Page 26 of Bonded to the Fallen Shadow King

All three of them laughed, and the sound rang in my ears as they moved into the circle.

Still, they weren’t done. “Would you like to join us?” Ceana placed a hand over her heart, but the edges of her lips tipped upward. “It may be the only offer you get.”

Aelir’s hand slipped away from mine as I took a step forward. My heart pounded as I approached the dark logo with the wolf leering up at me. Of course they’d pair me with these awful ladies. Still, I did what I suspected Ember would do. I smiled back. “Gonna have to pass.”

“Are you seriously rejectingus?” Deallan’s head tilted back as the shadow surged around us. “That’s insulting.”

“I’m sure you’ve heard worse.” I tilted my head and saluted her.

Her eyes widened, but before she could move, the shadow swallowed us whole.

I screamed as the floor disappeared from underneath me.

ChapterNine

Briar

Ireached and kicked, searching desperately for something to cling to, but I found nothing as the shadows blinded me with darkness and cold. My heart lurched into my throat.

Was this purgatory? With my luck, that seemed fitting for what would happen to my soul after I died. I’d be stuck in some sort of cursed fae abyss, wishing like hell I could get back to Ember.

My feet hit a hard surface, pitching me forward. I fell onto my hands and knees, small rocks cutting into my skin. Irony wasn’t lost on me that the position was similar to last night, when I’d been dropped into the fae realm.

I struggled to find my balance as the shadows slipped away, revealing an even darker area than where we’d left. I lifted my head, allowing my wolf to surge forward to help acclimate to the world around me.

The other girls hit the ground around me, not prepared for the landing either. All of us lay haphazardly on the ground.

Under normal circumstances, I might have gloated but not now. Not with the air infused with the smell of algae, bile, and venom, bitterly heavy on my tongue.

Surveying the arena, I found stone walls surrounding us on all sides with water dripping down them as if they bled. The ceiling arched impossibly high, lit by eerie, golden crystals suspended as if by nothing.

I froze, unable to process what was right up above me. The light did not fill the arena completely, and dozens of enormous creatures with barbed tails and manelike fur hung upside down. They had bat-like wings that cocooned them in sleep.

Massive carved circles dominated the floor, each large enough to fit several fae on its surface. Those must be the platforms. Fear clawed my heart. This trial was worse than anything I could imagine, and it was just beginning.

Where the golden crystals hung suspended in midair, a strange, mystical-looking giraffe-size eagle flew back and forth over the circles with slow but flowing movements.

The hairs on my arms rose and prickled.

“Time is running out,” Ceana whispered. “We've got to get to a platform now."

Her words snapped my attention back to the ground. All of them jumped to their feet and raced toward the platforms.

I had to get the fuck out of here, yet I couldn’t move. What if my breathing stirred the creatures above me? My wolf snarled, forcing me to my feet. She was frustrated, and I couldn’t blame her. I had no cover, and the other ladies were making loud noises, so remaining out in the open with limited time wasn’t smart.

Water gushed behind me, and I spun around and saw a sea serpent emerging from black water, crimson ripples waving around it before it sank back down again. It was blue, and some of its magic wavered like light reflecting on water, turning those ripples a deep violet. It was huge.

I stumbled back a few feet, and a huff came from my right. I pivoted and faced a shadow-like wolf that reminded me of the emblem in the Ascension Hall. Its eerie crimson eyes stared at me through dark clouds that blended with its fur, and its burning-metal scent drifted to me in the coldness radiating from the area.

It was magnificent. I’d never seen anything like it before, and my wolf panted in approval.

A snort sounded from the platforms, and I tore my gaze away from the shadow wolf. I had no time to waste if I wanted a chance of surviving.

I ran toward a circular platform, my boots not making a noise on the dark stoneground. I glanced around, noting that four of the platforms were already taken. Kaylen and her posse were pointing and arguing on where to go, so I used the opportunity to run to the right, near a bear-like brown magical creature with a vibrant forest around it.

I swallowed hard, torn on whether it was worse to be closer to Kaylen and Ceana’s group and hover near the platforms or stay by the bear. Then I shook my head at the foolish thought. Of course the bear was the right choice. It had principles.

Racing toward the bear, I tapped into my wolf magic to run faster, not wanting to catch any of the faes’ attention. As I ran past, the bear tilted its head at me, and the scent of pine, hawthorn, and loam hit my nose.

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