Page 40 of A Curse So Cruel (Fated Mates of Shadowbone Academy #1)
Chapter Twenty-Seven
~ Shade ~
R aith carries me from the amphitheatre, and I’m glad because not only did he make me come once, but twice.
He said something about it being only fair seeing as Galen made me come without him, and somehow that makes them even.
Men. Not that I’m complaining considering I went from no orgasms to three in one day, and needless to say, my already aching legs now feel like jelly again.
We step from a shadow pathway, and we enter a familiar corridor, stepping out right in front of my dorm door.
But he doesn’t let me down. If anything, Raith’s hold on me tightens as he stands there, just staring at the door.
Instinctively, I bury my face in his chest as if his black shirt is feathers, and I’m trying to hide my head in there.
Of course, I can’t, so I simply inhale his scent, breathing him in.
I’m pretty sure he believes the same thing as Galen now. That we’re mates. Not that he’s said it, and in a way, I’m glad. It’s nice to be able to enjoy this without discussing how I’m supposedly going to destroy them and ruin everything.
Ah damn, and now I’m thinking about it. My thoughts sober.
My memories are a mess, and from the moment I’d turned human, I’ve felt…
wrong. Like I’m still in scattered pieces, and I’m not sure if I’ll ever be whole again.
I wonder if it’s something to do with the curse on the guys.
Maybe when they were cursed, the magic affected me too?
All I know is, the idea that I might find out who I am and get a happy ending of my own, is slowly slipping away.
On the one hand, it has been fun with Galen and Raith, but on the other, if they think I’m going to ruin them, well…
I’m not sure I want to know what they’ll do to me when they come to their senses.
Oblivious to my thoughts, Raith holds me possessively like he never intends to let me down, and as reluctant as I am, I know it can’t last. This can be a busy corridor, and we could have company at any moment.
As much as I would happily announce to the world that Raith is mine, that would only complicate things more.
“Raith,” I murmur, lifting my head. “You need to let me down.”
His jaw hardens, the muscles of his chest tensing. “I won’t let anything bad happen to you,” he says, and even though the words are for me, it’s like he’s reassuring himself. I want to believe what he’s saying, but I’m not that naive.
“Raith,” I prompt again, and I wiggle until he reluctantly sets me on my feet.
“Get some dinner and rest,” he tells me, his hands lingering on my shoulders, and his usual happy-go-lucky expression slowly returning to his face. “I’ll figure things out with the others.”
“What does that mean?” I ask, but Raith steps back into a mass of shadows and disappears, and then it’s only me standing in the corridor.
I suck in a deep breath trying to clear my head, because I still can’t believe everything that has happened today. Despite all the ominous talk about the guys being cursed, I find myself grinning. I mean, I did just have some of the best orgasms of my life. At least, as far as I can remember.
“Ohh doesn’t someone look chipper,” Elgen’s voice slides into my mind, and I look up to see her and Tarlaz watching me. “Glad to see you’re still in one piece.”
I can’t be sure if she’s sincere about that, but I smile at her anyway. “Thanks. I am, too.”
She sighs in my head.
“You shouldn’t anger the dark prince like that, girl,” Tarlaz says. “He could have killed you.”
I narrow my eyes at them. “What? That wasn’t my fault.”
Tarlaz tilts his head, considering. “Then again, if you’ve managed to ally with the twin, then your strategy seems sound.”
“What strategy?” I frown.
“To get the bigger one to protect you,” Tarlaz explains.
“No, that’s not a strategy, that’s…” I trail off as something else occurs to me. “Hold on, were you two…worried about me? That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? Have you been waiting for me this whole time?”
Elgen scoffs. “Please child, your death would be an insignificant loss.”
Despite her words, my lips twist. “Mhmmm. You’re starting to like me.”
Elgen looks displeased at my accusation. “We merely enjoy the entertainment you provide.”
“Tarlaz?” I question, because clearly I’m not going to get the truth out of Elgen.
“You’re the only one who has been able to hear us in centuries, girl. You are a curiosity,” he replies.
I cross my arms. “Yeah, about that. Why do you think I’m the only one who can hear you?”
“Your guess is as good as ours,” Tarlaz replies cryptically.
“We are zenali,” Elgen adds. “We were…changed when the academy was built.”
“What does that mean?” I ask. From my history lesson with Galen, I know the zenali are higher shadow beings, but what does she mean by ‘changed’?
“It means we are trapped within these walls and have been for a very long time,” Tarlaz says.
It’s obvious from his tone of voice that they’re not going to give me any more information than that, so I don’t press the matter.
Turning, I lift my hand, and I’m about to grab the doorknob of my dorm door, but I hesitate.
I’m not ready to see Kenzie just yet, and I have sand in places that sand shouldn’t ever be.
What had Kenzie said? That shadow magic can make you neat, but it doesn’t really clean you the way a hot shower can.
With my mind made up, I decide to head to the communal washroom instead. Thankfully, because everyone is likely resting before they have to go to dinner, the space is completely empty.
I quickly relieve myself, wash my hands, and move to the other end of the washroom.
The main bathing area is massive, with black tiled walls that reach as high as the ceiling, and multiple stalls where individuals can shower.
Right at the back is a long, rectangular pool with crystal water, and light reflects on the tiled walls.
I stare longingly at the water, but I hate the idea of putting sand in there.
Shower first, I tell myself. I’m stripping off when I notice Elgyn and Tarlaz are accompanied by a whole group of other shadows now.
They’re high above me, staring from the ceiling, and some of the shadows are making rude gestures. Well, that’s just lovely.
My hand hesitates at the front of my pants. “How did you get in here?”
“Same as we travel around the rest of the academy,” Elgyn answers bluntly.
“Yeah, but I mean in here, specifically.” I gesture to the washroom.
“Oh, there’s no barrier to stop us,” Elgen answers.
My brows lift. “But I assumed seeing as you never enter the dorm rooms, that some of the spaces must be off limits to you.”
“Oh yes, some places are, but the washroom is not,” Tarlaz replies. “I remember overhearing the discussion when the academy was built. We can enter this place. Yes. Always.”
Oh, great. I wonder if this is another one of the professors’ strength-building exercises. Wait…have the shadows been watching me when I’ve come in here to pee? I try not to think about it.
I contemplate leaving, because showering isn’t sounding so appealing anymore, but then I remind myself that I have sand between my ass cheeks.
Getting a rash there definitely sounds worse than bathing in front of shadows, so I try to ignore them and continue stripping off.
I mean, if they want to gawk then so be it.
Cat calls sound in my head when I remove my pants, but I don’t look their way as I head for one of the shower stalls.
“You’re not ruining this for me,” I mutter, and Elgyn cackles like it’s a challenge.
Oh, sweet paradise. The steamy water is bliss against my skin, and I hum as the water eases my aching muscles.
I stand there for a long while simply letting the water run down my body, stream past my eyes, and soak through my hair, but eventually, I force myself to focus on actually getting myself clean.
When I’m sure I’ve washed away the sand, except for maybe a few stubborn grains in my hair, I turn the water off.
I’m about to open the stall door and dash to the bathing pool, when I hear familiar voices and the sound of footsteps as a group enters the washroom.
Crap. What are they doing here? It must be close to dinner time. I keep silent, the cool air making bumps prickle over my skin.
“You could have warned me I was about to have company,” I hiss to Elgen and Tarlaz.
“This is a communal space,” Tarlaz replies. “Students use the washroom often.”
“Yes, I get that, but you could have said Satine was coming,” I point out.
Elgen cackles in my head, and I grit my teeth, containing my frustration.
“What do you think they’re doing out there?” A nasal voice says as someone turns on a tap at the sink. I recognize Paiton’s voice easily, one of Satine’s minions, and I strain my ears, trying to make out what she’s saying.
“How the hell would I know?” Satine snipes back. The water clicks off, and through the tiniest crack at the edges of the stall door, I see Satine and her two minions standing near the sinks. Satine is staring at her reflection in the mirror, her hands gripping one of the stone sinks tightly.
“Oh, that’s right,” Izzy teases, her voice unkind. “You wouldn’t know, because you’ve never had a private lesson with Professor Raith.”
“None of us have,” Paiton says. “He’s never kept a student back like that.”
“Shut up, both of you,” Satine snaps. “It’s not a private lesson. I’m sure he just wanted to reprimand her or something.”
“Sure,” Izzy adds, not sounding convinced. “For a whole hour. Did you see the way he was looking at her? I wouldn’t mind if he wanted to reprimand me. From what I hear, she’s still not back yet, so I’m guessing the professor is reprimanding her real good.”
“How long do you think it’ll be before she graduates?” Paiton drawls, inspecting her black nails. “Did you see her creature?”
“You mean the pathetic bird in the sky?” Satine retorts bitterly.