Page 58 of A Curse So Cruel

I think of Galen between my legs. After our little chat, Galen forged me an outfit using his magic. Apparently, he has the power to create clothing that won’t randomly disappear on me, so that’s a plus. When I was dressed, he made me sit and eat some food, and then I was taken back to my dorm.

I don’t know what to tell Kenzie, so I brush off her question.

We walk through the forest along a dirt path until we come to a large clearing with a small amphitheater built in the middle. I follow Kenzie through the narrow entrance and into a smallstadium. The top opens up to the sky, and we find a place high up on the stone steps to sit.

Gray sand the color of ash covers the arena, and the students chatter amongst themselves, positioned in the rows of seating around us. Squinting at the students, I notice Jensen isn’t here. It’s not too surprising because some of the students have different classes, but I make a mental note to thank him the next time I see him. It’s not his fault Satine went at me, and I’m still grateful he took it easy on me in the beginning.

I notice the exact moment Raith enters the amphitheater. A hushed silence falls over the students as his power permeates the space, and he walks toward us shirtless, his muscles rippling as he moves, and his inked tattoos on display. A wicked scar crosses over his broad chest, and I wonder if it’s from battling a dark being.

Kazer prowls beside him, the lion’s paws sinking into the sand, and his leathery wings folded at his back. Rays of pale light bounce off Kazer’s powerful form, and his tail flicks as his large red eyes fixate on me.

Raith’s easy smile falters as he stares at me as well, but he recovers quickly, turning his attention to the other students. “Welcome back to Creature’s, critters, and tracking,” he rumbles, smiling at everyone. “The most interestin’ class in this godforsaken place.”

A few of the students in the closest seats giggle, blushing as they stare at him.

“Last week, I told you to visit the forest and practice spendin’ time connectin’ with your shadow beasts,” Raith goes on. “Let’s see how you’ve progressed, shall we?”

He gestures with his head to a guy sitting in one of the front rows. “Tobin, you’re up first.”

A student with more piercings on his face than I can count, rises and makes his way to the sand. Raith moves to the side,giving the man space, and while he keeps his gaze on Tobin, Kazer watches me the entire time.

The lion doesn’t even lose focus when shadows swirl close to Tobin, and a wild boar appears. The boar squeals as it sees Tobin, snorting and sniffing the air as it moves closer to the student.

“Good,” Raith praises. “I can already tell your bond is strong.” He then instructs Tobin to have his boar follow a series of commands. The shadow creature follows willingly, grunting as he complies and performs a series of movements that end with him racing around the arena, a trail of shadow in his wake. After a while, Raith tells Tobin to send his creature back to the forest, and Raith calls up another student.

That continues for some time, with all the students managing to summon their creatures. Satine’s beast is a striking white leopard with wings that slinks across the arena, its menacing red eyes flicking to me every few moments.

And then it’s Kenzie’s turn. Her gaze is firm but determined as she walks across the sand, taking her place in front of the class. Like the others, she closes her eyes, scrunching her brow as she tries to summon a creature. I bite my lip as I watch my friend, crossing my fingers for her. The time ticks by, seconds blurring to minutes, but even with Raith coaching her…nothing happens.

Satine snickers from the crowd. “Predictable as always. Professor Raith,” she calls out in a sing-song voice. “How long are you going to let her waste our time? If she was going to become a warrior, wouldn’t she have her beast by now? Put the poor girl out of her misery.”

Kenzie shakes with anger and embarrassment, and she snaps her eyes open.

Damn it.

“That’s enough,” Raith rumbles. “Everyone bonds with their shadow creatures in their own time.” Despite his words, going by the look in his eyes, it’s obvious even he’s concerned that Kenzie doesn’t have her beast yet.

“That’ll do,” he tells my friend and gestures with his hand to the stands. “Take your seat.”

And then it’s my turn.

I squeeze Kenzie’s hand as we pass each other on the stone stairs, and I try not to think of the students watching me as I make my way down onto the sand.

Raith’s gaze stays fixed to me the entire time, like he can’t take his eyes off me. I have to admit, Galen really outdid himself with the outfit. Kenzie wasn’t wrong when she said I look like I’m dressed for battle. For once, I don’t look like a half-plucked chicken waiting for the beach in a hastily made bikini.

Thick bands of leather and black fabric are molded tight to my body, leaving nothing to the imagination as it clings to me like a second skin. My top sinks low into a V, revealing a healthy amount of cleavage, and bands of leather cross over my waist, small knives fitted nicely and hidden in the fabric. Like Galen purposely tried to match the theme of my earlier outfits, silky black feathers are sewn into the thick leather protecting my shoulders, and my leather pants lead down to high, knee-length black boots that hold more hidden daggers. Raith watches me, enraptured, as he takes in my every curve.

Well, thank you Galen.

“Show us what you’ve got!” a guy cat calls from the stands.

Raith joins me in the middle of the arena, only leaving a short distance between us. “Ignore him,” he tells me soothingly, and his voice is low enough that I’m not sure if the others can even hear it. “Close your eyes and feel the creatures in the forest around us.”

I do as he says, squeezing my eyes shut. At first, all I can think about is the students in the stands, but I try to forget about them. I focus on the forest beyond the tall stone walls of the amphitheater, and it’s not long before I can feel them—the shadow creatures stalking through the trees.

“These creatures are some of the animali in this land,” Raith says softly. “Shadow creatures who understand what’s at stake if we lose this war. They bond with us, lendin’ us their power and protectin’ us, but you don’t own your creature. Every bond with an animali forges a partnership built on trust, and that connection is sacred. We end up relying on them, just as much as they rely on us.” He pauses. “Most students tackle this by thinkin’ they must coax a creature to them. But it’s not about ensnaring another being. It’s about openin’ yourself up, and lettin’ yourself be vulnerable enough that an animali can see all of you. It is the shadow creature who decides the bond, not the other way ’round.”

Opening myself up? Okay, so I’m going to suck at this then. It’s kind of hard to be open and honest when I’m missing so many pieces of myself, but I try anyway. Keeping my eyes closed, I take a calming breath and try to open my mind as I think about the creatures in the forest. I can feel their different energies, but none of them feel right. None of them feel like…mine.