Page 68 of A Bond So Deadly

“Please! Stop!” I plead, twisting my hands together. I want to rush at Jensen and pull the blade away, but I know I can’t. For all I know, Jensen would use the dagger on me instead.

It’s not until I beg for a third time and Jensen has almost cut his finger off, that King Malgur orders him to stop.

“What is wrong with you!” I snap at the king, my chest heaving.

“Careful,” Elgen warns, but it’s too late.

King Malgur’s expression changes, the amusement vanishing and cold, hard disgust filling his eyes instead. “Commander Yevar promised that you would be different from the other students. That you’d willingly be the weapon we need. But it’s obvious you’re going to have to be broken, just like the rest of them.”

What? No. Panic makes my heart race. Why are there so many evil rulers in the realms? If I ever meet Lady Fate, I’m really going to give her a piece of my mind.

“Your Highness, I don’t think that will be necessary,” Professor Yevar says, but King Malgur isn’t listening.

“Take her away,” the king orders.

Jensen and the other student grab me roughly under the arms, and I struggle as they drag me from the throne room.

Chapter Twenty-Five

~ Shade ~

“Jensen, please!” I beg as Jensen and the other student haul me down the tunnel, their fingers digging painfully into my arms. “Let me go! This isn’t you.”

My friend doesn’t look at me. He stares straight ahead, his face emotionless as his iron grip remains on my arm.

“He’s gone, isn’t he?” I say to the shadows, my heart lurching. I want to believe that this is all an act that Jensen is putting on for the Xalgrith king, but there’s no life in Jensen’s pale eyes. Eyes that were once bright and mischievous. I blink back tears, because if Jensen’s like this, then Leira and the other students probably are, too. What did King Malgur do to them? I try not to think about it. Try not to imagine how the Xalgrith king broke them, or how he’s planning to break me…

“Don’t cry, girl,” Elgen chastises. “Tears won’t help you now.”

I sniffle. “That’s easy for you to say. You’re not the one with a flesh and blood body who’s going to be tortured.” The nausea is back, and I fight hard not to throw up.

“Perhaps not, but if you die, we will also be lost,” Elgen replies. “You’re stronger than you think. You will get through this.”

I don’t know how she can sound so certain, because right now I don’t feel very strong. No, I feel like a rabbit caught in a lion’s den, and unfortunately, this kitty likes to play with his food.

“I bet you’re wishing you were back in the academy now, aren’t you?” I joke to the shadows, because I’m sure when they hoped for freedom, this isn’t what they had in mind.

“That is still to be determined,” Tarlaz replies.

The tunnel winds downward and the air grows thicker, the scent of decaying bodies growing so strong I start retching. “You’re both seriously lucky you can’t smell this,” I tell the shadows.

Aside from the smell, the temperature is also rising, and warmth seeps into my boots. Sweat streams down the side of my face, and I decide I’ll never take cool, fresh air for granted ever again. “I think we’re getting closer to the lava pit.”

Eventually, our tunnel branches off, and we veer to the right, entering a narrower tunnel that’s almost pitch black. I’m jerked to a halt in front of a wooden door with strips of metal bolted to it in a zig zag pattern. Two Xalgrith guards stand sentry, and they unlock the door, pulling it open.

Jensen and the other student drag me into the large holding cell, and the smell gets so bad I throw up again, getting some of it on my arm. Inside, the only light comes from the open doorway, and I can’t see what’s at the back of the room.

The students release me, and I blink around in the dim light, slipping on something before I manage to correct myself and stand. Jensen turns to leave, but I grab his arm.

“Jensen,” I rasp. “It’s me, Shade. Tell me you’re in there somewhere.”

He turns woodenly toward me, and his eyes are unfocused, making me feel like he’s some kind of character from a horror movie.

“I really wish you wouldn’t look at me like that,” I whisper. Fumbling in my pockets, I hastily pull out his finger that I collected back in the shadow realm. The flesh is cold, and it takes all my effort not to launch the appendage across the room. It’s just a finger, Shade. A cold, bloody, lifeless severed finger.

Wincing, I lift Jensen’s hand and place the finger against the stub like I’m trying to stick it back on there. “See? Professor Yevar had it,” I say nervously, the words coming out in a rush. “I’m here to save you.” I look at the other student. “To bring you all home. Where are the others? We need to get out of here.” Of course, I have no idea how we’re going to get out of here, but one thing at a time.

Jensen’s pale gaze lowers to the finger I keep pressing against his stub. “Okay, so you might need some stitches, but we can make it work, right? Come on, Jensen. I know you must remember me. Kenzie told me how you tried searching for the students.” I give him a weak smile. “I guess you found them.”