Page 103 of Shadow Bonds

“We all feel it,” Dakson says, and I find his gaze as it searches mine.

“Something almost draws us to you. A need to protect you,” he admits.

I frown. “Why?”

“I didn’t understand either. But now it makes sense. You’re an Alita.”

“Alita?”

He smiles. “A winged female Shadow.”

I give him a deadpan look. “Let me guess, rare?”

He chuckles. “Extremely.”

I glance back at the men. They all seem approachable, unlike the other male Shadows in our camp that glare and grunt at me.

“Why do you all hate each other so much?” The guys never told me about how their feud started. Just that they hate them.

“To be honest, I don’t,” he reveals.

My head whips to his in shock and confusion.

He sighs. “The other academy has very different beliefs to ours. We don’t cull our weak, we train them. Help them reach their potential. We don’t threaten them with death either. But we’re still Shadows at our core. We should be working together, not apart.”

We reach a huge tent, and two male Shadows bow to us before opening the clothed door.

Levington looks up as we make our way inside. “Sena. Welcome. I never got to properly introduce myself. I’m Commander Levington of the Volar Academy. I’m looking forward to having you at the academy. But in the meantime, Dakson will be nearby should you need help with anything.”

“Dakson said you needed to see me for something?” I ask, hoping to move whatever this is along.

“Straight to the point. I like that.” Levington smiles. “Do you understand what you are?” he asks, and I glance at Dakson before looking back at him.

“Dakson says I’m an Alita? But I thought there were no female Shadows? I mean none born,” I say, remembering my conversation with Robin when I just arrived in the academy.

Levington nods. “There are no female Shadows from Talos’ academy, nor has there ever been. But female Alita have existed longer than any of us have been alive. Usually only a female Alita and male Shadow can give birth to one. Even then, it’s extremely rare. And you’re now one of the youngest alive.” Levington’s expression turns sad. “Most of our females died in the war with only a handful of them making it. So, you’ll have to forgive us if we become a little overprotective of you.”

“Are these other females in the Volar Academy?” I ask, and Dakson and Levington share a hesitant look that I don’t like.

“I’m sorry, Sena,” Levington says with regret in his voice. “But I can’t risk telling you anything until you’re safely inside Volar. I’m sure it comes as no surprise to you that the two academies are not on great terms. We’re constantly on the brink of a war with one another.”

“Why?” I ask as I try push back the reel of questions running through my mind.

Levington gives me a sad smile full of regret. “How all wars start. One side believes in something, and the other doesn’t. And I’m afraid we’re at the point where it’s too late to try and come to an agreement.”

His eyes flicker to Dakson’s. “We have the war games. That ensure the peace is kept… civil.”

But what’s the point. “What do you win if you win the war games?” It has to be something big if they’re willing to put aside their difference and compete.

“Do you know why the war games started?” Levington asks, and I shake my head. I honestly never really thought too much about it either. I just assumed it was because they needed some form of entertainment or a way to prove who the strongest is.

“Shadows don’t have much of the original power left from the royals. But the crystal we have that contains some of their power is only enough for half of all the Shadows. We came up with the war games to decide who should hold onto it.”

I frown. “You’re both fighting over a crystal?”

“It’s not just any crystal. It contains one of the royals’ essences and helps the Shadows stay sane. None of the winged Shadows need to be near the Hollow for fear of going mad while we have it in our possession,” he reveals.

No wonder the other Shadows are pissed and want to win this so bad.

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