Page 51 of A Bond So Deadly

Lankin grows silent then, like the gravity of what we’re saying has finally sunk in.

Xera leans forward, resting her hands on the table. “I must alert the queen. She needs to know about this.”

Blake taps her long black nails on the table. The entire time she’s been watching the other originals as closely as I have. “Alert your queen,” she tells Xera. “As discussed, Shade can ask the zenali for information about the fold during questioning. But now, let’s discuss current battle strategies and numbers. Training for my generals is going well and we appreciate the hospitality, but my demons are getting restless and are keen to return to Seral. I want to have a clear idea of how this war is progressing before we leave.”

Chapter Nineteen

~ Shade ~

Kenzie regains consciousness soon after Germain leaves, and I rush to help her sit up, my hands still shaking.

“You okay?”

“She’s lucky to be alive,” Elgen comments.

“That’s not helping,” I retort to the shadow.

Kenzie winces, probing at her head with her fingers. “Not really. What happened?”

I make a face. “Unfortunately, Germain thought he’d give us a little visit.”

Her gaze flies to my body, and she tenses. “Did he hurt you?”

My lips quirk up. “Girl, you’re the one on the floor and yet you’re asking about me?”

“Well, that’s because I’m not the one who’s a target,” she retorts.

“She has a point,” Tarlaz rasps.

“That’s fair,” I reply to Kenzie. “Don’t worry. He just wanted to swing his dick around.”

She arches a brow. “I’m hoping you mean, figuratively?”

I give her a ridiculous grin. “I’m pretty sure even Germain isn’t dumb enough to be swinging his actual dick anywhere near me. Not when he knows what my mates would do to him if he did.”

She grins back, but then her smile falls. “Then what did he want?”

Sighing, I rock back on my knees. “Just to remind me how weak and unimportant I am.” I don’t tell her about the actual death threat. It’s not that I don’t think she can handle it, but I just don’t see the point. I mean, of course Germain wants to kill me. Besides, then I’d probably have to explain about the incident with Borshoz, and while I trust Kenzie not to say anything, there’s no point making her worry more.

“Here.” I take her arm. “Let me help you to your bed.”

She shakes her head as I help her to her feet. “No, Nellie is freaked out. I need to visit her in the forest before she does something silly like try to rescue me. I don’t need her breaking the rules and entering the academy building. She can sense something’s happened, and I need to show her I’m all right.” She rubs her forehead. “It’s not so bad. Just a headache.”

“Please tell me you’re all right, mate,” Thane’s shadow whisper reaches my ears, and I relax at the sound of his gruff voice. “Because if you’re not, Raith’s monster is about to start something with Germain that could end very badly for all of us.”

Crap. So I guess they’ve figured out what happened. That was fast.

“Yes, I’m fine. Don’t kill Germain. That’s what he wants,” I whisper back. “Okay, so he probably doesn’t want to die, but I’m guessing he’s trying to bait you guys. Don’t let him win.”

Kenzie stretches, oblivious to my conversation with Thane. “Any chance you can make the pathway? I don’t trust my magic right now.”

“And you trust mine?”

She stares at me seriously. “Girl, I trust you completely.”

I’m not sure if I’m extra emotional after the encounter with Germain, but I have to push back the tears that are on the verge of breaking free. I clear my throat. “Okay, but if we end up somewhere weird don’t blame me.”

“Oh please let it be somewhere outside of academy grounds. Mmm in the depths of the dark forest perhaps,” Elgen says.