Page 9 of A Bond So Deadly

“There won’t be,” Knox promises, his dark gaze boring into her.

She regards him before nodding. “All right,” she says. “Let’s get this over with.” Moving back, she stretches out her wings, but Virelle, who has been silent this whole time, clears her throat.

“Your Highness,” Virelle says as shadows form beside her, creating a pathway.

Blake eyes the shadow pathway dubiously.

“It’s the quickest way to the palace,” Virelle explains, leaning back and crossing her arms. “Unless our methods of travel are too good for you.”

Giving her a cocky grin, Jorvik enters the pathway first, as if to show that it’s safe.

“By all means,” Blake says tucking her wings in. “Show us the way.” Giving me one last lingering look, the demon queen and her mates enter the pathway.

Virelle turns, peering at the rest of us. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” she tells my mates, and then she’s gone as well.

Resting his hands on his hips, Germain smirks.

Ambrose runs a hand through his copper curls. “You’re playing a dangerous game here,” he says, staring at where Raith’s monster is holding me again and pawing over me. “The queen was right to be concerned. She’s a risk.”

“She’s our mate,” Thane growls protectively. “Don’t test us. Not after all that.”

Ambrose dips his head. “Just know that we’ll be watching.”

“Always,” Germain adds, smiling gleefully.

“And how long exactly will we have the pleasure of your delightful company?” Galen asks.

Ambrose lets out a long breath. “Until our queen tells us we’re no longer needed here.”

Oh great. So they’re staying at the academy. Probably to spy on us.

“Or until she’s dead,” Germain chuckles.

Knox is in front of him in an instant, his sword at Germain’s throat. “Try it. I dare you.” His voice is so cold that I actually shiver, and there’s a darkness in Knox’s eyes that makes me think he’s already planning something for the original.

Germain laughs. “You think it’ll be me? Everyone knows she’s your mate now, and a risk to the war effort.”

Knox presses his sword harder against Germain’s neck, and Germain stares him down.

“Cut it out,” Thane growls. “No one is touching Shade. An agreement has been made between Queen Krosia and the demon royals. While she’s on these grounds, Shade is to be protected.”

I’m not sure if it’s because I’m simply emotionally exhausted from everyone discussing my death, but I wiggle until Raith reluctantly lets me down.

Now that it’s just us, I slowly move over to where Bonfang, Kazer, Arizak, and Rinoc are standing. In all the commotion I hadn’t realized they’d chosen their positions on purpose, but now I notice they’re all standing around the pile of ash that was my bonded creature. My heart aches as I move toward the gray pile and fall to my knees.

“We were bonded for less than an hour,” I whisper, my voice wavering. “That has to be some kind of record, right?”

The others grow silent at my words, and Knox moves away from Germain.

Coming up behind me, Galen rests his hand on my shoulder, and the warmth is comforting, even if it still feels like my heart is breaking.

“How can my heart hurt so much? We only just met,” I whisper.

“The bond with a creature does that to you,” Galen replies gently. “They say losing your bonded is a wound that never truly heals, but it does get easier with time.”

A tear slips down my cheek, but I frown when Bonfang starts nuzzling the ashes. His ears perk up, and when he lifts his head, his snout is covered in gray. The wolf sniffs me and snorts in my face, and I yelp as I’m sprayed by snot and ash.

“Bonfang!” I cry out. “What are you—” I stop speaking when he plunges his nose back into the ashes, and I swear I see something. A flash of black and blue. My heart leaps to my throat, and I move to get a closer look, craning my neck. Yes. There! At first, I think I’m staring at a charred rock, but then I notice the glossy black pattern.