Page 102 of Shadow Bonds

“Look. We’re all tired,” he says. “Let’s get some sleep. We’re back in the War Camps tomorrow.”

I freeze. “That’s tomorrow?” A bolt of panic shoots through me. I thought I had more time.

Theon sighs. “The war games start earlier than our normal visits and last two weeks.”

Shit.I have two weeks to figure out another plan before I’m forced to go to yetanotheracademy.

None of them really want to go. Of course they don’t. And why would they? They’d be forced to live among their enemies, in territory with people they despise. Day in and day out for an entire semester.

It’s all I can think about as I head into our tent in the camps. All I can stress and worry about.

Just as I sit down on the bed between Knox and Malakai this time, Dakson walks in.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Malakai grit out. But Dakson ignores him, looking directly at me. He heads straight for me, ignoring everyone in the tent and their glares.

“Sena.” He smiles and the others move around me while Knox tries to outright block me from view.

I shove him with a glare, and he rolls his eyes at me before attaching himself to my side. I pinch one of his hard muscles, and he smirks down at me, promising payback that I might enjoy.

He drags his eyes from me, and the heat instantly evaporates only to be replaced by cool ice. “Lost, Dakson?”

Dakson gives Knox a bland smile. “Commander Levington would like to see Sena.”

I pat Knox’s chest, and he glances down at me.

“It will be okay. I’ll be quick,” I tell him and them.

“Sena—” Theon starts as I move around them.

“Twenty minutes, and I’ll be back,” I promise.

Malakai grabs me before I step away from them. “If you’re not back here in twenty, we’re coming to get you.” He drops a kiss to my head before glaring over at Dakson in warning.

Dakson and I head out of the tent in silence and start making our way to the other side of the camps. Everyone from our academy glares at Dakson as we move through them while glancing at me with frowns and confusion.

Once we step onto the winged side, the entire atmosphere completely changes. No longer is it stiff and tense but the males are actually laughing and having fun.

“You haven’t bonded with them yet,” Dakson says, drawing my attention to him. I give him a questioning look wondering where he’s going with this.

“I can see it in their eyes. They’re not… stable,” he says.

I frown. “We’re still getting to know one another.” And trying to learn to trust one another too.

He nods, giving me an understanding expression. “You’ll need to do it soon.”

Bonding… It’s the least of my worries right now. But he’s piqued my interest. I never really asked any of the guys how we complete the bond.

“What exactly do I need to do?”

A heated smirk slides across his face. “If I have to explain it to you, then your mates must not be doing their job properly.”

I clear my throat, understanding immediately. “What happens if we don’t complete the bond?” I ask, but look away, not wanting to see the judgement on his face.

“The bond has already started. Instead of being tied to the Shadow energy, they’ve slowly tied themselves to you. As their mate, you’ve become their anchor. Should you decide not to complete the bond with them, it may not kill them, but it will force them to reconnect to the dark. And if not done right, they will unravel with madness.”

My chest tightens making the air feel heavy around me. I try to focus on the wings of the males and not my spirally panic.

The men seem to notice me all at once, stopping what they’re doing to smile or nod at me.

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