Page 38 of Shadow Bonds

He sighs. “I need you to know… We’re all truly connected now. There is no out for any of us. Including you.”

My eyes blink open as sleep quickly abandons me. “What do you mean?” I ask while my stomach churns with fear.

I hear him as he swallows hard. “It’s means that after we bond, we truly become one. Meaning if you die, we all die too.”

CHAPTER 13

Iwake to the feeling of someone watching me. Opening my eyes I find Cyrus doing just that.

“Did you even sleep?” I ask, a little startled to find him staring right at me. There’s no suspicion in his eyes, no distrust or hard edge. Just a soft curiosity that examines every inch of my face.

“I did,” he says with a slow smile that builds, leaving me a little dazed. “How did you sleep?”

“I don’t think I dreamt at all.” I try to think of any dream I might have had after we went to sleep, but there’s nothing. I also feel much more relaxed, similar to when Knox stayed.

“Good, I made sure of it,” he says, and my brows rise.

“You can do that?” I ask, and he nods.

“What else can you do? Or is that something super-secret I’m not allowed to know?” I roll my eyes, and he laughs.

“It’s not a secret. Everyone knows our abilities. It’s one of the reasons they give us more leeway than most.”

“What makes you four so different to the rest of the Shadows?” I ask, remembering Robin telling me a little bit about the different types, but I still don’t understand why they fear them so much.

He reaches out and brushes his fingertip along my cheek, his eyes darkening when I shiver at his soft touch.

“Shadows are divided into four sectors based on their powers and weapons. Sentinels are blue. They’re the foot soldiers. Our watchers. They can form chakrams as their weapon. When thrown, it acts similar to echolocation, revealing whatever they’re watching out for.” His finger starts exploring my face, his eyes following it.

I try to focus on his words and not how his touch is making me feel.

“Seekers are white. They’re our archers. They can form arrows that seek out their target, and their shadow abilities ensure they don’t miss.” His finger slides down the curve of my neck, and I start focusing on his touch more than listening to his explanation.

“Shields are purple.” His eyes flicker to mine, and I spot the hungry look in them. A hungry look that must also mirror on mine. “It may come as no surprise that their weapons are shields. But they can also infuse them with their shadow abilities to make them more powerful.” His fingertip slides back up my neck and chin to my bottom lip.

“And finally Elite. They’re black,” he smirks as if he has some inner joke about that little fact. “Their weapons are daggers, swords, and any close combat weapon. Our shadow abilities are more powerful. More destructive. More malleable.” He drags his hand away but still stares at my lips.

“Even though we’re Elite, we’re not the same as them.” His eyes flicker to mine. “Our abilities are stronger. And on top of that, we also have our own individual abilities. Only one percent of all Shadows have a separate ability.”

I raise a brow giving him a smirk. “So, you’re all super special? No wonder you’re all so cocky.”

He chuckles low, giving me an amused look.

“What’s it like? Your abilities?” I ask, wondering what it would be like to have such a power. No matter what they think, I’m human. Well… mostly. If we don’t count that random burst of light that happened. It probably has more to do with them and their bond than me.

“Would you like me to show you?” His eyes darken with heat, and in an instant, he’s hovering over me with an arm on each side of my body, caging me in.

“What are you doing?” I ask, and he smiles.

“Showing you one of my many talents,” he whispers just as black shadowy tendrils slide from his skin and wrap around my arms and legs before curling up and around my body.

“Cyrus…” I breathe as a feather-like touch brushes against every inch of me, making my body come alive.

“Yes,mate,” he says, his voice low and husky, sliding down my back like silk.

Although the black tendrils feel light and airy, no amount of force helps me escape their hold. I glance at him but still when I find his eyes completely black.

“Sena…” he breathes before leaning down and brushing his lips against mine, running his tongue over the seam before swallowing my gasp with a heady groan. I try to move; to drag him closer to me but his dark shadows don’t budge an inch.

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