Page 35

T hey still haven’t found who tampered with the obstacle course, but it was more than likely one of the girls. I heard Stacey and her group needed therapy after being stuck underground for a couple of days.

They must have had help by their companions or other Shadows though. There’s no way they could have created those shadows in the tunnel otherwise.

I push it to the back of my mind and focus on the four angry men around me in my room. I’m already healed and safe, but they just found out about the little rule of me having to pass the obstacle course for them to continue on in the war games.

“That’s why you wanted to pass it, isn’t it? It wasn’t just the privileges,” Cyrus asks, a strange look on his face that I can’t decipher.

“I still want those privileges,” I tell them and clear my throat. “But I also know how hard you worked to get into the war games. I couldn’t chance taking that away from you.”

Silence stretches out around me, and I chance a glance at them, finding Knox and Theon frowning, Cyrus looking almost sad while Malakai looks downright pissed.

“I want to strangle you,” Malakai grits out.

I roll my eyes at him . “After you feed me and let me take a shower and nap.”

Knox cracks a smile, earning a glare from Malakai.

“We’re a team now, right?” Theon asks, and I swallow hard before nodding. “Then that means you talk to us. We have your back as much as you have ours.”

I sigh. “I didn’t know someone sabotaged the obstacle course. Robin went on right before me, and all of it was fine. Besides, I was going to tell you…” I wince. “ After it was over.”

Theon narrows his eyes on me. “Next time tell us as soon as you find out.”

“I’m trying,” I tell them with nothing but honesty in my voice. “I’m learning to trust you all as much as you are me. But sharing everything isn’t something I’m used to. It’s going to take a minute.”

“We’ll try to be better too,” Cyrus promises and then sighs, sharing a look with the others. And I can tell there’s something they’re hesitant to tell me.

“What now?” I ask with a groan.

“Your brother is here,” Theon says.

I freeze. “Why?”

“He said he missed his little sister and wanted to see her,” Knox says rolling his eyes.

More like terrorize. Then I remember they lied about sending my mates to the Void and that they no longer have any hold over me. And it’s about time they figured that out too.

I shove my blankets off me and throw on some clothes. “Let’s get this over with.” Heading downstairs, I hear someone follow me and glance over my shoulder to find Malakai glaring at me. We pass the kitchen, making it to the door before he speaks.

“I don’t trust him,” he says, clenching his jaw.

“That makes two of us,” I tell him before opening the door. He stops me before I head out, gripping my chin and tilting my face up to his.

“Stay close to the house,” Malakai orders before dipping down and brushing his lips across mine and kissing me but pulling back just as quick.

“Since you asked so nicely.” I lick my lips and watch his eyes zero in on my tongue, his gaze growing hungry.

He moves toward me, but I step back with a smile.

He shakes his head at me but looks a little more relaxed than a moment ago. “Be careful.”

“I’m not the one you should be warning,” I tell him with a confidence I shouldn’t have. But it gets the reaction I was hoping, and he chuckles as I head outside to the forest.

It takes me a couple of minutes, but I eventually find the dickhead leaning against a tree, looking like he hasn’t a worry in the world.

He sees me coming and steps out from the shadowed spot, moving toward me. “You better have found what we’re looking for or?—”

I keep moving and don’t stop until I’m in front of him, punching him in the face, breaking his nose.

Staggering back, he stumbles over a branch and falls to the ground, glaring up at me with nothing but venom in his eyes.

“You’re going to pay for that, you stupid little bitch,” he snarls.

“I’m not the old Sena you knew. Go find someone else to play mind games with.”

He gets to his feet and starts toward me but pauses when I don’t look like I’m about to back down or run off frightened. “You’re different.”

“Glad you noticed. Now get the hell way from me,” I warn him.

“I already know you lied about my mates being sent to the Void, so you have nothing to use on me. Tell dear mother and father they also can go fuck themselves. Preferably far, far away from me. From here on out, I want nothing to do with any of you.” I turn to walk away when he chuckles, making the hairs on my arms stand up.

“You’re going to listen to me, or I’ll tell your little mates and everyone here about the little secret we’ve kept so long for you,” he says with far too much smugness in his tone.

I whip around to him. “What secret?”

He gives me a vicious smile in reply, and it crawls down my back like ice.

“ W e were paid so much money to hide you and what you are.” His eyes flicker to mine, and I try to mask the spear of shock that rushes through me. “You’re not actually blood related to us,” he reveals.

“Thank fuck,” I tell him, and he glares at me.

“You don’t belong here,” he says, and I freeze.

“What do you mean? Are you trying to tell me I don’t have any Shadow DNA?” Because my shield and other strange abilities would beg to differ.

He rolls his eyes. “You do. But it’s not this academy you belong to.”

Relief fills me. “It doesn’t matter. I’m here now. So, take your?—”

He whips out a vial with sparkling water and flings some of the water on me.

“What was…” I start, but gasp when a slicing pain shoots from my back just before huge white wings slice two large cuts through my top and fan out around me.

Wings… I have wings. They’re beautiful. Soft and feathery. But also fucking large and heavy.

“As you can see, you have wings.” The dick points out as I stare at them in silent shock.

“Why did they send me here? Why not send me to the other academy from the start?” I ask, while trying not to spiral into a pit of panic.

He shrugs, his expression indifferent. “We were told to.”

“By who?” I press, hoping for some type of information that’s useful.

“We don’t know, nor do we care.” He sprinkles me with the vial of sparkly water again, and I gasp as the wings retract and slide back into my back, disappearing once more.

“You think your mates won’t care if they find out you belong with their enemies?” he asks.

Not only will they care, but it will also probably destroy them.

I glance at him, and he smiles at me like he’s already won. And I hate to admit it, but I think he has too. At least when it comes to this.

Looking all too happy with himself, even with a broken nose, he steps closer to me. “Now. This is what we’re going to do…”