Page 127 of Dark Bonds

“Well, well, well…” Blackwood’s silky voice cuts through the silence, sending ice through my veins. “You’re just in time for the show.”

I whip my head around, instantly regretting it as pain lances through my skull. Blackwood stands a few feet away, looking annoyingly unruffled. Behind him, I spot Leo and Matteo trapped in shimmering cages of shadow magic. Dorian lies passed out on the floor with Bishop beside him.

Shadows coil around my fists like living gauntlets, the power thrumming through me, eager for release. “It’s over, Blackwood,” I snarl, my voice ringing with an authority I didn’t know I possessed. “We’re shutting this place down.”

He laughs, the sound brittle and cold, devoid of any real mirth. “Oh, I don’t think so. You see, you’re the final piece I need to complete my work—the key to unlocking power beyond your wildest dreams.”

“What are you talking about?” I ask, even as dread pools in my stomach, heavy as lead.

Blackwood’s smile widens, revealing too many teeth. “I have someone I’d like you to meet, Frankie.” Blackwood’s voice drips with fake politeness as he gestures to a nearby containment unit. The goop inside is churning like crazy. “Say hello to your long-lost twin brother.”

The world tilts on its axis, reality fracturing around me. I stumble forward, barely aware of Leo’s and Matteo’s concerned voices fading into the background.

A young man who could be my mirror image floats in the tank. His face is peaceful in artificial sleep. My heart pounds against my ribs as I approach, a strange tingling sensation spreading through my body. His face, so like my own, is peaceful in repose, but I can see the shadows writhing beneath his skin, just like mine, only… they are light instead of dark.

Where my hair is dark, his is white. Where my skin is pale, his is tan. Yet… we look exactly alike.

I know without a shadow of a doubt that this man is my brother. I don’t know how I know, but I know with every fiber of my being.

I reach out and touch the glass before I can stop myself. It’s cold, but there’s this weird... connection, like touching a live wire, but not painful. It’s as if my essence recognizes him, even though we’ve never met. “No,” I whisper, the word barely audible. “This can’t be...”

“Oh, but it is,” Blackwood says, his voice dripping with satisfaction. He circles us like a shark scenting blood. “Light and shadow, two sides of the same coin,” Blackwood rambles on, clearly loving the sound of his own voice. “You and your brother? You’re the key to controlling it all—the beasts, the realms, everything. The power of creation and destruction, perfectly balanced.”

Rage boils up inside me, shadows writhing beneath my skin like living tattoos. “You monster!” I snarl, whirling to face him. “How long have you kept him here?”

Blackwood shrugs, the gesture casual, as if we’re discussing the weather rather than the imprisonment of my twin. “Years. I’ve been waiting for you both to come into your full power, and now, thanks to Valerie’s work with you, you’re finally ready.”

I whirl to face Valerie, betrayal burning in my chest like acid. “You knew all this time?”

Guilt flashes across her face, quickly replaced by resolve. Her shoulders straighten, her chin lifting in defiance. “I’m sorry, Frankie, but he’s right. This is bigger than any of us. The fate of both realms hangs in the balance.” Her voice wavers slightly, a flicker of doubt crossing her face. “I... I’ve made so many mistakes, but this has to be right. Doesn’t it?”

“How could you?” I demand, my voice breaking. Shadows lash around me, responding to my turmoil. “After everything?—”

“Because he’s my father,” Valerie blurts, her composure cracking. “You don’t understand, Frankie. I’ve spent my entire life trying to earn his approval, to be worthy of the Blackwood name. Every cruel act, every manipulation—it was all to prove myself to him. I thought... I thought this was my last chance to make him proud.”

The revelation stuns me into silence. Suddenly, Valerie’s actions and her desperation to be in control take on a new, tragic light. I see the scared little girl behind the mask of control, and for a moment, my anger wavers.

Blackwood’s laugh cuts through the air, cold and sharp as a knife. It grates against my nerves, setting my teeth on edge. “Oh, yes,” he purrs, satisfaction oozing from every word. “My darling daughter. Such a perfect little pawn.” He glances at Valerie, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Though I must admit, that little rebellious streak? Almost had me going for a minute there.”

Valerie flinches at his words, and I see a flicker of doubt in her eyes. Before I can react, her shadows lash out, ensnaring Leo and Matteo. They struggle, but her power holds them fast.

“Valerie, don’t do this,” Leo pleads, his eyes wide with disbelief. His usual charm is gone, replaced by raw desperation.

Matteo snarls, fighting against the shadowy bonds. His tactical mind is already searching for weaknesses. “I knew we couldn’t trust you!”

I stand frozen, torn between rage at Valerie’s betrayal and a newfound understanding of her motivations. The weight of the choices before me presses down, threatening to crush me. Blackwood’s laughter cuts through my indecision, sharp as a blade.

“You’ve always had a choice, Frankie,” Blackwood purrs, his voice a silky caress that belies the madness in his eyes.He gestures to the lever, shadows dancing at his fingertips. “Embrace your destiny or watch everything you love crumble to dust. What will it be, my dear?”

Time seems to slow as I weigh my options. Save my mates and my brother at the cost of giving Blackwood what he wants or fight, risking everything and everyone I love.

A bone-shaking roar interrupts my thoughts, so powerful it rattles my teeth and sends vibrations through the metal floor. The far wall of the chamber explodes inward in a shower of debris and shadow. As the dust settles, I find myself face-to-face with a massive eredar beast.

“The vortex,” Valerie gasps, her eyes wide. “When it exploded, it must have torn a hole between realms. We’ve drawn the beast’s attention.”

The creature is a living shadow, its form constantly shifting and reforming. Each movement ripples with ancient power, the air around it crackling with energy. Its eyes, glowing with otherworldly intelligence, lock onto mine. In that moment, I understand. This isn’t just about me or my brother or even my mates. It’s about the balance between realms, a cosmic scale that Blackwood threatens to tip.

No. Not threatens—one he already tipped.

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