Page 114 of A Bond So Deadly

“Well, I’m glad you came to see reason,” King Malgur says to me, though he still keeps his distance. “But this,” he waves his hand toward my mates, “this is another annoying obstacle. I was clear. Come to me and show me where the power is, and I’ll let the students go.”

“Shade doesn’t have the power you’re after,” Knox says coldly, his eyes like dark pools of night as he stares down the Xalgrith king. “Queen Krosia has already taken it.”

For the first time, King Malgur’s confident expression cracks, and irritation floods his face before he regains his composure. “If that’s true, that’s most unfortunate, but I’ll be the judge of that. My demand stands. Bring the girl to me, or I’ll slaughter everyone here.”

My heart ratchets as Leira and the other hybrid soldiers wait for King Malgur’s command, gripping their weapons and all too ready to carve into my friends.

“You don’t need her,” Thane growls, adjusting his hold on his sword. “Queen Krosia has the power. If Shade knew where it was and had access to it, don’t you think she would have taken the power for herself and already used it on you?”

King Malgur looks like he’s already considered that.

“Perhaps,” Professor Yevar drawls. “Unless she doesn’t know how to wield it. King Malgur can get the truth out of her. Either way, you have a choice. Your mate or the students.”

“That’s not a choice,” Knox snarls, and I know he’d sacrifice the students for me in a heartbeat. But I’m not willing to do that.

I run through my options in my head, knowing there aren’t any good solutions. I could sacrifice myself to the king, but the moment he finds out I don’t have the power and we’re telling the truth about Queen Krosia, he’ll probably kill us all anyway. Or I could refuse, and he’ll still kill us. Damn, these options are horrible. Blake, where are you? I rack my brain thinking of all my favorite romantasy books. What would a real heroine do? Probably sacrifice herself and somehow save everyone in the process. Unfortunately for me, and for the students, I’m not…that. Even after bonding with my guys, I feel strong, but certainly not able to take out an evil king. At most, I could stop some of the hybrid students, possibly save Kenzie, but at what cost? I’d probably have to kill Leira to protect my friend, and I’m sure Kenzie wouldn’t agree with that idea. I think of when Blake bonded with her mates. She’d gained an incredible power boost, and so had her mates, but I just feel…I don’t know…lost.

“Are you sure there isn’t a third option?” I call out, mostly because I’m trying to stall.

King Malgur laughs. “The third option was you joining our side when you were back in our realm, but the time for that has passed. Seeing as I can see you’re struggling with this moral dilemma of yours, let me help you make up your mind, shall I?”

The next moments feel like they happen in slow motion. King Malgur gestures to the hybrid warriors, and they attack, their blades starting to come down as the other students just stand there with glassy, unfocused eyes. Kenzie, Satine, and others I’ve trained with day after day. They’re all like me. Just humans trying to survive this damned place. They’re the weak ones the shadow queen deemed unfit for her army. The ones who didn’t get to graduate. Blake isn’t here, and I finally acknowledge that I don’t know if she’s going to come at all. All I know is that someone has to save the students, and right now…I’m all they’ve got.

“No!” I shout, and as I do, power floods my system. A familiar tingling goes through me as my power fills the air, and I’m reminded of when I fought against Leira in the Xalgrith realm. Just before the hybrid warriors slay my friends, just before their blades carve into flesh and the students are slaughtered, my magic touches their minds, and the hybrid warriors all stop in unison.

Ho-ly shadow gods.

The hybrids frown, sweat beading on their skin, and their white eyes turn to a dull gray. Some of the hybrids jerk a little, reminding me of when I was paralyzed by the nemins and the toxin was starting to wear off.

“Kill them!” King Malgur snarls, his power pushing against mine.

One of the hybrid warriors jolts, his eyes going milky white again as he drives his sword into the student in front of him. I watch grimly as the student falls. The hybrid warrior takes a step toward the next student in the row behind, but then he stops, his eyes flickering to a pale gray again.

“What are you doing?” King Malgur shouts at me, but I ignore him.

“I don’t have enough power to free them from King Malgur’s hold,” I admit to my mates. “But I’m giving them what I can. I’ve managed to lessen his hold on them, but if they’re going to break free, they’ll have to do the rest themselves.” The strain of stopping King Malgur from completely controlling their minds makes it hard to breathe, but my shadows curl around the students, refusing to let go. It’s like I can see King Malgur’s invisible link to them, but I can’t quite sever it.

“You’re giving them a fighting chance,” Thane says with realization as he contemplates my words.

“Enough of this!” King Malgur yells, frustrated that the hybrids aren’t following his orders. He rounds on Professor Yevar. “I told you they’d be unpredictable.” He turns back to his army. “Xalgrith warriors, kill them all and bring me the girl.”

Galen’s lips curve upward, and admiration shines in his eyes as he stares at me. “Well then, let’s not waste Shade’s efforts. Let’s buy the students some time, shall we?”

I smile, because I can’t believe I’ve actually done something to help. Okay, so this is option c. I don’t know if it will work. With every second longer that I have to hold King Malgur’s power at bay, I can feel my power slipping, but I’ve done what I can. “Sometimes we all just need a hand,” I tell myself, hoping that I’ve done enough.

The Xalgrith warriors surge toward us, and Raith cracks his neck, horns protruding from his head as he enters a half-shifted state. My monster gives me a wicked grin that makes my stomach flip, and then Raith is back in control, grinning at me just as eagerly.

Thane rolls his shoulders, gripping his blade tighter, and Knox and Galen prepare themselves as well.

The Xalgrith reach us, and my mates work to cut them down.

King Malgur glares at me from his position back at the gate, and his brow wrinkles as he tries to send more power at the students.

I whimper at the force of his magic, only just able to keep him from taking full control.

“Come on, Kenzie,” I whisper to my friend, but she doesn’t respond. Her eyes are still a cloudy gray, and she stands deathly still like the other students and hybrids.

Another hybrid falls to King Malgur’s will and kills a student before she stops moving again. Sweat coats the hybrid’s forehead as her muscles tighten.