Page 46 of A Curse So Cruel (Fated Mates of Shadowbone Academy #1)

Chapter Thirty-Two

~ Shade ~

A fter the guys leave, I distract myself by spending the next few hours devouring one of the books Galen left for me.

It’s the strangest read about a minotaur on a farm, but it’s oddly addictive.

By the end I’m not sure what I just read, but I do know I need a minotaur and stat.

I also realize I must have read it before, because an image appears in my mind.

I picture a plush green couch, and a flowerpot on a windowsill that seems all too familiar, but when I try to focus on the image, it disappears.

Placing down the book, I yawn loudly and stretch, my gaze straying to the locked door that leads to the corridor.

It has been hours, and the guys still aren’t back.

I think about how tense they were when they left, and a twinge of worry makes me unsettled.

I hardly know anything about the shadow queen, but they didn’t seem too happy that she was here unexpectedly.

And what was that about the other originals?

What if they’re all actually enemies, and the guys don’t know how to play nice?

My thoughts start to spiral, but I talk myself down.

Calm down, Shade. You’re being ridiculous.

They’re immortal beings and originals themselves. I’m sure they’re just fine.

Blowing out a long breath, I snatch a hunk of cheese from the silver platter Thane left for me, and I shove it into my mouth as I lift to my feet.

It’s the first time I’ve been here alone, and as I chew, I stroll around the room.

I study the elegant gothic décor, including ancient painted vases that look like they’d crumble if I touched them, and macabre paintings on the walls depicting battle scenes and shadowy landscapes.

A grand piano sits close to one of the windows, and I meander past it until I come to a polished black door.

I know I shouldn’t snoop, but what can they expect if they leave me here for this long? Besides, I haven’t forgotten that Galen still has my portal ring.

Turning the knob, I slowly push the door open.

This room is similar to Thane’s, but the bed is slightly smaller, and paintings of different shadow creatures cover the walls.

Their eyes seem to follow me as I move about the space, and I take note of the overflowing rack of weapons near the window, and the rumpled silk bedsheets.

Raith’s scent is heavy in the air, and I’m tempted to crawl into his bed and take a nap, but that’s not what I’m here for.

I don’t know how much time I have, so I leave the room, softly closing the door and making my way across the living room.

When I come to another door and push it open, I instantly know I’ve found Galen’s room.

Lines of bookshelves cover the walls on three sides, and every space on the shelves is filled.

I half wonder why Galen didn’t simply send me in here, but then again, I guess I can understand it.

He was probably worried I’d rearrange his shelves and mess with his ordering system. It’s something I would be wary of.

There’s not much else in here besides the bed, a leather armchair, and a coffee table, so I start by searching the shelves for my portal ring.

It takes me ages, but I search every book, flipping through them and half expecting to find one with pages hollowed out and a secret area where he’s keeping my ring.

When I don’t find anything, I hunt around, running my hands on the walls and furniture, searching for a hidden compartment or anywhere he might be keeping it.

Hours go by, but when my search doesn’t turn up anything, I’m about to head back into the living room, when I notice there’s something strange with the wooden pattern carved into the bedframe.

At one point, there’s a disruption in the swirling pattern.

It’s barely noticeable, except for the slightest extra dip in the wood.

I press my fingers against it, and a tiny, circular compartment opens.

There’s a tiny chink as my portal ring rocks in the small wooden box, and I fist bump the air.

Now that’s what I’m talking about! I take out the ring, running my fingers over the tiny crow and pressing it to my chest. Then, without wasting time, I tuck it into the front of my dress, and I carefully close the compartment.

Venturing back into the main living area, I scan the space again.

For a moment, I’m tempted to duck into Knox’s room seeing as it’s the only one I haven’t been in, but I decide against it.

For one, the man probably has the place booby trapped or something, considering his personality, and for the other…

I’m pretty sure the guy would think it was a violation of his privacy.

Galen and Raith might forgive my intrusion, but I doubt Knox would feel the same way.

Getting restless again, I use the washroom, and I pace the living room. Outside, the pale light is darkening as night descends on the academy, and once again, I find myself worrying about the guys. Why would a meeting with the queen be taking this long?

I walk over to the door that leads to the corridor and hesitate.

It’s not like I would go anywhere, but I have the annoying urge to poke my head out and check if I can see anything in the corridor.

It’s stupid, because the door is locked, but I can’t help myself.

Lifting my hand, I grab the brass doorknob and twist. See, Shade, you’re wasting your time, it’s ? —

One little tug and the door opens, swinging inward. I stand there in stunned silence, staring into the dimly lit corridor. What the hell? On the wall opposite the door, two familiar shadows are staring straight at me.

“Oh, it’s about time, girl,” Elgen rasps in my head, sounding a little like a scolding mother as she looks me over.

“Told you they hadn’t murdered her,” Tarlaz adds. “They like her.”

I poke my head through the doorway and peer down the corridor on both sides. The space is empty, and the corridor stretches on, eerily quiet. Of course it is. “How long have you been here?” I ask the shadows, pleasantly surprised to see them.

“Not long,” Elgen replies, though I get the feeling she’s lying. “But we had to see for ourselves if you were alive. Especially because that roommate of yours has been quite distraught and has been making a fuss.”

“Yes, I imagine she’ll be quite relieved when she sees you,” Tarlaz adds.

“Wait. What?” Shock hits me, followed by guilt that trickles through my system. The guys had said they’d told Kenzie about me, and she was doing okay. Did they lie? My stomach sinks. “What have the professors told the students about my disappearance?”

“As far as I can tell, not much,” Elgen rasps. “But people go missing here all the time, and life goes on for the masses.”

I frown. I try to stay positive about the situation, because surely the guys must have a reason for lying, but then I remind myself that they’ve found their mate once before, and that ended with them cursing her.

And by her, we still don’t know if it was me.

If they’re not telling students where I am, it doesn’t seem like a good sign.

I mean, I am possibly destined to destroy them, so I can’t completely blame them, but hurt makes my chest ache. I force a smile to my face.

“But it’s good to see they were wrong,” Tarlaz says cheerfully. “For now, anyway.”

I linger by the doorway, but I already know I can’t go back in there.

I can’t simply wait for the guys. For all I know, they might be having their fun with me until they decide to make me disappear for good, and I decide I have to let Kenzie know I’m alive.

At least, for now. She’s been one of my only friends in the academy, and I owe her that.

“Thank you,” I tell the shadows, remembering they’re the reason I’m still here. “I know you got help when I was dying and all that.”

Elgen brushes off my comment, but Tarlaz gives me a kind smile. “Couldn’t have you leaving just yet, now could we?”

I grin. “And speaking of leaving, do you think you can show me the way to my dorm?” I peer at the ceiling and at the strange, inked map. The blobs of black still make no sense to me, but I take note of the symbol in this corridor.

“We can,” Elgen says shrewdly. “And in return what will you do for us?”

“I’m already in your debt.” I laugh. “Is there something you want?”

“Ooh, ooh, pancakes,” Elgen rasps. “Tell us about them.”

“Pancakes?”

“Mmm yes, the ones with syrup,” Tarlaz says, nodding furiously.

“Anything you say, shadow buddies,” I chirp.

Stepping into the corridor, I peer back at the room one last time before closing the door. Both shadows start jumping up and down excitedly.

“It’s this way,” Elgen croaks as they begin sliding along the walls, leading me to the left.

As we walk the next few corridors, I tell them all about fluffy pancakes with maple syrup and whipped cream. “It’s like eating clouds of air with liquid gold, and cream that disappears in your mouth,” I tell them.

“Mmmm I can taste it now, Tarlaz, how about you?” Elgen urges.

“Can you imagine something so strange?” he answers.

We turn down another corridor.

“I don’t get it. Surely you both ate food when you were alive,” I say. “You know, before you became trapped in the academy.” I pinch my brow. “Hold on, were you alive?” I still hardly know anything about these shadow creatures.

“In our own way,” Elgen replies cryptically.

“…So you ate food?” I prompt.

“We ate, yes,” Tarlaz responds, smiling wide and revealing a set of pointed teeth that gives me the creeps.

I groan. “Please tell me you didn’t eat entrails, limbs, or something equally as gruesome.”

He opens his mouth, but I hold up a hand, speaking before he can. “Actually, don’t answer that. I’d rather not know.”