Page 82 of A Bond So Deadly

“Now what are you smiling at, human?” he snarls.

Great going, Shade. So much for doing anything you can to survive. Though in my defense, I didn’t realize smiling was a crime. “What? Can’t a girl smile when she sees a handsome face?” I blurt, hoping to disarm the situation.

King Malgur searches my gaze, and to my relief, his temper cools a fraction and a smile teases his scarred lips. But he still doesn’t drop the knife. “And what would your mates say if they heard such sinful words slipping from your lips. A compliment given to their enemy.”

“I’m sure the dark lords would want to cut your ears off for listening to them,” Elgen replies matter-of-factly, and her words help me keep the smile on my face. Which takes some effort considering King Malgur moves his blade, dragging it along my collarbone.

I hold his gaze. “I suspect they’d finally feel justified for their acts of cruelty against me,” I reply, trying my best to sound like I’m not lying. “I’m the only one who can break them and make them lose this war, so a part of them will always hate me. Even if I am their fated mate. I see that now. I’ve lost count of how many times they’ve put me in danger, and now Queen Krosia is trying to kill me too. At least with you, I know where I stand.”

King Malgur considers this, and his gaze falls as he takes in my new clothes. I’ve gone for a more conservative outfit, with stitched black leather that covers my arms up to my wrists, and my legs down to my ankles. Silky black feathers decorate my shoulders, and most of my body is covered. I was careful to try to hide some of my curves, but desire still ignites in the king’s milky eyes. I fight to hide my disgust as he appreciates my body before finally returning his gaze to my face.

“It’s good to see she’s had a change of heart,” the king muses to Professor Yevar, who has been standing silently nearby.

“I told you she’d come to see reason,” Professor Yevar replies confidently. “She’s no ally of the shadow queen. She just needed time to realize that.”

King Malgur watches my face. “Is that true, human? Are you ready to be the weapon the Xalgrith need?”

I broaden my smile and rest a hand on my hip. “I’ll want assurances of my place here, but yes. The shadow warriors think I’m a threat. I guess I may as well prove them right.” The lie is wooden, but it’s enough to satisfy the king.

“Good,” he says, stepping back at last. He moves to pick up a massive sword from the floor. The blade is the length of my entire body, and I struggle to hold onto my smile.

“Because your mates are causing quite a lot of havoc in our realm,” he continues. “And I was close to skinning you alive and leaving you out there as bait for them.”

A chill slides down my spine, and I stiffen.

He turns his head toward me as he tests the sharpness of the sword, and blood wells on his finger. “But having you by my side when we defeat them will be so much sweeter.” His smile is a grotesque slash across his harsh face. “So, let’s see if you’re true to your word, and whether you’re the warrior Professor Yevar claims. Because if you’re not…” He trails off as his gaze flicks to a smaller, curved knife resting on the armrest of his throne. “…Well, let’s just say I don’t care how we defeat them. One way or another, you’ll break those shadow men.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

~ Shade ~

Okay, Shade, you can do this. Just show the king you’re powerful and that he doesn’t need to skin you alive. At that, an image of me all bloodied and broken comes to my mind, and a cold sweat breaks out on my skin. I picture my mates finding me like that, and the world tilts. It’s times like these that I wonder how I got here. How did I go from reading romance books at the library to standing in front of a psychotic alien king?

“I can’t do this,” I tell Elgen and Tarlaz as I face off against King Malgur. Once again, a crowd of Xalgrith warriors and hybrids circles the area, watching with keen interest. Professor Yevar stands near the students, his expression calm and assessing, like he has total faith that I’m not going to embarrass him today. I wish I had his confidence.

“Yes, you can, girl,” Elgen rasps.

“But look at him. He’s huge!” I say in exasperation as the king lifts his massive sword. He bares his teeth as he smiles at me, and my throat tightens.

“Haven’t you heard? It’s not always the size that counts,” Elgen replies shrewdly.

“Yeah? Well, tell that to all the men with big dick energy,” I reply, swallowing hard because it really is the largest sword I’ve ever seen. I snicker then, just thinking about how annoyed my guys would be to hear that.

“Focus, Shade,” Tarlaz chastises. “You promised Professor Knox you would survive, so that’s what you’re going to do. You don’t need to best the king. Just show him you have power. Ignite his interest in you.”

I frown. “Didn’t I already show him I have power by managing to resist his mind fuckery or whatever he tried to do to me?”

“The king doesn’t want soldiers he can’t control,” Tarlaz replies. “But he does want power. Show him you can give him that.”

I’m still not convinced I can even do this, but I let out a long breath. “Okay, fine.” Come on, Shade. It’s time to channel your inner badass. I mean, it’s not like you’re up against the massive, scarred king of the Xalgrith warriors or anything. Yep, I suck at pep talks.

Pulling myself together, I use my magic to conjure a sword. It looks puny in comparison to what the king has, but it’ll have to do.

King Malgur looks excited that I’m going to fight, but I’m surprised when he sheaths his sword. What is he doing? This guy seriously enjoys his mind games. There’s something in his eyes that has awareness prickling along my skin.

“Warriors,” King Malgur calls out to the crowd. “It seems the human has had a change of heart, and she’s willing to be our weapon against the shadows.”

Shouts and jeering erupt around us. “So, let’s see what she’s made of, shall we?”