“That she did,”Knox finally replies, his voice clipped.
None of us move as we observe the situation. No humans or shadow warriors alike, can speak to the nemins. At least, not like this. The little beasts are some of the oldest creatures in the shadow realm, and they’re classified as zenali creatures. They’re highly intelligent beings able to understand our language. But while they can understand us, and they can choose to speak our language if they wish, they aren’t doing that now. No, Shade is speaking as if she’s one of them. Which is…curious.
We all know there are secrets when it comes to our mate’s past. She has explained all she knows about her origin, and her desire to one day regain her forgotten memories. From what she has told us, I had assumed that somehow during her time in the human realm, she must have had an accident that resulted in herlosing her memories, but this…the ability to speak to a zenali in their language? Now this complicates things.
Their conversation continues, and the leader of the hollowing finally makes his appearance. Whatever they’re talking about, one of the nemins seems unhappy, and when the little bastard grabs hold of our mate’s foot and clamps his teeth into her flesh, when her scream cuts through the forest, all hell breaks loose.
Power explodes into the clearing, the forest turning black as my friends and I flood the area with our shadows. The nemins shriek, chattering in their musical language as they try to scatter. Their fear is thick in the air, but there’s no escaping us. My shadows wrap around the closest nemin, talons of power piercing his skin as I grab hold and fight against the urge to tear him apart. He screeches, letting out a high-pitched whistling sound as he fights against me, but the grip I have on him is unshakeable. I easily grab another nemin with my shadows, confiscating his dart gun in the process, and Thane and the others have already captured the rest.
Our creatures watch, clawing at the ground in agitation, and under strict instructions not to engage. The nemins may be small, but they’re not to be underestimated. And while our animali would likely prevail, there is some risk involved with letting them get too close to the ancient creatures.
I should be pulling the cage into the clearing and shoving my captured nemins inside. We all should. But I struggle to control my anger as the nemins in my hold shriek and claw at my power. I want to make them suffer first. What had we agreed? To take out the bitey one? It hardly seems sufficient now. Perhaps, if we take him out and the rest of them all lose an eye as well it would be more fitting.
The creatures fall silent like they know there’s no point struggling any longer. It’s not surprising considering they’velikely recognized us, and would be well aware of our reputations in the shadow realm.
One of the nemins I’m holding is the one who bit our mate, and more of my shadows curl around him, squeezing. I’m ready to gut the little worm when Shade’s plea sounds across the clearing.
“Don’t,”she rasps.
I halt, though I’m finding it hard to process what she’s said. I’m convinced I must have heard her incorrectly.
“Let them live,” Shade says, and I’m thoroughly bewildered now. “They were only following their instincts, and wasn’t this the plan?”
I take a few deep breaths. Logically, I know she’s right, but obviously none of us realized how much this would bother us.
Fighting against my anger, I drag the cage into the clearing, swinging the door wide and shoving my nemins inside. Thane, Raith, and Knox do the same, though their nemins are quieter, and I suspect have been roughly handled.
“Aw you sure? How ’bout just bitey?”Raith pleads, struggling with the concept of leaving the offending nemin in one piece.
Shade gives him a look, and Raith pouts, reluctantly turning away from the biter nemin who’s watching us with wide eyes from inside the cage.
Satisfied the nemins are all secure, Shade smiles. She’s still paralyzed and remains in her position against the boulder. Walking over, I gently lift her into my arms.
“I thought you guys weren’t coming back for a minute there,” she jokes, but her smile is strained.
“I would do anything for you, treasure,” I tell her, tucking her tighter against me.
Chapter Eleven
~ Shade ~
“Please mistress,”one of the nemins begs from inside the cage as we make our way through a shadow pathway. Thankfully, the cage stops the nemins from shooting any of their poisoned darts, so at least we don’t have to worry about that.
The guys use their shadows to transport the cage, and I ride with Galen on Arizak’s back. My mate holds me to him, cradling me with one hand like I’m precious, and gripping Arizak’s shadow mane with his other hand.
I should be mad at Galen. At all of my mates. But I’m so exhausted that I simply rest my head against Galen’s chest. According to the guys, the nemins’ toxin will wear off by the time we reach the academy, and feeling is already returning to the tips of my fingers.
We reach a fork in the shadow pathway, two paths stretching in different directions.
“Mistress, we didn’t know. Please, forgive us. Save us,”begs the leader nemin, who I’ve since learned is named Xoran and a male of their species.
I hesitate before responding. I mean, they had tried to eat me, after all. My big toe on my right foot is still throbbing from where one of the creatures bit me. I assume the nemin means he didn’t know that I was fated to Galen and the others.
“You’ll be fine,”I end up saying.“They just need you to terrorize some of the students during the graduation games. I’m sure they’ll release you after.”Galen holds me tighter when I speak, and he shares an odd look with Raith and the others, though I’m not sure why.
“No,”Xoran says, shaking his head insistently.“We know these four. They’re death to us.”
“Death?”I raise a brow.“That seems a little dramatic. Especially coming from the ones who were just contemplating making me suffer for days.”
