Page 52 of A Curse So Cruel

I force myself to smile at her. “Huh. If you’d wanted to get me naked that badly, you could have just asked.”

Her top lip curls, and she presses her boot down harder as my nipples pucker at the cold. Of course, everyone stares. Notthat it bothers me. I don’t care about being naked. Hell, I was a crow for ages, and I never wore clothes. Okay, so it’s not quite the same, but what really bugs me, is that Satine thinks she’s won. And even worse, is the realization that if she’s doing this to me, it means she’s probably treated others like this, and that pisses me off. My eyes burn.

“You psychotic bitch,” Kenzie shouts, but two of Satine’s minions hold her back.

Fury makes my blood boil, but I focus on sucking in air, even as a strange tingling sensation rushes through me. Power passes through my ring, but before anything can happen, I notice the shadows crawling across the floor. They grow in number, the shadows clouding the air around Satine and me, and the students all take a collective step away from us.

It takes me a moment to realize what’s happening. My gaze goes to Knox’s, and I’ve never seen the man so angry. His power sizzles against my skin as the shadows curl and writhe around us, and darkness swallows the room.

Chapter Twenty-Three

~ Shade ~

Everything 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 thedarkness 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 nowhereto 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.