Page 104 of A Bond So Deadly

I grin, but my smile softens when Thane adds, “And we will love you always, our mate. You were the only one missing from this family. We’ve known that for some time now.”

Emotion tightens my throat, and a tear slips down my cheek.

Galen wipes it away, and I smile, feeling the power pulsing in my veins.

“Do you think the power boost will be enough to help us survive what comes next?” I ask.

Raith lifts his hand to cup my cheek, and shadows dance over his fingers. “Doesn’t even fuckin’ matter, sunshine. If we die, we die together.”

Chapter Forty

~ Shade ~

We stay in bed for hours until music starts playing throughout the academy.

“I guess I should get moving,” I sigh as the haunting tune floats through my bedroom. “I wouldn’t want to be late for dinner and get into trouble with my professors.”

Galen’s lips quirk up, and he traces a finger down my body, making me shiver. “Don’t worry, treasure, something tells me you would enjoy whatever punishment your professors deemed fitting for the transgression.”

I grin, knowing I absolutely would. I’m tempted to stay where I am, but Thane holds his hand out to me. “Come mate. We should attend. As much as I wish we could stay here for eternity, we must explain our situation to the students. Who knows how much time we have.”

Telling the other students that the shadow queen has left us here to die doesn’t exactly sound appealing, but I take his hand and move from the bed. With barely any effort, I conjure a black leather outfit decorated with black feathers that shine in the dim lighting, and Galen creates a shadow pathway that leads to the dining hall. The music has stopped by the time we step into the corridor.

“I’d better go in first,” I say, but as I start toward the open double doors, Knox grabs my hand.

“Now, why would you do that?” he questions.

My brows lower. “I’m still a student. Though, I guess I could probably sneak in while the others are distracted watching you guys.”

Knox pulls me in for an all-consuming kiss, and I’m dazed when he releases my lips. Damn, is this seriously my life? I am one lucky bitch.

“No, my love. No more hiding,” he tells me. “You’re our bonded mate, student or not. You sit with us.”

“But—” Before I can finish, Knox clasps our hands together and pulls me with him into the dining hall. The others follow close behind, and we move together as a unit, our shadows coiling in the air around us.

The chatter in the dining hall quietens, and the students all stop and stare as they rise to their feet. More than one student gasps when they see me covered in the same tattoos as my mates. Power radiates out from our group, spreading in all directions, and I have to admit, this reaction is way better than the first time the students at Shadowbone watched me enter this dining hall.

Kenzie gapes at me with her jaw on the floor, and I grin at her, giving her a small wave. Even Satine looks stunned, though she schools her expression quickly when I look her way. She’s standing beside Kenzie, and that makes my smile widen even more. It’s funny how things can change like that.

Knox leads me toward the professors’ table on the dais, and I tug on his hand.

“I can’t sit here,” I murmur in my mind to my mates, using our new mind link. “I’m not a professor.”

“You’re bonded with us, sunshine. That means you share our power and everythin’ else. Includin’ our position within this academy,” Raith replies. He pulls me from Knox and lifts me into his arms, carrying me the rest of the way bridal style.

The students watch wide-eyed, but no one dares to comment. I guess after Queen Krosia spilled the beans about our fated mates bond during the graduation games, this isn’t as surprising to them as I thought it would be. Once we’re on the dais, Raith sets me on my feet, and we stand behind the table as Thane addresses the students.

“Good evening, warriors. I trust you’re rested after your day off,” Thane calls out.

I can’t help the snort that escapes me, because resting generally doesn’t happen much in this place. Most of the time, the students still spend their one day off a week training. Realizing my mistake, I cough, smothering my amusement. “Sorry,” I mutter. “Continue.”

Raith chuckles under his breath, and Thane peers back at the students.

“But the time for rest is over,” Thane goes on. “This is a time of war, and I won’t shield you from this next truth. The Xalgrith army is coming to Shadowbone, and we must prepare for battle.”

“Okay, well that’s one way to rip the band aid off,” I mutter to my mates.

I’m not sure how I expect the students to react. Maybe some terrified wailing? Or even some shouting? Instead, the dining hall remains deathly silent as unease settles over the room. No one even looks surprised. If anything, they almost look relieved, like they’d been waiting for some bad news and it’s a relief to finally know what it is. The tension in the academy has been high ever since the graduation games, and I guess now the students have some insight into our future.