me, you won’t let me get eaten alive or anything.”
Knox doesn’t comment, but I give her a wolfish grin. “Of course. We’re the only ones who get to eat you, sunshine.”
Chapter Nine
~ Shade ~
So, it turns out that shadow creatures do like snacks. At least, the nemins do. The only problem is,I’mthe snack. Do I want to be out here acting like a tasty metaphorical worm for the nemins? Well, no. But could I bring myself to let the guys use another student in my place? Unfortunately, that would also be a ‘no.’ At least, the guys will try to save me. Going by Raith’s laughter, another student wouldn’t fare so well.
“So, how long is this going to take?”I ask, trying to distract myself from my fear. The guys have been talking to me using their shadow whisper power, which has helped, but I still feel queasy with nerves. I lean back against Raith’s chest, glad to have his strong presence behind me, and I focus on Kazer’s steady movements as he carries us forward.
Giant black trees surround us on all sides, and though I don’t know exactly where we are, we’re far from the safety of the academy walls. After our discussion in their sitting room, the guys wasted no time summoning their beasts and whiskingme away through a shadow pathway. According to Galen, we’re in one of the wilder forests in the shadow realm, and every so often I glimpse white figures floating between the trees. A chill snakes down my spine, and I jolt when Raith finally answers my question.
“Could be half an hour, or it could be most of the night,”his whisper reaches my ears as we enter a small clearing.
Everyone stops and dismounts, and Raith, Galen, and Thane take turns kissing me before I’m instructed to sit against a large boulder. The guys and their animali disappear into the trees, and though I can’t see them, I can feel them watching me. Moonlight shines down on my position, making me feel utterly exposed as I sit there, and the forest is eerily quiet around us.
Okay, this isn’t so bad,I tell myself. With the warnings we’d been given about not leaving academy grounds, I’d been imagining monstrous creatures coming for me the moment I set foot in the wider shadow realm.
