Page 122 of Dark Bonds

I fidget with Matteo’s charm, running my fingers over it. It’s dumb, but it helps. Bishop’s puzzle box is still sitting there, half finished, kind of like this mess we’re in. Leo’s ridiculous coffeemug sits on the table, its awful punI like my coffee how I like my magic: Dark and powerful,yeah right, but it still makes me want to smile. Damn him.

I haven’t even gotten into magic classes yet, but Dorian saw to that by dropping off an ancient tome that sits open on the stained coffee table.

Shadow magic.It sounds crazy, but it explains so much. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it all, but it makes so much sense as every little thing falls into place.

The tendrils that slip through my fingers are magic, which is pulled from the finite well that is the shadow realm.

“Okay,” I say, because someone has to. “Blackwood. How do we stop him?”

Leo leans forward, his usually playful demeanor replaced by a determination that makes him look older and harder. His golden curls are disheveled, as if he’s been running his hands through them all night. “We could try to catch him in the act, set up surveillance around the lab and gather more evidence.”

“Too risky,” Matteo says, frowning. “We need something smarter. We need to outmaneuver Blackwood and anticipate his moves. Perhaps a multi-pronged approach to keep him off balance?”

Bishop nods in agreement, his calm presence a balm to my frayed nerves. “We get one shot at this,” Bishop says. “We can’t screw it up. I propose we map out every possible scenario before making our move.”

“What about your mom?” Dorian asks, looking at Bishop.

“My mother adores Blackwood.” Bishop shakes his head. “Hell, the entire faculty sees him as a god. No, we are on our own.”

That’s even worse. Just as I’m debating my words, a sharp knock at the door silences us all. The sound echoes through the house like a gunshot, setting my nerves on edge.

“Who is it?” Leo snaps.

I creep to the window and peer through the broken blinds. “Valerie,” I whisper, but they all hear me.

“How did she find us?” Matteo hisses, his mind already racing. “Pack locations are secret.”

“We’ll deal with that later,” I reply, moving toward the door. “Right now, we need to know what she wants.”

My heart nearly stops when I finally open the door to reveal my worst nightmare in physical form.

“What are you doing here?” I hiss, instinctively taking a defensive stance. My body reacts viscerally to her presence, my muscles tensing, ready for fight or flight. I can feel my shadows stirring beneath my skin, restless and angry.

Seeing her brings it all back—the needles, her cold hands, that damn perfume. My stomach churns, and I clench my fists, digging my nails into my palms to ground myself in the present.

Valerie holds up her hands in a placating gesture, but I don’t miss the slight tremor in her fingers. “I’m here to help, Francesca. I have information about Blackwood’s plans that you need to hear.”

Before I can respond, Matteo appears at my side, his body radiating protective fury. “You have a lot of nerve showing up here,” he growls, his voice low and dangerous.

Valerie glances between us, and for the first time, I see a hint of fear in her eyes.

Good,a vindictive part of me thinks, let her know what it feels like to be afraid. Another part of me, a darker part, wants to watch her bleed.

I swallow, trying to control my emotions.

“Please,” she says, her voice steady despite her obvious unease. “I know I’ve hurt you, Francesca, but right now, Blackwood is the bigger threat. We need to work together to stop him.”

I stare at Valerie’s hand, then at the guys. They look as lost as I feel. My shadows writhe beneath my skin, alternating between reaching for Valerie and recoiling from her. My heart races, each beat a war drum pounding out the rhythm of my indecision.

“Give me one good reason why I should believe you,” I demand, my voice as hard as steel.

“Because I know where Blackwood’s real hideout is,” Valerie says, her voice low and urgent. “The lab you found? It’s just the tip of the iceberg. His main facility is hidden deep in the shadow realm, and I can take you there.” She pauses, her eyes haunted. “I’ve seen what his experiments are doing to the shadow realm, to our people. It’s... It’s destroying everything. I thought we were saving our world, but we’re tearing it apart. I can’t stand by and watch anymore, even if it means facing the consequences of what I’ve done.”

“How do you know about the lab?” I cross my arms and glare at her.

“Because Blackwood told me,” she mutters.

My packmates crowd around me, each reacting in their own way. Leo’s usually playful demeanor is gone, replaced by a wary tension as he positions himself slightly in front of me. Matteo’s face is a mask of barely contained rage, his fists clenched at his sides as if itching for a fight. Bishop’s eyes narrow, his analytical mind clearly working overtime as he assesses the situation. Dorian, surprisingly, looks almost resigned, as if he’s been expecting this moment. I turn to them, seeking their input without words, feeling the strength of our bond even in this tense moment.

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