Shadow Master: The Nightwatch Academy book 4

by Cassidy, Debbie

  His left eye twitched. “This isn’t about arrogance.”

  “Then what is it? Huh? What more could it be than you wanting your bloodlines to remain pure? Is that why you kill people? Huh?” Anger was rising inside me. Anger aimed at his icy features and his arrogant demeanor.

  His jaw clenched, but he didn’t respond.

  I was sick and tired of running, of fighting. Of denying my heart. “You know what? Fuck it. You’ve seen us now, so do what the fuck you want. As for me, I’m going to be me. I’m going to grab love and hold on to it as long as I can.”

  He looked perplexed. “Even if it could get you killed.”

  My laugh was bitter. “You know what, you remind me of me from a few months ago. I would have asked the same question. Love … it didn’t matter to me. I didn’t need it, and I didn’t want it. But that was only because no one had ever willingly offered it to me before. Once that happens, there is no going back. Once that happens, the feeling … It’s addictive.” My smile was bitter. “It’s worth dying for.”

  His gaze flitted from me to Hyde and back again.

  I gathered my hair back into its tie and arched a brow at Orion. “The fir bolg are coming. The odds are stacked against us, so if you want to have me killed, then you’re going to have to get in line.”

  I slipped my hand into Hyde’s, and he gripped my fingers a little too tight. He was barely breathing, and it hit me … I was playing with fire. This man, standing before us, was pure fey. He was a billionaire. He was fucking dangerous. All reasons to be scared, and yet … I wasn’t.

  What Orion could do to me would pale in comparison to what was headed over the horizon.

  Orion blinked slowly and then nodded. “Duly noted, Miss Justice.” And then he turned and strode out of the fucking stables.

  * * *

  Hyde was silent and grim as we made our way back to camp. Talking wouldn’t help. Orion would do what he wanted, but not now. Not until this war was over.

  Hyde stopped suddenly. “This is my fault. I should have stayed away. All my fucking fault.”

  “Enough.” I grabbed his biceps. “It doesn’t matter. What will be, will be. Right now, we have a war to win.”

  He exhaled sharply. “How do you do it?”

  “What?”

  “Compartmentalize.”

  My smile was wry. “Practice. Lots of bloody practice.” I shrugged. “If we’re going to die anyway, we might as well make the most of the time we have.”

  “I doubt Brady, Kash, and Harmon will agree,” Hyde said.

  Fuck. He was right. “Then we say nothing to them. Not yet, anyway.”

  Hyde’s lips thinned. “Maybe there’ll be no need. We’re at war, and there are casualties during times of war.”

  Wait … what was he saying? Was he intimating we should kill Orion?

  I searched his face. “You can’t mean—”

  “Come.” He turned and began to stride toward camp. “We should get back.”

  I followed, my mind reeling with the possibility. Death and war went hand in hand. But killing in defense and murder were two different things.

  We rounded the forge and entered camp to a buzz of nervous excitement. I caught sight of Aidan.

  He raised a hand to hail us. “Indigo, over here.” He ran toward the ruins and the rise of rubble.

  I followed with Hyde close behind. We clambered up to the top, and a poignant feeling of déjà vu washed over me. A sea of darkness approached us.

  “They’re here,” Hyde said softly. “The fomorian army is here.”

  Twenty-Four

  Tents spanned the length of sector two as far as the eye could see. The fomorians had refused housing in the barracks, preferring to camp outside alongside us. It was strange how easily they’d made themselves at home, slotting alongside us and swallowing our small numbers with their larger ones in an act that could have been construed as aggressive but felt … safe.

  I’d expected some friction, some butting of heads, maybe fear from my people. But there’d been no resistance. The cadets knew what had to be done. We knew these were allies, and the fact that our lead troop, headed by Lloyd, was so quick to shake hands and pat backs with the fomorians made it easier on everyone else.

  They’d been with us less than two hours, and it felt like they’d been here forever.

  Firelight lit the night as the army feasted. More cooking pits were set up, and the clink and clank of weapons being sharpened was a symphony to the night air. Yeah, this was a proper army base.

  I caught sight of Orion to my far left, talking to a hulking, bearded fomorian wearing burgundy leather armor. A militia leader. I’d figured out the color of the different ranks in the militia. Burgundy were the leaders, then there was black, which were second-in-command, and the rest wore a dull gray color.

  Balan approached in his burgundy leather armor with Harmon a step behind. My friend was garbed in black leather, his hair pulled back off his face. My stomach fluttered as I raked him over. The armor fit like a second skin, accentuating his muscular frame and turning him into a force to be reckoned with. Turning him into a warrior.

  Balan noted my attention. “My second was killed when the fir bolg attacked our camp a while back. I recruited Harmon to take his place.”

  Harmon bared his teeth. “And I gladly accepted.”

  A pang of anxiety shot through me. It was the instinct to protect what I considered my own, but Harmon was kickass, and he was his own man.

  “You made a good choice, Balan.” I grinned up at Harmon. “And you look fucking awesome.”

  He canted his head. “Is that it? Is that all I’m going to get.”

  My stomach did a slow-burn flip. I stepped up to him and wrapped my arms around his torso, inhaling the scent of leather and the unmistakable aroma that was all Harmon.

  I closed my eyes. “I missed you.”

  He stroked the back of my head, his hand so large he was able to skim my cheek with his thumb, sending a delicious shiver through me. My core tightened with desire, and I sucked in a breath before pulling away.

  Harmon’s nostrils flared, and his eyes darkened in response.

  I cleared my throat and turned to Balan. “How long till Laramir attacks?”

  “Two, maybe three days,” Balan said. “We should discuss strategy.”

  I nodded. “First thing tomorrow, we hold a meeting with the militia leaders.”

  “Agreed. I’ll pass on the message.”

  “We’ll meet at the ruins at dawn.”

  He nodded and headed off toward the fomorian camps.

  Harmon watched him leave and then turned his attention to me. “Brady?”

  “He’s back, but only at night.” I filled him in on what had happened with the weavers.

  He snorted. “I say when this is over, we hunt down Gusta and make him reverse his mojo.”

  “Sounds like a plan. I didn’t see Abram, did he come with you guys?”

  Harmon scanned the camp. “He’s around. Somewhere.” He rolled his neck on his shoulders and then rubbed his nape.

  “Go get some rest, babe. There’s a spare sleeping bag in my tent.” I stroked his cheek. “I have some errands to run.”

  “There’s no way I can fit in your tent.” Harmon chuckled.

  “Fine, then drag it out and sleep outside.”

  He pressed his lips to my temple. “Feel free to join me when you’re done.”

  There was that shiver again. The one I’d neglected when Harmon had been …well, Harmon.

  I licked my lips and nodded.

  His smile was knowing as he backed up, and then he was being hailed by Aidan, and he was gone.

  He looked good from behind, too, but this wasn’t his form. This wasn’t who he wanted to be, and it was way past due that I got some answers about his predicament.

  * * *

  The weavers had made their own little camp. Latrou was stirring a huge pot of what smelled like stew, Helseth was knitting, and the
cadets sat in clusters talking. Kash stood to greet me.

  “Is everything okay?” he asked.

  “Yeah, I was wondering if we could have a chat. You, me, Latrou, and Helseth.”

  Madam looked up from her stirring. “Felicity, take over the stew, please.”

  A young cadet accepted the huge ladle and took up the stirring.

  Helseth put away her knitting and joined us in our cluster.

  “Can you cure Harmon?” I blurted out the question.

  Latrou blinked in surprise. “Oh.” She looked to Helseth.

  Helseth’s face clouded with sorrow. “I know of this case. The Head Weaver was working on it personally before … well, before the mortal world was threatened.”

  “And?”

  “The genetic modification is complete. Altering it again would risk killing him. The methods used are beyond our skills. Whoever applied the changes was skilled in a type of alchemic science that is unheard of in our world. We were attempting to unravel it, but our efforts so far have been in vain.”

  “You don’t think she’ll be able to do it …”

  Helseth dropped her gaze. “I’m sorry, dear.”

  I let out a sharp breath and clenched my jaw.

  “Justice?” Kash touched me lightly on the shoulder.

  I shook my head slightly. “I’m fine.”

  “Would you like me to speak to Harmon?” Kash said.

  “No.” I shot him a stern look. “I’ll tell him. Afterward.”

  “I’m sorry I couldn’t be more positive,” Helseth said.

  “It’s not your fault.” Latrou put an arm around Helseth.

  “No.” I smiled. “It isn’t. I appreciate your candor. There was something else I wanted to speak to you about.” I looked from Kash to Latrou. “I have an idea. A way to weaken Laramir’s army.”

  “Go on,” Latrou said.

  “We siphon their energy.” I looked at Kash. “Using a magnify rune and Kash’s ability.”

  Kash’s eyes flared in comprehension. “Yes. That would work.”

  Latrou frowned. “You may be connected to the weave now, Mr. Raj, but you still have limits. You’ll be acting as a conduit, but you need to pace yourself. Siphon for a few seconds at a time, and with long minutes in between to allow for the power to pass through you and into the weave.”

  Kash nodded. “I can do that.”

  I turned to him. “You’ll be on my troop. You’ll be protected.”

  He grinned his disarming lopsided grin. “I can take care of myself, you know, Justice.”

  “I know, but you’re one of our key players in this game, and we need to keep you safe. If the fir bolg figure out what’s going on, they’ll come for you.”

  Kash’s expression hardened. “And if they do, I’ll defend myself with the weaver power.”

  “I’ll prepare the rune,” Helseth said. “I may be able to weave it into leather with the herbs in a pouch so it can be worn close to the skin.”

  There was one more thing I needed to be sure of. “The port out of here … Is it locked down thoroughly? I mean, if we …”

  “If we lose?” Latrou asked.

  I nodded.

  “The port is locked down as thoroughly as we are able,” Latrou said. “However, we have no idea what abilities the fir bolg bring with them. We have no idea if they’ll be able to circumvent our wards.”

  I took a deep breath. “Then that’s the best we can do.”

  I touched Kash’s arm lightly. “We’ll be meeting at dawn to discuss strategy. You should be there to represent the weaver cadets.”

  “I’ll be there,” he said.

  “Okay, so I’ll see you tomorrow.” I pressed a kiss to his cheek and grazed his jaw with the tip of my nose. “Keep morale up.”

  He gripped my fingers and ran his thumb across the back of my knuckles. “Get some rest. I know you don’t need to sleep as much as the rest of us, but I have a feeling the next few days are going to tax even you.”

  He was right. I left the weaver camp and headed for my tent by the forge. I’d fed, and my body was filled with energy, but my mind … My mind needed to shut down.

  My spare sleeping bag was outside the tent, but there was no sign of Harmon. Sighing, I shucked off my boots and climbed into the tent.

  I was drifting off when Brady’s scent enveloped me. His arm draped over my waist, and his warm breath kissed the nape of my neck.

  I should wake up, should speak to him. But sleep was a compelling mistress and tugged me under.

  * * *

  I woke to a warm body against mine and the rasp of a stubbled cheek across my forehead.

  “Mmmm.” I lifted my chin and brushed my lips across Brady’s hard jaw.

  His body tensed, and my eyes fluttered open to light streaming in through the entrance of the tent.

  Light.

  Daytime.

  Lugh.

  I shoved him away and scrambled back. “What the fuck?”

  He blinked slowly at me from Brady’s eyes. “As I recall, it was you who was attempting to kiss me.”

  I wiped at my mouth, even though, technically, it was Brady’s skin I’d just kissed. “Just get out.”

  “Very well.” He pulled on his boots.

  Thank God, Brady had slept clothed. At least he’d thought that through. Still, maybe I’d speak to him tonight and ask him to bunk elsewhere. Waking up next to Lugh was not on my to-do list.

  Lugh crawled toward the door and paused. “I feel it would be remiss of me not to mention that I feel what this body feels, even when I am not in control.”

  Ice trickled through my veins as I realized what he was intimating.

  “If you don’t mind,” he said tightly, “I’d appreciate it if you kept your intimacy to a minimum until I’m free.”

  He ducked out of the tent, leaving me with burning cheeks and a feeling of nausea.

  * * *

  Harmon and Athos joined me as I made my way to the ruins. Figures were already gathered, silhouetted by the rising sun. I recognized Kash’s slender frame and Hyde’s bulky one, and as I drew closer, Orion came into view, standing beside a large man dressed in burgundy armor. The same man he’d been speaking to last night. The fomorian had a plaited and groomed dark beard and wicked dark brows over piercing blue eyes. Those eyes latched on to me as I approached.

  Abram was there too, standing off to the side.

  “Mind if I join.” Lugh slipped into place to my right, and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

  “You may not like me,” Lugh said. “But I can be of use in these matters.”

  “Fine.”

  We joined the others.

  “So, this is the female shadow knight who leads your army,” the bearded man said coolly.

  “You got a problem with that?” Harmon asked. His tone was so full of menace, it made my hackles rise.

  If the fomorian was fazed, he didn’t show it. He kept his eyes on me. “Orion tells me you’re the Shadow Master. My question is, what did you do to deserve the title?”

  It was a good question, and one I’d thought about a lot over the past week. “What did I do?” I met his glare with one of my own. “I survived. I got knocked down, and I got back up, and I wasn’t afraid to ask questions. I wasn’t afraid to seek out the truth. I survived in a world where men rule. What did you do, huh?” My gaze flicked to the hilt of his sword. “Wield the largest sword?”

  His eyes crinkled slightly, but his expression remained serious. “I have taken a hundred enemy heads. I am the strongest and most skilled warrior amongst my men.”

  “And I’ve seen this tiny female strike a fir bolg’s head clean from his torso,” Lugh said. His eyes were hard chips of flint. “You’d do well not to underestimate her.”

  Bearded guy lifted his chin. “And who might you be?”

  “A long-dead king who knows enough about war to teach you a thing or two.”

  The bearded guy snorted and looked at Orion with an amuse
d smile.

  Orion sighed. “This is Lugh. The fomorian king, back in the flesh, so to speak.”

  There was stunned silence, and then two of the militia leaders fell to their knees. Balan merely inclined his head in acknowledgment of the king. Bearded guy wasn’t so easily cowed, though.

  “The time of kings is over. There are no longer any kingdoms to rule. Just the desperate, the hungry, and the militia who feeds and protects them.”

  Lugh’s shoulders rose and fell. “I see that, my friend. And I don’t expect you to bow or cede to me. I simply wish to be of aid. I have seen my fair share of war.”

  Bearded dude inclined his head. “Very well. And you vouch for the female?”

  “She is a formidable warrior,” Lugh said.

  I couldn’t help but bristle. I wasn’t a damsel who needed to be rescued. I didn’t need him to speak for me, but the rational, logical part of my brain, the part Henrich had urged me to employ, cautioned me to keep my mouth shut, to accept aid where it was offered. We needed to build bridges. Bridges that would connect us in this fight against a common enemy.

  I smiled. “I’m honored to have you here to fight alongside us. My authority extends to the shadow cadets, not to your militia. I have no intention of telling you what to do. This meeting is for us all to discuss our defense strategy.”

  “And what would you know about war, child?” bearded dude asked.

  Okay, that was uncalled for.

  Lugh made a sound of protest, and Hyde bristled, about to step in, but I shot him a warning glance before returning my gaze to the mouthy fomorian.

  “I know that if we’re going to survive, we need to work together, and bickering over who has the largest … sword isn’t going to help us.”

  His eyes narrowed. “The militia will take the lead. Our men will form a barrier, cutting down as many fir bolg as we can. We will position ourselves halfway through what you call sector three. We have a small amount of fire grain that we can plant in sector two, which may help incapacitate the enemies that get past us.”