Page 115 of A Bond So Deadly

Then a third hybrid kills a student.

It’s not working. The students can’t break through.

My mates carve through the Xalgrith warriors that surge at us, but there’s too many. We need the students and the hybrids to help us fight. It was slim odds even with them on our side, but without them…this battle is over.

At that thought, I’m reminded of the prophecy, and without thinking, I send out a shadow whisper that licks through the air, reaching all the students and hybrids.

“Where the black sky weeps and shadows reign

A darkness stirs, born of pain

They must rise, shadowed blades

Take the oath, decide our fates”

I suck in a labored breath, gritting my teeth as King Malgur’s power keeps pushing against me.

“Where the land bleeds, and the skies fall

Forests of ash, before the final call

Stand as one, our forgotten, lost warriors

For without you…”

I suck in another shuddering breath, but my words cut off as pain rushes through my body, and King Malgur glowers at me from across the space, his power burning into my mind. A Xalgrith warrior manages to pass my mates, but I’m using all of my power to hold back King Malgur. Just as a blade comes toward my face, Knox slices through the Xalgrith’s neck with one of his shadows, and blood sprays on me.

I did all I could. That’s what I tell myself as I wonder if this is it. With every dozen warriors my mates take down, there are hundreds more to take their places. My mates use their powers to cull the numbers, but I know once King Malgur breaks through my hold, it’ll be over, for me, at least. By reaching out, I might have helped to give the students a chance, but it has also left me more vulnerable to his mind powers.

Still, I have no regrets.

I send a weak message to Emorie as a tear slips down my cheek. “Don’t come back,” I rasp. I’m glad she’s not here. There’s no point in us all dying.

Agony makes me scream, and I know King Malgur’s power is about to burst through my hold. I fall to my knees, my hands pressing against the ground, and warmth tingles against my palms. They were worth fighting for, I say to myself. Even if it ends like this. Kenzie. Jensen. Leira. Satine. And all the other students. They were worth it.

“Shade!” Raith bellows in my mind, but I can’t look at him. Because if he sees my face, he’ll know this is it. And I can’t face that.

I suck in a shuddering breath, and just as King Malgur’s power is about to overwhelm me, just as I think this is it, an ancient powerful voice speaks in my mind. “Worthy.”

Chapter Forty-Five

~ Shade ~

Power rushes into my hands, crackling through me and obliterating King Malgur’s hold. Pushing him out. I scream as the magic flows from me into the students, pressure building inside me like I’m being torn apart, piece by piece, and then rebuilt again. My skin glows, my body strengthening, and when the pain fades and I open my eyes, more tattoos cover my skin.

For a startling moment, I realize I’m no longer connected to the students and hybrids, but they’re all blinking, clear-eyed, and looking just as bewildered as I am. Black whirls mark their skin, matching the extra tattoos I’ve received, and I gasp.

“We’re immortal,” I say to my mates. “But how?”

“You didn’t just hold back King Malgur’s influence, treasure,” Galen tells me. “You linked to the magic in this land, and you told it they were worthy. I guess the shadow realm listened. That wasn’t just your power, but the power of the land itself.”

I think of that ancient voice, and goosebumps race along my skin. I’d told the shadow realm that the students were worthy of being saved, and it had listened.

Surprise has me reeling, and I can barely keep back my tears as I see Leira and Kenzie. Leira no longer has her sword poised at my friend, and they’re crying as they embrace one another.

But all they have is seconds. Mere seconds for their reunion, and then all the students and hybrids peer at me.

Their voices whisper against my ear in unison, finishing the prophecy: For without you…there will be no times at all.