Page 118 of A Bond So Deadly

Now that the battle is over, Queen Krosia moves closer, floating on a cloud of shadows as her magic whips out. My face stings like I’m burned by it, even though her power wasn’t directed at me.

King Malgur gurgles as her shadows wrap around his neck, and his face goes red.

“To think this war is finally coming to an end,” she muses, her eyes so dark there’s no longer any white. “Look how pathetic you are.” I expect her to launch into some gleeful victory speech, but she doesn’t. Her shadows sever his neck, and the king’s head falls, his eyes wide and bulging as his head lands with a sickening thud, followed shortly after by his body.

Cheers erupt around us as everyone applauds. Well, everyone does except for the shadow army, and an uneasy feeling coils in my gut.

“You should close the fold,” I say to my mates. “Sever the connection between our worlds for good.”

“She’s right,” Blake agrees. “The Xalgrith king might be dead, but it won’t be long before another takes his place.”

With a nod, my mates start toward the glowing gateway.

Knox tries to pull me with him, but I hang back. “No, don’t forget the prophecy. When the time comes to close the fold, four must stand against the bitter cold. Only one can make you break, beware the bond of your beloved mate. I’ll stay here until you’re done. The last thing we need is things going wrong when you’re so close to finally closing the fold. Besides, the war is over. We’re safe now.” But as I add that last part, the uneasy feeling I have grows.

None of the originals have said anything this entire time, but I’m surprised that when my mates stride toward the fold, Xera moves closer to me. Almost…protectively? I shake the thought away. No, if anything, she’s probably wanting to be nice and close when Queen Krosia orders my execution. Not that I’m worried about that now that the war is over and Blake is standing on my other side. I’m not a threat to this war anymore. Especially not after my mates close the fold.

White light beams down on my mates as they approach the gateway, shadows dancing around their bodies. The closer they get to the fold my heart starts racing, though I’m not sure why. Something touches my cheek, but when I wipe my face there’s nothing there.

Queen Krosia simply watches my mates silently like everyone else does.

“It’s an illusion,” Xera’s voice is a quiet whisper against my ears. I go to turn my head to look at her, but she hisses, “Keep your eyes on your mates.”

And now I’m officially freaked out, my uneasiness turning to full-blown fear. Blake, her mates, Kenzie, and the others are all watching the fold intently, so I’m guessing Xera is only talking to me.

“What’s an illusion?” I say to Xera. “The fold?” Fear for my mates makes me feel sick, and I’m about to warn them when Xera replies.

“No, not that,” she whispers so softly I almost don’t hear her. “I was so wrong to trust her…”

Xera isn’t making any sense. Something else brushes against my face like butterfly wings, but again, there’s nothing there when I wipe my forehead. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“The oracle,” Xera tells me. “There was a moment when Queen Krosia…Look it doesn’t matter, but the oracle asked me to pass a message on to you.”

“What’s the illusion, Xera?” I say, panic rising in my throat as my mates stand together, shadows licking around them as they face the gateway.

Xera subtly looks at Queen Krosia before averting her gaze. “The oracle said they remember everything, and that the only thing that can save us now is the past.”

I try to swallow, but the lump in my throat won’t go away. “You’re still not making any sense.” Something brushes against my arm this time, and I rub at my skin, frustrated to find there’s nothing there again.

“What’s the illusion, Xera!” I snap at the original, turning to her because this isn’t the time for damn riddles, and I’m really starting to freak out.

Xera’s dark eyes are round and fearful, and her next whisper is a cold warning against my ears. “The land.”

Chapter Forty-Six

~ Shade ~

I’ve barely had time to register what Xera has said, when the scent of burning wood and flesh touches my nose, and the scenery around us ripples and changes as the illusion lifts.

The surrounding forests with tall ancient trees become blackened graveyards, and trees still burn far in the distance, flames reaching toward the sky.

Ash rains down from a thick blanket of smoky clouds above, flakes gathering on my armor and landing in my hair. We stare in shock and horror. The only ones not surprised are the originals and the warriors of the shadow army. They stand silently as they grimly survey our surroundings, awaiting their next order. No one is smiling, including Germain.

The zenali howl and scream, wailing as their homes burn to ashes.

Queen Krosia lowers to the ground, shadows writhing around her like serpents. The shadows swell, her power reaching out, and her dark energy is like tar against my skin. My eyes water and my nose stings.

The queen closes her eyes and laughs, stretching her arms out wide as she draws more power from the burning forests.