Page 45 of Monster's Reward

We collided in an explosion of darkness somewhere near the fourth floor landing.

I heard Jahrdran’s shout from somewhere above us, then sensed him hurtling toward us.

My heart about stopped when I realized he’d climbed over the stairwell and was free falling toward us, but then his shadows exploded from him in a wave of darkness—shadows, according to the book on shadow-mates, that were destined to come to all mates in time.

Several of those shadows reached us first, wrapping around the Shadow Killer as we grappled mid-air.

My shadows and Jahrdran’s worked together, pouring over the Shadow Killer, wrapping tighter and tighter around him.

Then, our shadows in perfect sync, we yanked the Shadow Killer with us toward the floor.

We spiraled downward, in a tangle of shadows

Then, something exploded in my face, slapping me back so hard my shadows contracted back inside me and I was in my human form, falling.

At the last moment, shadows wrapped around me again and I was yanked into Jahrdran’s arms, his shadows cradling me close.

Above us, the Shadow Killer bared his fangs and roared.

His shadows had also retreated and he was now in his human form, but he hadn’t fallen because he had wings that were as dark as night keeping him afloat.

Wings, I realized, that had exploded from him when we were falling, that had slapped me back and yanked him free.

All I felt in that moment was a sort of giddy relief that he wasnota shadow-beast, though I wasn’t sure what he was.

Gargoyle?

Dark elf?

Something else?

I reached deep and dragged my shadows forward again.

This time it hurt when I launched them out.

They were weak and tired and so was I.

Still, I managed to catch his foot with one tentacle and yanked him toward me.

He got close enough I could see the fury in his eyes, which were dark and boiled with shadows, before he simply ripped himself free.

“I got a taste of your little leopard friend and her fiery magic,” he hissed. “She was delicious. When she wakes and discovers the gifts I left her, tell her I’ll be coming for her.” He grinned. “I’ll be coming for her and then for you, my little shadow-beast.”

Jahrdran let out a roar and lunged around me, but the shadow killer simply darted back with a laugh, then pulled his wings tight to his body before flinging them out again.

They exploded into writhing shadows that yanked him away, almost faster than I could follow.

He hurtled into the shadows beneath the staircase and was gone.

I sagged against Jahrdran, who carefully lowered us to the floor, where he cradled me against his chest, arms wrapped around me from behind.

The sound of heels approached, then a shadow fell over us.

I slowly tilted my head back and saw it was Headmistress Blackthorn who stood, staring down at us, hands on her hips. “Ms. Smith,” she said sternly, “impressive control of your shadow-beast. Very impressive indeed.” She gave one firm nod, then turned and walked away, leaving silence in her wake.

A moment later, the whispers exploded around us, “She’s a shadow monster.”

“Shadow-beast, the headmistress said,” someone corrected.

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