Page 29 of Bonded to the Fallen Shadow King

Horrible creatures appeared in the shadows, sickening shapes that shifted and moved, filling the edges of the chamber. My stomach lurched as I took in what they were–spiders, eels, snakes, scorpions, and there was no telling what else.

Dear Fate. This was like living through an actual nightmare. Ihatedspiders more than anything.

“What the feck do you think you’re doing?” a fae woman wearing a teal medallion yelled.

My attention snapped to Kaylen, who was now on a platform she hadn’t claimed, removing a crystal from its center. The shield light morphed from a deep teal to a lighter teal. She dashed back to the one she’d claimed and put the crystal in hers instead.

Gritting my teeth, I fisted my hands. Of course Kaylen would steal from others. She had no morals as long as her actions benefited her. Still, it didn’t change the fact that the others needed to get crystals of their own. “You all go before the easiest-to-reach crystals are taken.”

“We can’t leave the platform unattended!” Myantha clasped her hands in front of her chest. “Someone will take it!”

Snakes, spiders, eels, and centipedes scurried over the ground toward us. Fae fought off the pests and hurried back to their platforms, where they couldn’t be surrounded.

“All the assholes are back on their platforms, so we should be safe. I’ll stay here to guard ours in case that changes.” I didn’t want anyone to stay here and risk their life against the powerful psycho-bitches when this had been all my idea. “You all grab crystals.”

Aelir clapped her hands, and a few bugs flinched back from the noise. “You’re right. We need to split up and get back as fast as we can.”

I patted her shoulder, trying to appear confident. “We’re running out of time, so go.”

The girls split up, racing for the bear area, which was closest to us. Everyone who wasn’t on a platform continued to fight off the snakes, insects, spiders, and eels.

Guard eagles had joined the gigantic Guardian one, and they were all flying back and forth in sync with each other. More crystals were suspended in midair, but most women were snatching up the ones closer to the ground.

My heart and breath synced as dread weighed on me. What would Ember do in this situation? I had no doubt she’d come up with a solid plan. Fate, I missed her and my other pack mates.

Soon everyone came back to our platform, slotting their crystals into the center. The teal shield grew darker, but even when Myantha placed hers, it still didn’t turn purple.

“It’s not full power.” Aelir wrapped her arms around her waist and rocked. “We’re not going to make it.”

Fuck. We needed at least one more.

My allies screamed as the spiders and crawling things tried to slither onto our platform, and I knew that collecting the last crystal would have to fall on me. Especially since the only crystal I could still locate was hovering near one of the awful beast-like creatures hanging upside down above us.

I snorted. That was the Sinclair luck, clearly.

My chest knotted and tugged with panic and fear. We were more than likely going to die if we didn’t turn our shield purple. The old dark gray reaper man had pretty much told us that.

I focused on the birds. There was one clear solution, but I had to time things perfectly. I had to be quick and strong, which meant I had to use the magic I had on hand even if it wasn’t from this world.

My wolf.

“I’ll go get the last one. Protect our circle.” I shucked off my clothes, preparing for my shift.

Rhielle stumped back a step. “What the scaff are you doing? Getting naked isn’t going to help! You'll be more at risk than ever.”

“I won’t be naked for long,” I growled, my wolf surging forward. My bones cracked as my spine broke and I landed on all fours. Fur sprouted from my tingling skin, and soon I’d transformed into my wolf.

Aelir covered her mouth with both hands as Rhielle raised an eyebrow. The others gasped, and my senses acclimated to being able to see and hear better than I could even back on Earth.

“She’s a shadow beast,” Myantha shrieked. “But without shadows.”

Without a second thought, I took off. My heart drummed, and the air burned in my lungs. The floor was dark and slick beneath me, but I continued running as fast as I could. My legs didn’t feel quite the same as they did on Earth, but I wouldn’t let that stop me. I had to make it back to the circle. I had to make it back before—

The huge bat-winged creatures hanging from the ceiling shivered and twisted. The last crystal shone in the dark just under the biggest one’s head, with a stalactite formation right next to it. The guardian eagle circled underneath it, which was the only reason I continued to run. No wonder no one had gotten the last one. Even if I had wings, I would’ve tried to avoid it.

My chest heaved, and I slipped, dodging snakes and insects as best I could while squashing others. A few stung me, but I kept moving. I’d show the fae that, even though they thought I was weak, I was willing to fight.

I raced past Kaylen’s platform and she yelled, “Of course you’re an animal!”

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