Page 71 of A Bond So Deadly

Thane’s hand lands on my shoulder like he can sense my thoughts. “We’ll find her. Even if we have to search every inch of this realm.” His shadows curve around us, entwining with mine.

“I know,” I tell him. Because we will find her. Even if I have to carve through the entire Xalgrith army to reach her.

Thane squeezes my shoulder, and he draws his sword as dozens more creatures explode from the ground around us. Rocks and dirt shower into the air, and I spin, lifting my blade.

“Get us out of here, Galen,” Thane rumbles. “Now.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

~ Shade ~

I’m dying.

Or at least, I feel like I’m dying.

I’m on the floor, drenched in sweat, and my throat feels like sandpaper when my cell door opens.

I’m not sure how much time has passed. Hours, at least. Maybe a day. Shafts of light penetrate the doorway, and I force myself to sit up.

One of the guards drops a tray of food, and it clangs to the floor. The small cup of water tips to the side, and I rush to pick it up, desperate to save every drop I can. I bring the cup to my mouth, downing the contents in one gulp, but there’s not enough.

“More,” I croak, but the guards merely laugh at me.

The only other thing on the tray is a strange sticky-looking red gloop that looks…unappetizing.

“What is that?” I say to the shadows, wrinkling my nose. “Do you think it’s like, ground up meat or something?” The thought makes my stomach roil.

“It’s hard to say,” Tarlaz muses. “Describe what it tastes like.”

“What? I am not putting that into my mouth.” I might be hungry, but I’m not starving enough to try the mysterious gloop that looks like minced entrails.

When it’s clear I’m not going to eat, the guards sneer at me.

One of them uses his spear to point toward the open doorway. “Let’s go, human.”

My brow creases. “Go where?”

In answer, the guard jabs me with the blunt end of his spear, and I yelp as it slams into my shoulder. It doesn’t pierce my skin, but it’ll be enough to leave a nasty bruise.

“Move!” the guard barks at me.

Scowling, I lift to my feet. As terrified as I am that they might be leading me toward torture, the cleaner air rushing in from the doorway has me shuffling forward. I suck in a deep breath when we exit the cell. I wouldn’t say the air is fresh, but it’s better than what I’ve had for the past few hours, and I drag it gratefully into my lungs.

One of the guards walks in front of me while the other walks behind, and they escort me up the levels of the volcano, taking the stone steps rather than the tunnel path. Twice I almost slip and fall, but I catch myself at the last minute both times, and I try not to think about the lava pit.

I expect the guards might be taking me to King Malgur’s throne room, but I’m surprised when they bring me to the summit of the volcano, and we walk out onto a circular platform.

A warm breeze teases my hair, and I gasp as I see the land around me for the first time. A river of lava surrounds the volcano we’re on, and beyond that the rocky land is dry and bare.

But it’s not the land that has me going still. Positioned a few hundred yards from the lava are countless warriors, and fear curls around my neck. “Holy smokes. There must be thousands of them,” I whisper to the shadows.

“More like a hundred thousand, girl,” Elgen replies.

I stare in horror, not quite able to believe what I’m looking at.

Shadows gather near me, and Professor Yevar walks out onto the platform. He grimaces when he sees me before waving the guards away.

“You smell terribly,” he says with disgust.