Page 78 of Shadow Bonds

“Hollow territory.” Theon comes around me, answering my next question.

I raise a brow. “Any other zones I should know about?”

“You already know the red zone.” Knox frowns as if remembering how I know that.

“And don’t ever want to visit it again,” I mumble, earning myself a smile that does funny things to me.

“There’s also the gray zone. It’s safer than the black zone but still dangerous. And then there’s the blue zone where the commander and higher ranks are stationed.”

If Commander Talos is there, I’m definitely staying away from it. Something about that man makes my skin crawl.

“Get changed and we’ll meet you outside,” Cyrus says.

I head to the bathroom, and quickly throw on my black trousers, top, and boots.

Throwing my hair in a high ponytail, I make my way outside where the guys are all still waiting for me.

With their backs to me, I get a good look at them. Damn, those are some good genes. All broad-shouldered, strong but agile, powerful yet fucking carved like Greek gods.

Knox turns around and catches me. “Come on, stop checking us out.”

“What’s the point in having four good-looking mates if I can’t look?”

My eyes eventually move away from their backsides to find them all staring at me.

“What?”

Knox comes over and takes my hand, pulling me along. “If you don’t stop looking at us like that, you can’t get angry when I drag you back into the tent and fuck the consequences.” He glances down at me, a hungry look in his heated gaze that I try to ignore as we move through the groups of males that all look ready for war. I guess, technically, they are.

It’s takes us a few minutes to get to the green zone, a large expanse of sand and nothing else. Just like everything else here.

Lining up beside Knox and the others, I glance across from us and freeze.

Wings. I see lots of wings. And they’re all attached to very attractive males.

“Sena… Stop looking at the enemy,” Theon growls.

“But… they have wings.” Black, feathered wings.

“Yeah, like fucking insects,” Knox grumbles.

“I think they’re pretty,” I say, and as if hearing me, a few of them look over and smile.

Four glares burn a hole in the side of my head. I hide my smile as Theon growls and moves in front of me, completely blocking my view of the wings.

Dropping my smile, I take my time to drag my gaze down and back up his body. Slowly. “They may be pretty, but you’re hot as fuck.”

I let him in, let him feel exactly what I’m feeling right now—the heat, the hunger, theache—before leaning up and placing a quick kiss on his lips.

His eyes smolder, and a smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth.

“If they keep looking at you like that, I’m going to rip their fucking heads off. After I tear theirprettylittle wings out,” Malakai grits out, and Theon whips around in the winged male’s direction.

He takes a step toward them when we’re all called to attention.

Theon snarls over at them before getting back in line.

“The trials this year will be a little different than the previous years. We have a lot more entries than ever before. So, to keep it fair…” He glances around with a cruel smirk. “…andbrutal, there will be two stages to the first trial to cull the weak. All those wishing to enter the war games will need to bring me back the head of a female terrigon before the time is up.”

---