Page 91 of Stolen By Shadow Beasts

Phantom blows on his stew, then speaks, his words obviously carefully chosen. “We need to see the elder before night falls now that we’re mated.”

At his words, Ann looks up and smiles, each of us smiling with her. Mated. Bonded.

If the prophecy is right, we're all saved.

THIRTEEN

Ann

The tripto the elder is short. Shorter than it was the last time we made this trip. Or, at least, that's the way it feels. In no time at all, we reach the entrance to the cave, nodding at each shadow beast that we pass guarding the area around the main cave. Making sure that the shadow king's minions can never take them by surprise, although it feels a bit pointless in the light of evening. But they've survived this long for a reason, so I don't question it.

Besides, I enjoyed the trip over. More than I would have thought. The men and I talked. Things felt... natural, calm between us for the first time. And as if to emphasize that we made the right choice, shards of the moonstone lit up along our path. My men picked them up and placed them in a pouch at Phantom's belt. Rayne made jokes, told the guys about things they could only find in our world, and the shadow beasts surprised me by expressing some interest in seeing these things for themselves.

It feels like... everyone is hopeful for the first time in a long time, and I like it. I like my men even more when I see an excitement for the future in their eyes. It also doesn't hurt that they keep touching me. A hand on my back, or on my ass. A kiss, a brush of my hair. It's like they keep coming back to me, reminding me that they're there and they love me.

A girl could certainly do worse than them.

And then, we're at the cave entrance, weaving down to the main part of the cave. I expect... I don't know what I expect, but certainly not the somber sight before us. The other men in the caves are still wounded, tired-looking men. It's as if only hours have passed since our battle with the shadow king rather than days. It makes guilt instantly awaken inside of me. While I healed my men with my touch, these men weren't as lucky. And it's not like they were in good shape before this. They seemed about to crack even before the recent battle.

Our good moods fade away. We stand together beneath the glow of the crystals that line all the walls of the cave, a short distance from a large fire in the middle. Some men are in the back of the cave in the little pool, standing beneath the waterfall, naked. These men look no happier than the ones lying on blankets near the fire. And all of their bodies show the obvious wounds they experienced in battle.

They shoot glares in our direction, and I suppose I understand it, even though I don't remember them being this angry in the past. As least not most of them. But I do get it. These are the sons of the shadow king, the man responsible for the war they’re all fighting, for the deaths of their friends, for the shells of lives they’re living as they fight his trolls and monkeys and beasts. As they bleed and ache and die.

I glance from Phantom to Dusk and Onyx, who stand together. Looks pass between them. Worry. Trepidation. Apprehension.

Phantom’s brow is creased and his eyes are wide. These are his friends. His people. And his father is killing them for the sake of power. His guilt is visual. Even in the way he carries himself. His shoulders hunch. But then, he pulls himself together. He squares his body, lifts his head. “We’re mated to this woman.”

He levels a hard gaze at each man, friend and foe, then at his brothers and me. A couple of the injured shadow beasts perk up, looking interested, but the worry is still dark in Phantom’s eyes.

One man approaches us. "Truly?"

Phantom gives a tight smile. "Truly. Just as the prophecy said, it has been done."

The shadow beasts murmur to each other, but no one else approaches. And, again, I'm surprised. I didn't exactly expect them to all leap up and cheer, but I expected some happiness. Some relief that at least one thing had gone in a good direction.

Do they not have as much faith in the prophecy as the elder did?My thoughts swirl together. And after a long moment, the shadow beast in front of us turns away and returns to the fire, whispering quietly to the others beside him.

Rayne and I exchange a look.What the hell is going on?

Dusk moves forward and takes me by the arm. “Come on. Let’s go.”

If the prophecy is true, if they know about it, the mating bond we’ve formed should’ve been cause for celebration.Is there something I'm not understanding?For the millionth time since I came here, I feel like I have a bunch of puzzle pieces that aren't going together, and I want to groan in frustration, hating that our special moment, our moment of happiness, seems to already have passed.

Dusk leads us to the tunnels. Torches line the walls. A couple shadow beasts walk down it, see us, nod, and continue onto the big room, but we continue forward through the dark, dank tunnels, past the room Adrik was in when I first saw him, to Elder Aeuro’s room.

There, we pause in the entrance. It's the same as before. A simple room with pillows surrounding a big fire in the center. Aeuro sits on one of the tufted pillows, staring straight ahead at something I can’t see. When Phantom clears his throat, his gaze sharpens and focuses on us for a minute before he seems to relax. My men give a little bow, and he nods at Phantom and Dusk, signs a greeting to Onyx, and ignores me. It’s okay. I don’t mind so much. I have a feeling right now he's a bit frustrated with me. But hopefully he won't be when he hears our news.

Phantom speaks first, his voice low and respectful. “The mating bond has been completed.”

Aeuro’s brows lift and he smiles, a relieved smile that eases some of the tension in my chest. “Good. Very good.”

Dusk steps forward. “So now what?”

Phantom continues. “How do we win?”

It feels like we're all holding our breaths. Whatever this elder says, we've put a lot of faith into being the answer to all of this. He seems to have a power that none of the rest of us have, a power of prophecy, or perhaps just the power to hear these "shadows" whispering. Whatever it is, he has control over things that seem strange and magical to me.

Aeuro looks from one of my shadow beasts to the others. Then he glances at Rayne and me, shakes his head. “I don’t know. I thought it would be obvious.”

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