Page 40 of Shadow Bonds

Knox does a double take. “What the fuck, Cyrus?”

He turns to him and shrugs. “She’s my mate. There’s no question about it now. You all saw our markings. I’m not wasting my time playing anymore games. She’s changed; we all can see that.”

His eyes widen as he points to me. “She sicced the Vims on us!”

“You left me in a pit of mud in the lashing rain. You fucking deserved it.” I move past him and head for the door. I need something to eat, and the smell of fresh coffee is only making it worse.

“Where are you going?” Knox calls out.

“Out,” I tell him, choosing to be the bitch he thinks I am.

“Sena,” Cyrus calls out making me pause.

I turn to look at him.

“Don’t block us all out. Check in every now and again.Please,” he says, and I see the soft, hopeful look in his eyes.

I swallow hard against the knot in my throat and nod before heading out, all while frowning at myself and my bad choices as I walk through the forest.

One kiss and a promise to be on my side and I’m already giving in.

I need to not be so naïve. It’s gotten me into far too much trouble before.

Glancing back, I make sure none of them is following me and that all of my blocks are in place, before heading straight to my little hidden spot.

Grabbing some food from the container that’s now kept stocked with food from the canteen, I wolf it down with some water before making my way to the library.

I couldn’t research much about Variants until I learned how to fully block them out. I can’t risk them finding out what happened. Not if it’s going to get me killed.

Heading into the library, I start looking for any books on dark energy and beings. It takes me a while, but I eventually find an entire section on it.

Skimming most of the pages, I quickly realize none of these are going to help me on Variants. And I can’t exactly walk up and ask anyone either.

The things I do come across though send an icy shiver down my spine.

Demonic possessions. Psychokinetic control. Malevolent sprits.

All things I never thought were real, but now that I do, I hope to never come across any of them.

Closing the books, I grab them and place them back where I got them before heading to the canteen. Grabbing some food to go and some extra to refill my little stash, I hide it in a spot before making my way to the training field near the obstacle course.

But once I’m there, I stop short beside the girls.

Instructor Dane is dead. Not figuratively dead,actuallydead.

Except for his head, which is on display on a long pole. It’s as if an animal tore him to pieces and decided to show us all his kill.

The men are still cleaning up his blood and entrails as I gather around with the girls watching on in horror and disgust.

Robin gags. “I think I saw some of his insides.” She gags again, and I pat her shoulder.

“What could have done something like that?” she asks, and I shake my head not understanding it either. I thought the academy was shielded from any outside threats. But maybe they did another test that I didn’t know about, and it slipped in.

The group of men are still cleaning up the mess when one of the older males with graying hair walks over to us.

“There will be no training this week. We’ll find a new instructor for you when you return.” He turns and leaves, heading back to the others without any further explanation.

I turn to Robin, hoping she’ll know what he meant. “Return? From where?”

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