Page 35 of A Curse So Cruel (Fated Mates of Shadowbone Academy #1)

Chapter Twenty-Three

~ Shade ~

E verything goes quiet, and Satine’s boot on my stomach disappears. I can’t feel her sword at my throat anymore either, and I suck in a deep breath. Well, that’s good news.

“Get. Up.” Knox’s command is laced with anger.

Rising to my feet, I stare around blindly in the darkness. “Let me guess? Nudity is against the rules?”

No answer.

“Kenzie?”

Still no answer.

“Okay, well this is getting weird,” I mumble. “You know making it pitch black in here isn’t the smartest move. There are weapons and someone could get impaled.” I pause. “You know, accidentally.” Or on purpose if Satine has her way.

The room is still strangely quiet, and the fact I can’t hear the other students cursing and bumping into each other in the darkness is starting to freak me out. Something icy slithers past my hand, and I yelp, jumping as my heart skitters.

I cross my arms covering my breasts. Not that I have much to hide, but my nipples are holstered, so there’s that. “It’s all good now,” I call out. “I’m covered. You can put the lights back on.”

Cool air brushes against the back of my neck making me shiver, but still no one speaks.

“Look it’s not my fault. It’s not like I wanted to dress like this for your class.” Of course, I can’t say I really mind, but I’m not pointing that out to Knox.

“What do you mean?” Knox’s voice finally sounds in the darkness again, and I’m actually relieved. I was starting to wonder whether he might have somehow transported me and dumped me somewhere horrible. Ugh, why did my mind have to go there?

“Huh?”

“What do you mean it’s not your fault?”

“Oh, that. Well, I tried to change outfits, and this is just what the shadow magic gave me. Honestly, I don’t hate it, but you know, it’s probably not the most practical outfit for swordplay.

” I pause before continuing to ramble. “Well, I guess that depends on the type of sword play because if we’re talking about?—”

“Being able to change clothing is a simple task,” Knox says harshly, cutting me off. “One that all new students can master, even the most…mentally challenged.”

Mentally challenged? What the actual fuck? “Well yes,” I reply, licking my lips as I contemplate how much I should tell him. “But like you’ve said before, nothing about me coming here is normal, now is it?”

There’s silence again for a while, and I think he’s gone, but then a rush of fire and ice seeps into me as his hand curls around my arm.

Our surroundings lighten enough for me to see we’re now on a shadow pathway and the other students are nowhere to be seen.

Knox leads me forward, and I don’t protest. Mostly, because the man still looks angry, like he’s one word away from losing his shit.

And also, because of that damn touch. Fire and ice.

My body wants more, and my legs start moving without me consciously thinking about it. Stupid body.

Bright side? At least, I’m away from Satan. Oh, I mean Satine. That girl has some serious issues.

“Is everyone else okay?” I ask, unable to help myself.

There’s a long beat of silence before Knox speaks.

And he thinks I’m slow.

“Why wouldn’t they be?” he finally replies gruffly.

“Oh, I don’t know. It seems like it doesn’t take much to piss you off. I’m just checking.”

“Your new boyfriend is fine,” he replies coldly.

Boyfriend? “Ohhh you mean, Jensen.” I grin because I could be wrong, okay I’m probably wrong, but I swear I almost heard a hint of jealousy in his voice.

“I mean the spineless bastard who didn’t step in when that student violated you,” Knox clarifies.

“Step in?” I scrunch my face in confusion.

“Wait, you mean with Satine?” Knox is definitely not making sense.

“Hold on, so you’ve scared the students into submission to the point they’re afraid to disobey you…

” I trail off before continuing, “but you think Jensen should have done something?” My head is spinning.

“Yes.” Knox makes a frustrated noise before correcting himself. “No.”

“Right,” I say because he’s confusing as hell. “Okay, well firstly, you’re the one who paired me with Satine. Secondly, Jensen isn’t my boyfriend. I was hoping he might be a tasty snack, but you’ve kind of screwed that up for me now. So thanks for that.”

Knox lets out a low snarl, but I plough on before he can speak. “And thirdly, I was doing fine before you intervened.”

“Fine?” Knox scoffs. “Is that what you call it? It was pathetic. She could have killed you.”

I try not to let that barb sting too much, but I still feel my throat constricting.

Swallowing, I quip back, “Oh please, Satine is just your typical mean girl. She doesn’t want to kill me.

She only wanted to humiliate me to make herself feel powerful.

Well, the joke’s on her because these girls are gorgeous.

” Smiling again, I drop my arms, exposing myself.

“They are, right?” I say, turning to Knox, because even if he’s an ass, surely even he can’t deny I have a nice rack.

Instinctively, Knox’s gaze drops lower, and I catch him staring for a good few seconds before he lets out a noise of annoyance. Shadows flick up, wrapping around my midsection like a corset, but it’s too late to hide what I saw. The desire that had been warring in his eyes.

“Exactly,” I say smugly.

He huffs. “I didn’t say anything.”

“Didn’t need to,” I tease. “I know you like what you saw. And I have no doubt everyone else did, too.”

That has anger seeping into his gaze again, and he roughly yanks me forward as we step from the shadow pathway, entering a spacious room with slats of polished wood on the floor.

Antique bookshelves cover all four walls of the space, reaching high above me, and I squeal a little when I notice that each bookcase has its own rolling ladder. Knox is so startled he releases me.

“Oh wow, where have you taken me?” I gaze appreciatively at all the books, almost drooling at the scent of leather and ink. “There must be over a thousand books in here.”

“You mean, over three thousand,” drawls a low sultry voice.

I turn to where Galen is watching with amusement from behind a long black desk at the other end of the room.

He’s seated and wearing a shirt with a few of his buttons undone, his signature attire, it seems, and my gaze snags on the exposed section of his muscled chest. Placing down the book he’s holding, he peers at me before turning his inquisitive gaze to Knox.

“Mmm, I don’t recall the last time you’ve brought me a present,” he muses, his eyes alight with interest. “But I’m always happy to receive.

Though, I must say I’m surprised you’ve brought her here. ”

“She needs clothes,” Knox explains coldly. “Preferably, something more…appropriate.”

Galen’s gaze trails lower on me, assessing the shadows around my breasts before lingering on my denim shorts and fishnets. His sensual smile grows bigger. “I’m not sure what you mean. I’d say she has rather good taste.”

“Ha! Thank you,” I say.

Knox gives him an annoyed look. “Don’t encourage her.”

Smirking, Galen drums his long fingers on the desk. “However, I’m not so sure about the top part,” he drawls, his eyes shining with mischief. “I need to see what’s underneath before I can judge.”

Knox stares Galen down with an intensity that clearly catches Galen’s attention. “One of the other students cut the straps off her top during offensive training,” Knox says bluntly.

I expect Galen to joke about wishing he was there for the show, but I’m surprised when a flicker of rage passes over the shadow professor’s normally casual expression. It’s gone quickly, and his seductive smile is back in place a heartbeat later.

“Make her something practical,” Knox orders. “She’s with Raith after lunch, and she can’t figure out how to use magic to conjure up suitable clothes.”

“Hey! I didn’t say I couldn’t figure it out,” I protest. “It’s just that the outfits never turn out the way I hope they will.”

Knox gives Galen a look, and the history professor chuckles.

“You’ll want to start with a top,” Knox adds, passing me a book to hold in front of my chest. His shadows fall from my breasts, and I swear the man sucks in a breath as he turns to Galen again.

“Don’t fuck her,” he warns Galen, and then Knox disappears into a mass of shadows, leaving us there alone.

I want to protest at Knox’s last comment, but what’s the point.

“I must say,” Galen comments with a smile. “It has been a while since I’ve seen him that…bothered.”

I feel ridiculous standing there with a book covering me, so I simply shift the hardback in my hands, studying the cover.

“Oh, I love this one!” I say excitedly when I recognize the title.

“This is the story with the hottie beast in a forgotten castle.” Then as I think about what happens in the book, I pout.

“Not sure why he had to lose his beast form forever, though.”

When I look up, Galen is standing directly in front of me. I hadn’t even seen the man move. His lips curve up. “A fan of the beast, are you? Then I suppose it’s a good thing you won’t find any princes here.”

His predatory gaze roves over me appreciatively, and my heartrate picks up, my body flushing with heat. I have no idea what to say to that, and the man simply continues staring at me like he intends on devouring me right there. Just that look is enough to melt my panties.

I lower the book, and he steps forward, plucking it from my hands. His shadows whisk the book away, depositing it back on the shelf, but I’m too busy staring at Galen to see where it went exactly.

“Mmm,” he says, dropping his nose to my hair and breathing me in. “Why is it that you always smell so delicious. Like a caramel latte with…” he breathes in again, “a hint of cinnamon.”