Page 10 of A Bond So Deadly

“Holy crap,” I say under my breath. “Is that…an egg?”

I shoot Galen a questioning look, but he’s just as puzzled as I am. I’d thought my creature might be reborn as a baby phoenix, but when nothing had emerged from the ashes, I’d assumed the worst. Giddy laughter comes from me as I lean forward, gently scooping the egg into my hands. Heat rushes from it into my fingertips, and my heart swells.

“Very peculiar,” Galen muses thoughtfully. “It appears when your creature perished, it restarted its life cycle and is now inside the egg.”

This is different to everything I’ve read about phoenix creatures, but considering the books I’ve read have been fiction, I guess maybe this is normal. At least, I’m hoping it is for my creature.

I smile, waiting for our bond to come again, but when it doesn’t, my brows lower. “I still can’t feel her magic. I can’t feel our bond.”

“The connection is always severed when a member of the bond dies, either the animali or the person,” Galen explains.

“But she’s not dead,” I say, cradling the egg. “At least, not anymore.”

Galen shrugs, just as clueless as I am.

“I wonder if your creature was already aging and she knew she would die soon,” Thane rumbles. “Perhaps she gave in to the queen, sensing that Blake would be there to help you and knowing this would speed along the process of her life cycle.”

“That would make sense,” Galen agrees. “It’s possible the creature’s age is also a reason why it was reluctant to bond with you. It may have been waiting to see if it had time to regenerate before you bonded.”

I think on that, wondering if it’s true as I peer at the glittering egg in my hands. I have so many questions, but for now, I hold the egg against me, content that she’s not gone after all.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you,” I whisper, already prepared to protect the phoenix like a mother bear protects her cub. So sure, despite being in an egg the ancient phoenix is likely way older than me, but who’s counting?

Ambrose arches a brow, watching me carefully. Before he can utter a word, Raith scoops me into his arms again and carries me into a shadow pathway.

Chapter Four

~ Shade ~

We exit the pathway and emerge directly into my mates’ living room. Raith carries me over to one of the coaches and sits, and I breathe in deeply, taking in the familiar scent of wood smoke, spice, and citrus. Now that we’re out of the amphitheater, I tell myself it’s all over. That everything will be okay, but…I know that’s not true. Blake might have stopped my execution, but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m a threat to this war. A threat to my mates…

Raith gently rubs my arm, his clawed thumb drawing invisible circles on my skin, and I lean my head against his hard chest. “Are you all right, tiny mate?” my monster growls, his gruff voice making me shiver.

Thane and the others watch me intently from around the room.

“Never better,” I lie. Just take it one day at a time, Shade. You’re alive. Your creature is alive. Your mates are here. Blake is okay. And… Except I can’t be sure that Blake is okay. I remind myself she’s the toughest she-demon I know, and her mates would do anything to protect her, but the knowledge that she’s willingly at the palace surrounded by shadow warriors and within the clutches of the shadow queen leaves my stomach in knots.

Sighing, I distract myself by staring at the egg propped on my stomach. I stroke my fingers along the smooth shell to calm myself. It almost feels like polished marble, and my fingertips trace the small grooves patterned on the surface.

“It would have taken immense energy for your creature to regenerate,” Knox says. “It may be some time before she hatches. Here.” He lifts his hands and shadows swirl on his palm. The streams of black wind together, forming a writhing circle, and a moment later, a small nest complete with a cushioning base of soft black feathers appears. “This will keep her comfortable.” He holds the nest out to me, and I carefully take it, placing the egg on the bed of feathers.

“Well, that didn’t exactly go as expected,” Galen drawls, relaxing on the couch opposite us. “But it ended well enough for now.”

“We were lucky the demon royals arrived,” Thane growls, looking troubled. “Queen Krosia wasn’t bluffing. We’ll have to be careful, especially while Ambrose and Germain are at the academy.”

“Yeah, about that. Why would she order Germain to stay?” I ask, not sure if I’m missing something. “Blake’s mates nearly took his head. Having him at the academy doesn’t seem like the smartest move for when Blake returns.”

Thane’s brows lower. “Germain and Ambrose are two of Krosia’s most loyal subjects. No doubt they’ll be reporting everything they see directly to her.”

“I also wouldn’t be surprised if she’s ordered Germain to remain here simply to taunt the demon queen,” Galen adds. “The fact Queen Blake wanted his head is probably precisely why he’s at the academy.”

“But doesn’t she want this alliance?” I say, confused. “If Queen Krosia cares about winning the war above all else, then she should be happy the demons are involved, shouldn’t she?”

The guys all share a look, and again, I feel like I’m missing something.

“Krosia does care about the war, yes,” Galen confirms, “but Blake embarrassed her today. Provided Queen Blake doesn’t do anything to violate her agreement with Krosia, having Germain here won’t result in a war with the demons, but it will remind the demon queen that she’s in the shadow realm and must play by Krosia’s rules.”

“Right. So she’s just being petty. Blake is gonna love that,” I say sarcastically. Then I bite my bottom lip, because Raith has moved on from my arm, and he’s now drawing circles on my inner thigh. Leaning down, he nuzzles against my hair, grunting like some kind of animal. When his nose touches my ear and hot breath puffs against my skin, I can’t help the small giggle that bursts out of me at the ticklish sensation.