So sure, despite my body accommodating his monster, I’m still a little sore down there, but I’m no sorer than when I was with Galen or Thane.
Raith’s chest sags with relief, and he gives the others a shit-eating grin.
“Stop looking so smug. We were out there getting our asses kicked, and we thought you’d both been taken when we’d arrived at the scene of the massacred foxrets,” Thane says like he’s unimpressed.
I’m still shuddering as Raith holds me. “So itwasorganized.”
My mates all turn their attention to me.
“The foxret leader said something about following orders to kill you four,” I explain.
“Orders?” Galen frowns, becoming thoughtful as he paces. “So I was right. There was an outside influence that orchestrated this.”
“It had to come from someone who knew we would be out here hunting tonight,” Thane comments.
Knox taps his foot on the ground impatiently. “We can discuss this back at the academy,” he bites out.
“But what about the foxrets for the games?” I can’t say I agree with them capturing creatures for the games, but there’s no way I’m volunteering to come back out here. “I’m not being bait for the foxrets again.”
As soon as I ask the question, the cage from earlier appears close to us, held up by shadows. Inside are four male foxrets. They look a little worse for wear, but they seem unharmed despite the dried blood on them. They make animalistic noises when they see us, and they sniff at the air.
“Let’s go,” Knox snarls. With a wave of his hand, he creates a shadow pathway, and Raith lifts me into his arms, cradling me as he carries me back to the academy.
Chapter Twenty
~ Shade ~
“Why didn’t you tell me about your monster?” I ask Raith as I lay beside him on the couch. Reaching down, he lazily strokes his fingers through my hair and swallows his mouthful of cured meat. We’re back in the guys’ rooms, and Galen is stretched out on the couch opposite us. Like with the nemins, Thane and Knox left to secure the foxrets, leaving the three of us. A half-eaten tray of meats and cheeses rests on the coffee table.
“Didn’t wanna scare you,” Raith replies. “He’s not usually a problem.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s been a long time since he’s been able to take control,” my mate answers. “Let’s just say, after the last time I haven’t been willin’ to let him out.”
I frown, not entirely sure what that means. “You say ‘he.’ Is your monster a separate entity from you?”
Raith’s hand stills. “It’s not like that.” He’s thoughtful for a moment before he starts stroking my hair again.
“Raith is still in there when he’s in his monster form,” Galen elaborates further. “But his more rational, human side is suppressed in favor of a more animalistic version of him. So, yes, it’s him, but his cognitive function isn’t the same as the man beside you right now.”
I sit up, and Raith’s hand falls from my hair as I twist my head to peer at him. “Oh, so you’re like a shifter?”
Raith uses one of his shadows to grab another hunk of rolled meat and place it into his mouth. “Yeah, I s’pose so,” he says once he’s swallowed it. “But with less humanity when I turn.”
Huh.
“The more important question is how were you able to satisfy the monster without losing your life?” Galen drawls, his lips curving in a contemplative smile.
Raith tenses like he’s imagining his beast being in control again, and instinctively, I run my hand along his arm, tracing the hard muscles as if to reassure him.
“No idea,” I admit. “Luck?” I feel like a part of me should be horrified that I could handle such a beast, but if anything, remembering Raith’s monster just has my stomach tightening as I think about how good it felt.
“I should have torn you apart,” Raith says grimly. “That wasn’t luck. You changed for me.” His grim expression melts away, awe taking its place, and I don’t blame him. Clearly, my vagina is magical. I can’t say having an ultra-accommodating vagina is a shadow power I was expecting, but I’m not complaining one bit.
Galen’s gaze lifts to something behind me, just as Thane strides into view.
“He’s right. That wasn’t luck,” Thane rumbles, stopping to stand near the couch and staring at me with concern. “How are you feeling?”
