Page 81 of A Curse So Cruel

“Oh goodie, more company,” I mutter.

I don’t turn around. Forcing myself to move faster, I keep running, weaving in and out of the trees. Branches scratch at my face, tearing at my clothes, but I don’t stop. I keep going, and I have the weirdest thought that Thane would be so proud of how hard I’m pushing myself right now. Well, I think that until I remember what an ass he is, and I start scowling instead.Stupid shadow daddy mate.

I run until my legs ache, and I almost cry out with relief when I spy a wall of dark stone up ahead through a row of trees.Theboundary!Tears prick my eyes. I’d convinced myself I wouldn’t make it, but there it is, looming over the tree line, layers of stone that reach into the sky. Even from here I can see deep grooves in the bricks. Can I climb it?

Twisting my head, I grin when I find there isn’t anyone behind me. Wheezing, I slow to a walk and desperately suck air into my burning lungs.Okay, I just have to get over the wall. You can do this, Shade. You can—My thought fizzles out when the crystal in my hand starts to glow. Light ignites like an ember in the center of the stone, growing brighter the longer I stare at it.What? But that must mean the relic is close?I peer around me, but there isn’t anything besides the usual trees and bushes you’d find in the forest. Changing direction, I take a step to my left, and the stone glows even brighter. I pause, considering. I could try and find the relic and attempt to win the hunt, but even if it is close, what are my chances?

My heart pounds, and my gaze strays back to the wall. I can’t risk it. Not when I’m so close to freedom. And not when Thane and the others probably want to make me disappear. I saw what Knox did to Satine, and I can only imagine what he has planned for the mate who’s destined to break him.

I place the crystal onto the ground, because there’s no way I’m taking that thing into the demon realm, and I take another step toward the wall when a high-pitched whistle sounds through the trees. Instantly, my blood chills, foreboding creeping over me.No. Not when I’m so close!I stare at the wall.Can I run for it and scale the wall before they catch me?Once I start climbing, there won’t be any cover, but I don’t really have a choice.

Not giving myself any longer to think about it, I start running. I’ve only made it three steps when a twig cracks behind me. Startled, I twist my head to see where the noise is comingfrom. As I do, I accidentally veer directly into the path of a tree, and I slam into the trunk.Oof!

I cry out as I smack into the wood, and I fall to the ground, sweaty, heaving, and possibly concussed.

“Ohhh, did you see that?” A masculine voice mocks and lets out a belly laugh.

“Fucking pathetic,” another male voice answers. “They could have at least chosen a Token who would challenge us.”

Lifting my head, I blink a few times until my vision clears, and fear makes my heart hammer when I see six students stride from the trees to my right. There are three guys and three girls, and they move quickly, surrounding me on all sides. The guys are all older students, and I recognize Craig amongst them—one of the most powerful students at Shadowbone. But the girls… I stare at Satine with a look of pure disbelief. Firstly, I’m surprised she’s healed enough to join in the hunt, and secondly, after what happened I can’t believe she’shere.

“But I saved you,” I rasp, still struggling to believe my eyes and unable to keep the hurt out of my voice. I mean, I hadn’t thought we’d become besties after that, but I had thought she might be just a little nicer to me. That she wouldn’t, you know, be the one to hunt me down and slaughter me. Then again, she has already tried to kill me once, so I guess I’m just naive.

Satine shifts on her feet uneasily, and there’s a flash of guilt in her eyes before she blinks and the cruel expression she usually wears is back in view.

“What, you didn’t think she’d miss this, did you?” Paiton says with a laugh.

“This is our fast-track to graduation,” Izzy adds, giving me a crazed smile.

“And immortality,” Satine says, her eyes dark.

I wobble as I lift to my feet, bracing my back against the tree trunk behind me.

Craig’s lips stretch wide as he stares at me, and I’m guessing he’s the leader of this group. His shadow creature comes up beside him, and he pats the hyena’s neck. “Good boy, Enzorn. You led us right to her.”

What?My eyes snap wider.The shadow creatures weren’t supposed to interfere in the hunt.My hands tremble, because the chances of me surviving against these six were already low, but if they’re willing to let their shadow creatures get involved, then it really isn’t looking good for me.

“So,” Craig says, drawing the large sword from his back. “Shall we get this over with? Who knows, we might get extra points for finishing the hunt quickly.”

The other two men are evenly spaced on either side of me, and they creep closer like his comment was a command. They’re both wielding their own swords, and I fumble as I pull out one of Kenzie’s blades. Holding it up, I swipe the dagger from side-to-side, preparing myself to strike if they come any closer.Okay, no problem. You can deal with this,I tell myself optimistically.Just somehow defeat six students and possibly their creatures, and then climb the giant wall, Shade.I don’t tell myself it’s hopeless, even though the odds are definitely not in my favor.

“What the fuck? Can this girl get any more tragic?” one of the guys jeers. “You sure we can’t have some fun with her first?”

Craig sighs heavily like he’s been inconvenienced. “I suppose we don’t have to rush,” he replies, smirking at me and wrapping his free arm over Satine’s shoulders. “He did say he’d make sure we had enough time to get this done.”

He?I have no idea who Craig’s talking about, but I’m starting to understand that Craig and his group weren’t the first ones to find me by chance. Not even if they had the help of their creatures.

The guys closest to me start making vulgar expressions, leering and flapping their tongues in a way that makes it clear what they’re going to do.

I make a face in an effort to disguise my fear. “Is this how you treat all the ladies? Because if it is, I can see why you never get any.”

“You bitch,” one of the guy’s spits, and he grabs for me. As he reaches forward, I swipe my blade and manage to slice his palm. He swears, snarling, and a single shadow comes from him, winding around my dagger. The shadow isn’t strong like the shadows Knox and my mates can control, but it’s powerful enough to knock the blade from my grasp. I cry out, fumbling to catch it, but the guy on my other side darts forward and grabs my arm.

“No!” I shout, struggling to escape his grip, but his hands are firm, his fingers digging into my skin, and the other guy grabs me as well.

Paiton and Izzy laugh, but Satine shrugs away from Craig, drawing her own sword.

“We don’t have time for this,” Satine says, her eyes narrowed as she keeps her gaze trained on me. “We’re supposed to slay the Token, so let’s do it.”