Page 43 of Shadow Bonds

“That’s the main tent. Behind it you’ll find most of the Shadows that just arrived. There will be small flags on the tents that align with the color of your Shadow’s sector. Those who wanted to speak with me, come with me.”

A handful of girls follow her while the rest of us head toward the large tent.

Moving around it, I pause when it opens up to a huge network of tents and paths.

Quickly spotting the colored flags, I realize what she means. Blue for the Sentinels. Purple for the Seekers. White for the Shields, and finally, at the very back is black for the Elite.

But to get to any of them we have to move through a wide path that’s been taken over by dozens of angry looking male Shadows. All spread out, in and around the path and tents.

As soon as they spot us, the atmosphere kicks up a notch, and they make it clear that none of them are too happy with us being here.

“What in the other realm are they?” Robin asks and I glance over to see eight huge beasts. Four on each side of the path we’ve to move through. Each look to have the head and half a body similar to an eagle and the other half similar to a lion. Their coloring is a mix between black and gold, and each are double the size of the largest lion I’ve ever seen.

A small brunette beside Sage shrinks back and lowers her voice. “I’ve read about those beasts. They’re called griffins andare as vicious as terrigons. The tips of their razor-sharp claws and teeth are poisonous and will leave you writhing in pain for days before you succumb to death.” She gives us all a grave look. “I don’t think there is a cure either.”

“Hell no!” Sage says. “There’s no way I’m going anywhere near them. If those beasts don’t eat me, the angry Shadows will.”

“Yeah. And not the way we like,” the small blonde beside her says, making me laugh.

“If we don’t use this path, we have to go all the way around,” Robin says, and I glance over to the side to find the path we’d have to take if we don’t head straight ahead. It spans out and then curves around. Large reddish rocks block most of the path, ensuring we would have to go up and around them before coming back in. It would easily take an hour just to get around it. Whereas the path in front of us is only a few minutes’ walk.

An older group of male Shadows with black markings stare us all down while giving us vicious smirks that grow when they see the girls take a step back.

A dark-haired Shadow with piercing blue eyes steps out onto the path. “Ah, come on. Don’t be scared. We promise not to bite…much,” he shouts over and the males around him chuckle.

“Fuck them,” Robin says as she steps forward. But the griffin moves as if sensing her and stares her down. She pauses and then takes a step back.

The males’ voices grow louder, grating on my ears.

“They can’t even walk a straight line. How the fuck are they supposed to fight?!”

“Weak females!”

Their words make the pit of anger simmering in my stomach come to a boil.

Sage shakes her head. “I don’t care that it takes a little longer. I’m going to take the long way around.”

While the girls start to move, I focus on the nearest griffin and watch as its eyes almost soften. A second later, a strange comforting energy slides though me similar to when I’m around the Vims.

Trusting my gut instinct, I step forward and ignore the male assholes around me as I make my way onto the path.

All the griffins get up, but I give them each a look that demands they yield. Something inside me telling me they will.

And they do.

Moving along the sides of the paths, the griffins move to stand on each side as if on guard, watching as I make my way through. Every Shadow’s gaze falls on me, the shock and confusion on their faces as plain as day.

I ignore them all, silently thanking the griffins and continue past asshole center to the small village of tents.

Realizing the girls followed me instead of taking the long route, I wave them off as each find their tents and then head through a smaller path down the back to where a dozen tents with black flags lay.

I’m about to open a connection with Knox to figure out where they are when a Greek god with an angry scowl steps in front of me. “What are you doing here?”

“Looking for four tall assholes. Have you seen them?”

He smirks, losing a bit of his ire. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to be a little more specific. That description pretty much covers everyone here.”

I smile. “These specific four are Elite and just arrived?—”

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