The nemin doesn’t look the least bit remorseful for that. His gaze flicks to Galen, and he makes a startled noise when my mate glares back at him.
“You don’t understand,”Xoran tries again.“We’ve heard of these games. Of this Shadowbone Academy. The entire realm knows the stories. Any hollowing captured by the Dreaded Four never returns to the forest.”
I snort.“The Dreaded Four?”
“Yes, mistress,”the nemin replies, and he looks so serious and terrified that I can’t help but feel bad for him. I’m tempted to joke that he should be thankful he’s not the one fated to them, but something tells me the nemin wouldn’t find it funny.
Like it’s coordinated, all of the nemins suddenly stare at me, their eyes wide and hopeful from behind the bars. And…something about seeing them like that doesn’t sit right with me.
“I can’t make any promises,”I say softly, not sure why I suddenly feel sad.“But I’ll try my best to get you out after. …Maybe if you promise not to eat me or any of my friends when you’re free.”
“Yes, yes,”the nemins all agree, eagerly nodding their heads and speaking in unison. They give me toothy little grins, and I’m not sure I believe them, but I figure I’ll just have to hope for the best.
“They’re communicating with you,”Thane comments, observing me from his position atop Rinoc. His giant bear lumbers beside Arizak, and the animali makes low grunting noises as he lowers his head every so often to snap at the shadows slithering along the ground.
I give Thane a strange look. None of the guys had joined in on my conversation with the nemins, but they would have easily heard every word. To be honest, I’m surprised Raith wasn’t laughing when the nemins called them the Dreaded Four earlier.
“Yes,” I say slowly. “I mean, look at them. They’re adorable.” I gesture to the nemins who are all blinking up at us now with their comically huge eyes.I’m definitely going to have to sketch them when I get the chance.
Raith groans, scrubbing a hand down his face. “They tried to eat you, sunshine. Please tell me you’re not fallin’ for their act?”
“No,” I lie.
“What have they been saying?” Thane asks, looking at the path ahead.
I go to respond, but I stop myself when I realize what he’s said. “Wait. You can’t hear them?”
“We can hear their musical language,” Thane answers, “but we cannot understand it.”
I frown. “That makes no sense. They’re speaking in our tongue.”
“No, they’re not, little shadow,” Galen tells me. “You’respeaking in their language.”
“But I can’t be…” I think about what they’re telling me, and about the musical way the nemins speak. “But that’s…”
“Unusual, yes,” Galen adds.
“Do you think it could be a shadow magic thing?” I ask, needing to find the answers to this mystery.
“Not as far as we’re aware,” Galen replies smoothly, his slender fingers still gripping me. “If the nemins choose to speak in our language, then we are able to communicate with them,” he explains further. “But no one can speak the nemins’ musical language. Until now, I suppose.”
I’m glad I’m already sitting down when that truth bomb hits.
“I think it’s best if you stay away from them,” Thane suggests gruffly. He and Knox veer to the right, taking the cage with them, and the nemins stare at me until they disappear from view.
Galen urges Arizak forward, and he and Raith take me along the path to the left. In no time at all, we’re back in the guys’ rooms. Galen takes me straight to the washroom, and Raith follows after us.
Thankfully, by then the paralysis has worn off, and I can finally get some sweet relief, disappearing into the water closet for some privacy. When I return, my mates are naked and they remove my clothes before coaxing me into the shower. I let them gently wash my feet, getting all of the nemins’ sticky saliva off my toes. Once that’s done, they take me to the large pool that consumes most of the space. The water is inky black and deliciously warm as Galen slowly lowers me into it. Bubbles rush past me as the bath activates with our presence, and I giggle as they pop against the side of my face. Raith moves to my left, and Galen props me on his lap as he rests on the tiled seat that lines the pool. He doesn’t release me, but he continues to bathe therest of me gently. Tenderly. I sigh, leaning back against his bare chest.
Raith chuckles as he slowly strokes my arm. “Feelin’ more like yourself, sunshine?”
I smile contentedly. “You could say that.” I should be mad at them, but then again, I knew what I was getting myself into when I’d agreed to be their bait. Sure, it sucked being out there at the mercy of the nemins, but on the other hand, I just learned something about myself. According to the guys, I shouldn’t be able to speak to the nemins, but I did, and while I haven’t figured out the mystery behind that, I feel like I’m one step closer to finding out who I am. Or you know,whatI am.
“Are you still in pain?” Galen asks with concern.
I tilt my head, considering his question. The blinding pain from the nemin’s bite has long since faded. Mostly, I just feel tired. “Nope. Seems like I’m okay.”
Raith cups my chin, turning my head to face him. He studies my eyes for a long moment, and his gaze flicks to Galen before focusing back on me. “Well, we’re fuckin’ not,” he rumbles. When he says it, there’s no humor in his voice. Only a vulnerability that I get the feeling he doesn’t show often.
