I’m welcome? That’s all he has to say?I was completely happy to keep my mouth shut and slink away when the opportunity arose, up until that point.
“You involved Kenzie,” I say, still pissed off about it.
Knox’s head turns a fraction to the side. That’s my only warning before his shadows spear through the air toward me. I don’t think. I simply react. He’s not sending all his power at me, but instinctively, my magic comes alive, shadows twisting through the air as they clash with his, deflecting them away from me. I gasp as power zaps through my body, flowing from my academy ring. The skin on my arms ripples before smoothing again, and my gaze snaps up. Neither Thane nor Knox seem to have noticed, both of them focused on my shadows that soon disappear like puffs of smoke.
“Yes,” Knox says with a dark, satisfied smirk. “And like I said, you’re welcome.”
Generally, I can keep my zen. I don’t know if it’s the fact my head has started pounding again, or simply because his attitude is getting exhausting, but I send out more power, and my shadows appear again, going straight for him. Knox turns to face me, still smirking like he thinks I’m a bug he’s about to squish. His shadows reach out, but my smaller shadow’s dodge around his, going directly for his neck. Surprise flashes on his face, and his hand flies up as he sends out more power, deflecting my shadows at the last second.
For a moment, I swear, he looks impressed, but then his expression sours, and he glares at me as I stand there heaving.Whoa. Would you look at that.
“Don’t involve my friends again,” I tell him. “You can treat me like crap, but I won’t be the reason you hurt anyone else.”
I’m not sure what it is that gets through to him, but there’s a flicker of something on Knox’s face. Regret, maybe? It’s gone in an instant, and his usual mask is back in place.
“With the ability to wield shadows, you may survive the games after all,” Knox says simply. There’s no apology. Only the cold hard fact that now, I might just stand a chance at not being murdered by my classmates or one of the many creatures I’ll have to face. At that, Knox turns his attention back to the water.
Thane, who has been silent this whole time, studies the both of us. “No matter the result,” he finally says, “you heard her. Don’t involve her friends.”
Knox doesn’t answer, but Thane must believe the issue is resolved, because he doesn’t say any more about it. Lifting his arm, he scrubs a hand over his jaw. “So, Galen’s theory was right.”
“I’m sorry, what theory?” I question.
“Galen believes when he slept with you it helped to unblock some of your power,” Thane explains. “We have to wonder whether the curse the queen placed on us to ensure we wouldn’t find our mate, has inadvertently affected you as well. Obviously, Lady Fate found a way around the curse, and it’s too coincidental that you’re getting more control of your powers now.”
It takes a few seconds for me to process what he’s saying. “Hold on, so you think that me sleeping with you guys is helping to unlock my powers?”
“Yes,” Thane answers. “Have any of your memories returned?”
I take a moment to consider this. It’s similar to my own theories, but I hadn’t realized the guys had come to the same conclusion.
“No,” I admit. “So what do we do now? Getting my powers will help me survive the games, but it also means I’ll be more of a danger to you all.”
Thane doesn’t exactly look worried. “Your survival comes first, and it could be centuries more before we even discover the fold.”
“Centuries?” I swallow.
“Or it could be tomorrow,” Knox counters.
Thane lets out a weary breath. “Also, true.”
I look around, half expecting Galen and Raith to stalk out from between the trees considering the discussion we’re having.
“For now, we’ll continue working on building your strength,” Thane says, fixing his gaze on me. “You will graduate and gain your immortality. Then we’ll figure out what comes after that.”
I blow out a long breath. “Let me guess, this is the part where you tell me to start running again?”
Thane’s lips quirk up at the sides as he gives me a dark smile. “No, little mate.”
And then he presses his lips to mine.
Chapter Sixteen
~ Shade ~
Thane’s gentle kiss turns hungry, and he slides his tongue into my mouth as he pulls me closer. I’m dwarfed by his massive size, and I lose myself, my annoyance at Knox melting away as I press into Thane’s hard body. My mate grips the back of my head with one of his large hands, his fingers tangling in my hair, and his other hand lowers to my ass.
I snatch a glance across the dell, expecting Knox to be gone, but I’m surprised to find he’s still there. He stands watching us with a dark expression, and there’s a small part of me that feels guilty.Thane and Knox are together, aren’t they?
