“It’s nothing.”
“If it were nothing, you would be begging me to carry you for the rest of the run. In all our classes you’ve never kept your complaints to yourself before.”
I pause. Okay, so he has a point. “Well yeah. That’s because running makes no sense when you have bonded shadow beasts who can carry you.”
“Shade,” he prompts.
“Yes, daddy?” I smirk, knowing full well I’m about to piss him off.
He tenses, the bands of muscle tightening across his shoulders. “Don’t tempt me, mate,” he warns.
I roll my eyes. “Or what, you’ll spank me?”
There’s no humor in his voice when he answers. “Yes.”
Oh, holy smut gods.Now I’m officially distracted. I wiggle in his hold, not sure if he’s bluffing or not.
Sensing my change in attitude, his lips twitch. “Or should I summon Knox here, mate? Then I could punish you both at the same time and get the truth out of you.”
The idea of Thane punishing us both brings the most delicious images to my mind, and for a moment, I forget how to breathe. That is, until I remember what an ass Knox is. “The only way I’ll be happy to see Knox is if your shadows are wrapped around his neck,” I reply sweetly.
Thane studies me. “That could be arranged.”
Oh, crap. Why does he still sound like he’s being dirty?I gape at him, and he chuckles, striding further into the darkness of the forest.
“Okay, so I might not have the best sense of direction, but isn’t the path back that way?” I say, pointing back in the direction we came from. “What about the other students?”
“They’ve been instructed to finish the trail and work on their exercises,” he replies, like he’s already thought this all out. “As to where we’re going, you’ll see when we get there.”
I have no idea what that means, but my head is throbbing less now that Thane is holding me, and I finally relax against him.
I’m not sure if I nod off, or if it’s seconds later, but when I open my eyes again, we’re in a small, secluded valley. The dell is dark and peppered with black trees. Moss covers the ground, creeping over the tree roots like a plush blanket, and the air is warmer with a faint floral scent I don’t recognize.
A glassy, black pool stretches to the right side of the valley, the water reflecting the sky above, and standing beside it is the very man I was hoping not to see. Knox stares into the inky water, his brow furrowed as if he’s deep in thought. He turns as we approach, and the instant his gaze falls on me, his expression hardens.
“What is she doing here?” Knox says, and his voice is so cold and unwelcoming that I have to stop myself from flinching. Clearly, he’s not surprised to see Thane, but I on the other hand, am not a welcome visitor.
I don’t want to be here either, buddy,I think dryly, trying to give him my best annoyed expression back.
Thane strides across the space, and he stops when we’re in the middle of the dell, gently placing me on my feet. “What happened during your class this morning?”
Knox continues to look agitated, though I have no idea why he’s upset. “Is that what this is about?” He turns back to the dark water.
“What did you do, Knox?” Thane growls.
I start stepping back toward the edge of the valley. It’s obvious Knox isn’t pleased to see me, and right now, I’d rather be experiencing the torture run from hell than be in the middle of whatever this is.
Before I can move too far, Thane reaches out, and he grips my shoulder with his large hand.
“Why don’t you ask her?” Knox replies coldly.
“I did, and she refuses to tell me,” Thane explains.
“Then you have your answer.”
“Knox,” Thane growls.
There’s a beat of silence before Knox says, “I got results. You’re welcome.”
