Page 7 of A Curse So Cruel

The room starts to spin, the air becoming too hot, and I realize Raith has loosened his hold on me, distracted. Taking advantage, I wiggle out of his grasp. Before I’ve even made it two steps away from him, a dozen shadows curl around my body, sliding around my arms and legs, ice cold against my skin as they drag me forward. I struggle, but the shadows only stop moving when I’m in front of Knox. They hold me there as the shadow warrior scowls at me. Unlike Thane, he’s not gentle. His hand flies out, long fingers wrapping around my neck. Nope, there's no gentle stroke of his fingers, this asshole simply chokes me, not caring that he’s cutting off my air supply.

I gasp, trying to pull away from him, but his shadows hold me tight, and his dark gaze is unyielding as he stares me down. I don’t expect it to happen, but the moment his skin touches my flesh, icy sparks explode against my neck, chased away by a searing heat that rushes down my throat and warms my whole body. Wetness pools between my thighs, and his nostrils flare as his gaze drops…lower. Then, like I’ve burned him, he opens his hand, his shadows releasing me as he throws me backward.

I wince, sure I’m about to land in a crumpled heap, when strong hands catch me like I weigh nothing. Somehow, I know it’s Raith before I even see him, and Galen is there a heartbeat later.

“This means nothing,” Knox snarls.

Raith grins broadly. “Goin’ by your reaction, Knox, I’m guessin’ you felt it, too.”

Knox’s scowl only deepens.

Thane is still staring at his palms like they’ve been bewitched, and he snaps his gaze to me. “She might not be our mate, but she’s connected to us somehow. I can’t deny that.” Flecks of gold sparkle in Thane’s eyes as he stares at me, and for the first time, he doesn’t look so weary. Still, his thick brows knit together as confusion takes over his features.

“She’s just ahuman,” Knox counters. “She can’t be connected to us.”

Galen rubs his jaw thoughtfully. “Well, that’s not quite true.”

“What do you mean?” Thane asks.

“I think it’s better if we show you.” Galen shares a look with Raith, and Raith rumbles in my ear. “Excuse us, sunshine. It’s time for you to show them that pretty little back of yours.” His warm breath against my neck has bumps prickling along my skin, and I don’t fight what’s coming next. Mostly, because I know without my portal ring I don’t have many options. Right now, I’m pretty sure the tattoo is the only thing stopping these guys from wiping my memory, considering none of them believe that we’re mates.

I turn around, facing my back to the others, and Raith lifts my shirt until my tattoo is revealed—a skull and a black rose with petals that turn into shadows, is positioned on my shoulder blade. I’ve stood in front of the mirror for hours, memorizing every inked line of that tattoo. And also, the strange scar that cuts through it. The scar goes from the top of the rose right through the middle, and for a while I’d simply thought the tattoo must have been my way of trying to cover up the scar. Now I’m not so sure. I twist my head around to stare at the others.

“She has the mark,” Thane says, not hiding his shock.

Knox stiffens, his jaw clenched so tight it looks painful. Honestly, I don’t know what has crawled up this guy’s ass to make him act like such a dick. He’s even worse than Blake’s mate, Callan, was, and that’s saying something. I almost chuckle then, when I think of how Blake will laugh when I tell her my mates are complete duds, too.

Thane moves close again like he can’t help himself, and he runs his fingertips lightly over my tattoo. I’ll admit it feels weird standing there with my shirt almost up to my head, but there’s something about Thane’s touch that is completely calming. The moment his fingers glide over my skin, everything in my body eases, and I find myself forgetting how dangerous my situation is. That is, until Knox opens his mouth again.

“So, she’s another deserter?” he says coldly. “You know what we do with them.”

Deserter?I think of Alexander, and my body tightens.

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.”

“ShadowboneAcademy?” 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.”