Page 48 of Shadow Bonds

Robin sighs. “At least the beasts can’t get us from up here.”

I glance down at them circling us like prey. None of them seem bothered by the sun or heat. It has to be their thick leathery fur.

A scream comes from the left of me, and I turn too late to find Cora falling to the ground. I jolt forward, ready to go after her, but within seconds, the beasts are on her, ripping her to shreds.

Gasps and wails of anguish echo around me as shock spears through me. My eyes burn and blur as I force myself to look away from the horrific scene to make sure none of the other girls fall.

I glance around at the ledge as confusion seeps into my shocked brain. It’s small and tight but not so small that Cora would have missed her footing and fell.

My gaze veers to where Cora was to find Arabella standing near me with a smirk and look that tells me she’s only too happy about Cora’s death.

The haze of shock and confusion slowly clears from my mind, giving way to a slash of anger as I continue to watch her look at the beasts with nothing but glee on her face. The little smirk on her face is the final straw that makes me realize this was no accident.

“She pushed her,” I tell them and the other’s pause, glancing from Arabella to me.

Arabella’s expression quickly shifts to one of horror and agony before she starts wailing and denying it.

“Did you see her?” Callie asks me.

“No,” I grit out. “But she was right beside her and looked only too happy when Cora fell.” I don’t look away from Arabella and the fake fear and tears I see.

Skye sighs. “Look. I get it. Cora was…” She swallows hard, clearing her throat. “We’re all tired. Let’s just … make it through the rest of this and then we can deal with everything after.”

I clench my jaw and move closer to the edge just to get away from Arabella, knowing that if I don’t, I might be the one to push her over.

Staying closer to the edge of the cave, but in the shade, I keep an eye on the rest of the girls. But especially Arabella. She sniffles and plays the grieving act nicely in front of the others as they try to soothe her. But I can see the slight shift in her when she thinks no one is looking. The glint of darkness that simmers beneath the surface telling me she’s more of a threat than the black wolf-like beasts beneath us.

“You should drink something,” Robin softly says from somewhere beside me.

I have no water left after using it on my and the other girl’s clothes. I glance around at them once again and spot the minimal supplies they now have. Most must have been lost on our way up here.

I’ve gone without food and water for longer. They need it more. Besides, it’s only another day and we should be out of here. I can last without water until then.

I shake my head, keeping my guard up and eyes peeled. “I’m fine.”

The rest of our little test passes in a haze of heat, grief, and pain while the beasts watch us from below, hoping for another one of us to fall. Or get pushed. I glare over at Arabella onceagain and find her glaring right back at me. When she realizes the others are all asleep, her expression quickly changes, and she smirks at me before blowing me a kiss.

I don’t sleep for the entire night, as rage constantly boils and simmers while I try to ensure the rest of the girls are safe from her.

The hours drag on by, but the Shadows that dropped us off here eventually arrive, knocking out the beasts with a wave of their hand.

“If you want to leave, get moving,” one Shadow says without much care to his tone.

I share a look with the girls as we climb down from the cave ledge and head over to the portal. I keep my eyes forward and on the portal, and not where Cora was…

I swallow hard and squeeze my eyes shut for a moment, trying to rid the image of her falling and being ripped to shreds. But no matter how hard I try; it doesn’t stop and instead replays on a loop over and over again in my mind.

“Someone died,” Robin tells the Shadows, and they shrug.

“The rest of you are still alive. At least you’re not all completely useless,” he replies with a narrowed look.

I share a look of disgust with the girls before glaring at the males as I make my way through the portal.

Once we’re through, I wave off the girls minus Arabella who I give a look of warning to, telling her to watch her back before making my way through the paths around the tents.

I try to calm myself as I come to the Elite’s tent. But nothing I do calms the fire burning through my veins.

Heading into the tent, I glare at each of my mates as I bypass them and head straight for the showers.

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