Page 46 of A Curse So Cruel
Knox’s scent still lingers on me, but that’s nothing new to Raith and Galen. There was a time when Knox and I often shared women, enjoying their company as well as each other’s, but after he found our mate, and she died…well, everything changed. Knox lost all interest in other women. I never met our mate, but Knox hasn’t been the same since her death. Neither has Raith.
I think of the new arrival to Shadowbone. Shade, her name is. After physical training earlier in the day, she remained in my mind, haunting me. I could still feel her small, fragile body in my arms. Could still remember the sweetening of her scent as my palm had cracked against her tight ass.
Fuck.After the class, I couldn’t concentrate. I’ve never carried a student. Never tolerated weakness in my classes, but this human disarms me. She’s stronger than she likes to admit, and I get the feeling it will take some effort to get her to see that. Despite her pathetic pleas, when I saw her on that ground I didn’t see weakness. All I saw was the girl who belongs to me sprawled on the dirt, her cheeks flushed. I longed to bring her to Knox so we could enjoy her together, but I knew that wouldn’t end well. She’s too inexperienced and fragile. So when the class ended, I went to Knox alone.
He didn’t question me when I turned up unexpected in his room. One look, and he knew what I needed. What webothneeded. But as my cock thrust into Knox, there she was. I scented the little human the moment she walked through that pathway, and I know Knox did too. Neither of us stopped. And she didn’t leave.
Her delicious scent grew stronger as she watched us, and I breathed her in as I fucked Knox harder. It had taken all my effort not to grab her and pull her onto that bed with us. To stop myself from positioning her beside Knox so I could fuck them both until the three of us were a shuddering mess. But Knox wasn’t ready for that, and when her gasp echoed in my ears, I let myself come undone.
And then she was gone.
Going by the magic I had sensed, Lankin had dragged her back to class.
My lips twitch as I think of her watching us. She shouldn’t have been able to create a pathway to our private rooms. If it were up to me, I would punish her for it and ease my need and hers in the process. But if Knox wants us to stay away from her, I’ll respect his wishes. Leaning back, I rest my arms behind my head.
“We can’t keep fighting this,” Galen says with a dangerous look in his eyes. “We can’t deny Shade is connected to us. I could barely concentrate in class, and going by the rumors…” his gaze slides to me, “it sounds like Thane couldn’t either.”
“She wouldn’t run,” I rumble, as if that explains everything.
“Yes, so I’ve heard,” Galen drawls on the verge of laughter. “So you decided to carry her instead.”
Raith is the only one who looks surprised. “Thane would never carry a student.”
“Correction,” Galen says, lifting a finger into the air. “Thane would never have carried a studentbefore.”
Knox already knows what I did, but his expression darkens all the same. “We haven’t ruled her out as a spy,” he says coldly. “And even if she’s not, we can’t afford any distractions. Not now.”
“She’s already a distraction,” Galen counters. “At least let us fuck her so I won’t have blue balls all the time.”
Knox whirls on him. “And what if she is our mate? What then? You know what our future holds.” His expression is fierce, and there’s a long stretch of silence.
I think of the prediction the oracle made. A part of the prophecy that has been kept well-hidden from the students. “If she is our mate, we have bigger problems than her simply being a distraction,” I rumble.
“Exactly,” Knox agrees. “So for now, let’s not add to the shit pile we’re already dealing with.”
Raith’s jaw tenses. “What is it now?”
Knox faces the window again. “I’ve received word from Queen Krosia.”
This isn’t news to me, but the other two stiffen.
“And what the fuck does she want?” Raith asks, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees.
“There was another attack yesterday,” Knox reports.
Raith and Galen curse.
Galen lifts his chin. “Where?”
“At the edges of Blackwood,” Knox replies. “We lost at least a dozen warriors.”
Raith curses again, and he scrubs a hand over his face. “Xera and the others?”
“Alive,” I confirm, remembering what Knox had told me earlier when I had the same question.
Raith and Galen both relax a little, and I think of Xera and the other five. The other six original warriors who came to the shadow realm when we did. It has been too long since we’ve seen each other.
“This is why we should be out there,” Raith growls in frustration, lifting to his feet. “We should be fighting the battle alongside them. We’ve been here forcenturies.”