Page 7 of A Curse So Cruel (Fated Mates of Shadowbone Academy #1)

Before I can protest, Thane speaks first. “She can’t be a runaway.

I remember every student who has walked the corridors of Shadowbone.

” He moves from my back, walking around so he’s staring at my face again.

His brows pull together as he scrutinizes me, staring at me more like I’m an oddity now than anything else.

“She’s newly selected,” Galen drawls smoothly. “It’s the only explanation.”

Newly selected? I straighten, and Raith lets my shirt drop.

“We would have sensed her if that were the case,” Knox counters. “Besides, we’re weeks past initiation. The selections are never made this late.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Thane objects. “The mark is there, and so she must be allowed to attend.”

Knox looks like he wants to argue more, but Galen and Raith are both smiling like they’ve already won.

“Excellent. Then I guess I won’t be needing this,” Galen says, patting his pocket that holds the memory stone.

My chest sags a little at that, but I can’t help but feel like I’m still wading into even more dangerous waters.

“Um…attend where?” I ask meekly, turning to Galen because he’s the one who has given me the most information so far. “What’s Shadowbone?”

Knox utters a curse under his breath, and his gaze is flinty. “Look at her. She’s tiny. She’ll be killed on the first night.”

Galen ignores him, his eyes sparkling. “Why, it’s a shadow academy, of course.”

“Shadowbone Academy? ” My stomach twists at the eagerness in the man’s gaze.

“Yes. It’s an elite, secret academy in the shadow realm,” Thane explains bluntly. “The shadow realm is a place that contains all souls after death, and that mark on your back means you’ve been selected to train and become a shadow warrior.”

I don’t point out to him that I already know what the shadow realm is.

But Shadowbone…now I didn’t know about that.

And I don’t think Blake knows about it, either.

It’s only then that I realize this whole time I’d been holding on to the thought that no matter what happened Blake would find me.

Now, that hope is starting to fade. Not much is known about the shadow realm in general, and I’ve never heard of this secret academy.

My thoughts snag on the other piece of information he’s given me.

“I’m sorry, did you say warrior?” I snort.

“Yeah, you definitely have the wrong girl.” I might not know about my past, but being a badass fighter?

Yeah, that’s not me. I’m more of the sidekick who watches from the sidelines.

“See,” Knox says, gesturing to me. “She admits herself that she wouldn’t be a good fit for the academy.”

Okay, so maybe that wasn’t the smartest thing I could have pointed out.

“And how would she have manipulated the choosing?” Thane asks him seriously. He shakes his head. “No, it doesn’t matter what we think. She’s been selected. She can’t fight her fate, and neither can we.”

Knox continues to glare at me, but he doesn’t have an answer for that.

Thane turns his attention back to me. “Shadowbone consists of individuals who have been hand-selected to train and fight against a rising dark force in the shadow realm. We keep the souls where they should be, and protect against the dark beings who would bring about the end to all. Students are all humans who would have otherwise died in the near future. Instead of death, they’re given the option to become shadow warriors instead.

Graduate from the academy, and you gain immortality. ”

I want to focus on the whole immortality bit, but I’m still reeling from the dying part. “Wait. Am I about to die? How long do I have?”

Galen smiles reassuringly. “There’s no way to know for sure. It could be days, or it could be weeks. Either way, it doesn’t have to be like that. Join Shadowbone and like Thane said, you have a chance at immortality instead.”

I shake my head. “Okay, so let me get this straight. Somehow, a select few humans who are about to die, are instead marked as candidates to join your secret academy? Then, instead of dying, they can choose to attend this academy where they learn to become shadow warriors and serve in the shadow realm? Oh, and they may become immortals, but only if they graduate?” My head is spinning, and I wish I could sit down right now.

“Don’t forget the magic,” Raith says, grinning.

“If you graduate, you get shadow powers.” As he says it, shadows start swirling around him like snakes, and I have to say, as much as being a human is great, I have to admit powers would be handy.

It would be nice not to always feel like the powerless sidekick.

At that thought, my mind goes to Blake. She is seriously going to kill me.

I need to get my hands on my portal ring, and I internally curse Galen for being so handsy and taking what wasn’t his.

I’m still not sure why he hasn’t outed me to the others, and I know I could talk about it.

I could let them all know that I’m Queen Blake’s close friend.

I could warn them about what would happen if they take me, but I’m still doubtful Blake even knows about this academy, and I decide it’s better if I keep my mouth shut about her for now.

Mentally, I tell myself I’ll find a way to get my hands on my ring again.

I lick my lips. “Okay, so you’re saying if I refuse to attend this academy, I’ll simply die here?”

“Yes,” Galen drawls. “And if you remain here, we would have to erase your memory first, so you couldn’t spread tales of us.”

I make a face. Of course they would.

“So you can choose death, or you can come with us, become a shadow warrior, and gain immortality and powers,” Raith says with a grin.

Huh. Tough choice, I think dryly. I remember then, something Knox said.

About me not lasting a night. “And what if I attend this academy, and I don’t graduate?

What happens to the ones who can’t cut it?

” Let’s face it, I’m barely accustomed to my human body, and I have zero faith that I’m going to be able to last and become a shadow warrior.

Raith scratches the back of his neck, and his shirt lifts, showing his defined abs. I try to keep my attention on his face, but when my gaze strays lower, he chuckles.

“Admittedly, many of the graduates don’t make it,” Galen breaks the news to me as he watches me intently.

I frown. “What do you mean they don’t make it?”

Going by the darkness that creeps into Thane’s eyes, I’m guessing it’s nothing good, and a sick feeling spreads in my stomach.

“They become lost souls in the shadow realm,” Galen says gravely.

I swallow down the lump in my throat. “And how often does that happen?”

No one answers for a long moment, and I swear the four of them aren’t telling me everything.

It’s Galen who answers again. “You have nothing to worry about, little shadow. Besides, I think we all know you’re connected to us somehow, so I think you’re best off coming with us.

If you stay here you’re going to die anyway, so why not try your luck? ”

“Lady Fate selected you,” Raith adds. “There must be a reason.”

Ah, that meddling deity, Lady Fate, strikes again.

I stand there, not answering straight away.

These men don’t believe I’m their mate, and for all I know, they could be right.

I’m tempted to stay here in the safety of the library.

To continue to reside in the human realm and find out who I am, but if these men are right, I’ll die soon.

Without my portal ring I can’t contact Blake, and I think of how devastated she would be to find out I was dead.

She might find me when I don’t check in, but how long would that take?

Not to mention, they’d wipe my memory if I stay here, and who knows how many of my memories they would take.

I blow out a long breath as I stare at the four men.

No one can fight against Lady Fate, and for some weird reason, she seems to think I can do this.

Sure, she has terrible taste in warrior candidates, and whatever is going on between me and these four guys is clearly a huge mistake on her part, but going to this Shadowbone Academy has to be better than staying here and waiting for death, right?

Besides, I get the feeling all the answers I need could be at this academy.

“And service as a shadow warrior,” I say softly. “How long does it last? Would I ever be free?”

Once again, there’s a long period of silence between the guys.

Eventually, it’s Thane who speaks. “One-hundred years.”

I almost choke on my own spit. “One-hundred years?” My voice is shrill.

“And think of the fun we could have in that time,” Galen says, smirking.

“And…And can I reach out to any friends to let them know where I am?” I ask.

Raith stares out at the books around us and the darkened library like he’s skeptical I have any. Asshole.

“When you graduate, contact is allowed,” Thane replies. “But not before.”

“Okay, and how long does it take to graduate?” I ask.

The massive man shrugs. “It’s different for everyone.”

Great. That means it’s going to take ages.

“We need an answer,” Knox cuts in harshly then. “We don’t have all night to cater to a single student.”

I don’t miss it then. The fact that he calls me a ‘student’ rather than simply calling me ‘human.’ I can’t help it. A thrill goes through me at the thought.

The four men stare at me expectantly, and I sigh heavily even though I already know what my choice is going to be.

Galen has my portal ring, and this Shadowbone place could hold all the answers I need.

I haven’t been getting any answers here in the human realm, and it’s not like I have much of a choice anyway.

I can stay here and wait for death, or go with the incredibly sexy shadow daddies who may or may not be my mates.

I mean, I’ve lost my memory, but I’m not dumb. Mostly…

“Okay,” I say softly. “I’ll go to the academy, but don’t expect me to become all badass.” It’s all I need to utter before Raith is banding his arm across my shoulders.

“All right!” he says enthusiastically. “Welcome to the club, sunshine. You’re not goin’ to regret this.”

From the look the others give each other, and the way Knox is glowering at me, I’m not so sure about that, but I focus on the bright side, at least I’ve finally figured out what my tattoo means.