Page 26 of A Curse So Cruel (Fated Mates of Shadowbone Academy #1)

Chapter Seventeen

~ Shade ~

“ I think I’m dying,” I wheeze to Kenzie, my breathing ragged as I jog along the dirt path on academy grounds, lagging way behind the other members of our class.

She laughs, rolling her eyes at me. “You’re not dying.

We’ve only made it one mile.” My roommate is easily keeping pace with me, looking like she’s barely even broken a sweat, while I feel like someone has replaced my insides with lava.

She keeps telling me that it gets easier with time, but I’m convinced she’s delusional.

“You don’t understand,” I rasp, desperately trying to suck air into my lungs. “I can’t breathe.”

“You’re just exhausted,” she replies, grinning. “Haven’t you ever gone for a run before?”

I try to think on that. I definitely haven’t done anything that crazy since becoming human. As for my past? Given how badly I hate this, I’m going to guess that would be a firm ‘no.’ I shake my head.

With every breath, the air scrapes against my throat, and I struggle to lift my feet as I hang my head, forcing my human body to plod along.

I wonder if I should simply flop to the ground and stay there forever.

That’s it. This is how I’m going to die.

Murdered during physical training at the hands of shadow daddy three—Thane .

The professor runs ahead with the others, his large body lithe despite his massive size.

Unfortunately, Kenzie has already warned me that I can’t stop.

Jogging for long distances is a large part of our physical training classes.

The idea is to increase stamina and endurance, and anyone who gives up is punished.

At first, I thought it was going okay. After Galen’s teasing session, it was kind of good to get some energy out.

But by the time I’d tripped over twice, landing hard and gaining scuffed knees and a scraped elbow, I was officially over it.

Add to that the burning in my lungs, and I think it’s safe to say I’m having the worst day.

“Go on without me,” I wheeze, hating that Kenzie is only staying back for me. It’s bad enough that I suck at this. I don’t need to drag her down too.

“What? Forget it,” she says without skipping a beat. “Don’t worry, it only seems bad because the rest of us have been at this for longer. You should have seen us on our first day.”

I give her a skeptical look, but before I can comment, my shoe lands on a pebble.

The rock shifts just enough to throw off my balance, and I don’t even try to catch myself.

I hit the ground hard, landing face-first in the dirt.

My bones jar at the impact, pain cracking through my body, and I sprawl with my arms stretched out, my chest heaving.

“Shit. Shade, are you okay?” Kenzie’s eyes flood with concern, and she jogs slowly around me.

She glances nervously ahead to where Thane has broken away from the group and is running back toward us, no doubt having seen my not-so- graceful fall.

Peering back at me, Kenzie holds out a hand, but I don’t take it.

“You can’t,” I tell her. It’s one of the rules of physical training. If a student falls, they need to learn to get up by themselves, without the aid of another student. You have to learn to help yourself before depending on anyone else. “If you help me up, we’ll both be in trouble.”

Kenzie worries her lip, indecision warring in her eyes, but a look of rebellion settles in her expression. “Screw that,” she tells me, holding her hand out closer to me. “You need help.”

That makes me smile, but I still don’t take her hand.

She starts to reach out toward me, like she’s determined to help me up.

“Kenzie!” Thane barks, startling us both as he comes up beside me. His dark brows are pulled low, his expression as serious as ever as his gaze swipes over me and then settles on my roommate. “You’ve been lagging behind the group for long enough. Join the others.”

Kenzie’s back straightens, but she doesn’t budge. Before she can say something I know she’ll regret, I blurt, “Girl, go. There’s no point in us both being punished.”

She purses her lips, begging me to get up with her eyes, but I stay where I am, making it clear I have no intention of continuing with this torture session.

The defiance seems to fizzle out of her, and she finally bows her head slightly.

“Of course, professor,” she murmurs to Thane, and she sets off at a faster pace, running to catch up with the others.

I turn my gaze to Thane. A sheen of sweat coats his brown skin, and as his warm-brown eyes remain on me, desire makes my core clench. I squeeze my eyes shut. He’s the reason you’re on the ground right now. What is wrong with you? I chastise my vagina, but as usual, the hussy doesn’t listen.

I roll over so my back is pressed against the ground, and I blow out a long breath, relaxing my shoulders and feeling like I’d quite happily let the ground swallow me whole.

“Get up,” Thane growls, sounding more grumpy than usual.

I crack an eye open, and for a split second, I swear there’s a hint of worry in his expression as he stares at me, but then his thick brows lower more, and he simply looks irritated.

“Can’t,” I reply, snapping my eye shut again. “I live here now.” I’m still breathing rapidly, but the air is coming a little easier now. Huh, who knew? Guess I wasn’t dying after all.

“You’re being pathetic,” Thane growls. “It’s a shorter run today. Only three miles.”

Three miles? Okay, if I’m honest I can’t actually picture how far that is, but I do know it’s more than I want to run. Just the thought of getting back up again makes my body ache. “Can’t,” I repeat. “Twisted ankle.” I add in a groan for good measure.

It’s a ridiculous excuse, because I’m pretty sure Thane would try to make me run even with a broken ankle, but I figure it’s worth a shot.

I’m surprised when I hear a thud near me, and soon after, large fingers start prodding at my ankles. The touch is methodical, but fire and ice races along my skin, making my calming heartbeat start racing again.

Thane curses under his breath, but he doesn’t stop touching me.

My eyes snap open. “What are you doing?” At the sight of him crouched near my boots, the air rushes from my lungs, and I’m breathless all over again.

Heat swirls in the shadow professor’s eyes as he stares at my feet, prodding at my ankles, and I have the startling thought that I hope it’s not because he has a foot fetish.

I mean, I can appreciate that some people are into that, but it’s not for me.

“I’m examining you,” Thane replies with a clinical tone as he removes my boots.

His movements become rougher, his fingers pressing firmly against my skin, and I’m not sure what he’s doing, but at one point his fingers brush against the bottom of my feet.

I can’t help myself. The laughter bubbles up, bursting from me at the ticklish sensation.

Thane’s gaze shoots to my face, his eyes narrowing. “Your ankle is fine,” he says as he slides my boots back on, and there’s an undertone of disbelief and disappointment in his voice.

I wonder if I should fess up and tell the truth, but then I think of how far he’ll make me run. What did Kenzie say? We’d only run one mile? The moan that comes out of me is genuine, because the thought of running another two miles truly does sound like torture.

“No really, it huuurts,” I whine, scrunching up my face as if I’m in pain. It’s not my proudest moment, but sometimes a girl has to do what a girl has to do.

Thane stands, crossing his arms across his broad chest as he stares down at me. His left brow twitches, and there’s the slightest hint of amusement in his gaze.

“Have you eaten?”

“What?”

“Breakfast. Did you eat?”

When I shake my head, he looks annoyed. Shadows pool around him, and a chocolate bar forms in his hand.

Not just any chocolate bar, but the exact kind I’d conjured up the night before.

He drops it onto my belly, and I don’t wait.

I tear into the packet, ravenous now that I’ve forgotten all about the nightmares from the night before.

Thane watches as I devour each bite, and when I’m done, there’s a satisfied look in his eyes that makes my stomach flip.

“If you can’t even run three miles, you’re not going to last, cub,” he growls, though despite the gruff words there’s a warmth in his voice now that wasn’t there before.

Cub? As in, a bear cub? Oh hell no. “I’m not a cub,” I retort dryly.

“Well, you’re sure acting like one,” he replies. “On your feet.”

Fine, if he’s going to call me a cub, two can play at that game. “I can’t, daddy. I’m wounded, remember?”

His thick brows lower, and he gives me a steely look. Huh. Does that mean he’s not a fan of the nickname?

“I’m not your daddy,” he growls, though there’s no real menace in his tone. He sighs heavily, like he finds me entirely insufferable.

Good. If I have to suffer then he should, too.

“If you don’t get up, then you’ll have to be carried,” he rumbles. He says it like it would be a punishment, but honestly, I’m not seeing the downside.

Peering around us, I scan the surrounding area. Fog drifts through the nearby trees, and I think I glimpse shaggy brown fur and red eyes, but when I look again, all I see is the trees of the forest.

“What are you doing?”

“Searching for Rinoc,” I reply, distracted. “Do you really think he’ll carry me?” I ask eagerly.

Thane pinches the bridge of his nose. “ I will have to carry you,” he clarifies.