Page 113 of Shadowed Whispers

Matteo nods in agreement. “You’re better than them, Tori. Don’t let their poison get to you.”

Andy wraps an arm around Tori, pulling her close. “We’ve got your back. Always.”

Leo returns, a determined look on his face. “The team’s coming. We’ll have a real party here, one they’ll be sorry to miss.”

Tori’s eyes light up, hope flickering in the midst of her pain. “Really?”

“Really,” Leo confirms, a fierce glint in his eyes. “We’ll show them what real friends look like.”

More tears. How are there any left in her little body?

“You guys are the best.” She sniffles. Then, just like that, a switch is flipped and determination stretches across her tear-streaked face. “We’re going to need more snacks.” Panicked, she turns to Andy. “Let’s go, the eclipse starts in just under two hours. We are going to need more chips.”

Laughing, Andy stands to let Tori shoot out of her seat. “Thank you.” Andy turns to me. “I never liked those two girls. I might need my bouncer to kick them out if they show up.” She winks at me before walking away, leaving me between two very delicious rugby players.

Chapter 39

Frankie

“You look like you could use a breather.” Matteo’s rumbly voice rolls over my shoulders and down my spine, sending a shiver through me.

Glancing back, I find him only a few breaths away, close enough that his cinnamon scent makes my mouth water. My mind immediately wanders back to the diner, to how he touched me then. It feels like it’s been forever since he touched me, though he’s always around, and sometimes I swear I can feel him even when I can’t see him.

“Yeah.” My voice cracks, so I clear it. The noise of the crowd fades as Matteo steps closer, his presence sending a small thrill through me.

His warm palm slips into mine, and he begins to weave me through the crowd at the Grotto. True to Leo’s word, the entire rugby team showed up, making Tori happy. However, I can feel my heartbeat thumping in my ears, and my chest aches from the overwhelming mix of music and chatter.

As Matteo leads me to the back patio and the door thumps shut, I look over my shoulder at the glass door and everyone inside, laughing and smiling. Their faces are flushed with excitement. Wasn’t it the beginning of the semester when I stood in this exact spot and looked through the same window on the same door and wished to be a part of their excitement? Then, I stood on the outside looking in. Now, I’m welcome and overwhelmed. Life is strange like that.

I take a deep breath, the cold air filling my lungs, and turn to see Matteo looking up at the sky, his face impassive as he searches for the moon. He appears casual in low-rise jeans and a simple black T-shirt, no jacket despite the small flurries that flutter down from the cloudy sky.

“Can you see anything yet?” I step up beside him, gazing at his chiseled jaw and brown skin.

“Not yet,” he replies, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “But soon.” His eyes meet mine, dark and intense. “You know, there’s a legend about nights like these.”

“Oh?” I tilt my head, intrigued. “Tell me more.”

His smile widens, and he steps closer, his warmth seeping into me despite the chill in the air. “It’s about the world that exists beside this one,” he says, his dark eyes full of something that sends a flutter of anticipation through me.

“And what exists?” I ask, curiosity piqued.

“Mm-hmm.” He nods, tugging me closer until I’m pressed against his front. His arm wraps around my waist, and I can feel the steady beat of his heart against mine. The night feels alive, the shadows deepening as if the world itself is holding its breath. “They say that during a lunar eclipse, the worlds collide, allowing the hidden to be revealed.”

“Really?” I try to keep my voice steady, but the way he’s holding me makes it difficult. “How do you know so much about this?” My heart pounds in my chest.

This is it, he’s going to tell me what’s really happening just under my nose.

“My grandma told me the story when I was a kid,” he says, his tone playful. “She said that during the eclipse, the moon’s magic is weak, and the laws dissolve for a moment in time. That’s when the veil between the two worlds fades.”

“Sounds like a fairy tale,” I tease, my breath hitching as his hand slides up my back, sending heat through my body despite the cold.

“Maybe.” His eyes sparkle with mischief. “But she believed it was true. She said that if you ever found yourself outside during a lunar eclipse, you might see shadows moving in ways they shouldn’t. They blend into the darkness, shifting and changing shape.”

“And what happens if you see one?”

“Well,” he murmurs, his lips brushing my ear, “if you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of their true form, but they are elusive. They can blend in with the shadows and hide in plain sight.”

“Sounds dangerous,” I whisper, unable to tear my eyes away from his.

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