Page 18 of Dark Bonds

More intense.

More consequential.

More dangerous.

The shadows here don’t just lurk, they hunger.

The old grandfather clock in the hallway chimes three in the morning, its deep, resonant tones echoing through the stillness. I flop onto my side, my heart thundering against my ribs as a pair of glowing eyes materialize in the corner. They vanish as quickly as they appeared, leaving me to wonder if the shadow realm is already consuming my sanity.

Matteo tugs me closer, his chest a wall of warmth against my back. His scent envelops me—sandalwood and something uniquely him. It reminds me of autumn leaves and… is that a hint of stale coffee? It’s comforting, but it can’t quite quell the maelstrom in my mind or the chill that’s settled deep in my bones.

“Gem,” Matteo murmurs, his voice a low rumble in the quiet room. There’s a pause, and I can almost hear the gears turning in his mind as he weighs each word before he speaks. “Your thoughts are practically echoing off the walls. What has that brilliant mind of yours in such a tangle?”

His breath tickles my ear, and I suppress a shiver. Even in the darkness, I can picture the slight furrow of his brow and the analytical glint in his eyes. It’s comforting and unnerving all at once. He reads me so well and approaches every situation carefully, like I’m a puzzle he’s determined to solve.

I sigh, grateful for his perceptiveness but unsure how to articulate the dread that’s consuming me.

“Can’t sleep,” I whisper, my voice barely audible over the soft rustle of silk sheets. “My thoughts keep circling like vultures as I try to figure out how I fit into all of this. This world… It’s like I’ve fallen through the looking glass, but instead of Wonderland, I’ve landed in some twisted nightmare where the monsters wear familiar faces.”

Matteo’s arm tightens around my waist as he presses closer, brushing his lips against the sensitive skin of my neck. “Let’s break this down,” he murmurs, already dissecting the problem. “Which specific aspects are causing you the most concern?”

I pause, not wanting to burden him with the chaos of my thoughts, but the heaviness in my mind feels overwhelming, like a suffocating darkness on the verge of consuming me whole.

“It’s like trying to describe a shadow to someone who’s never seen the sun,” I confess, my fingers tracing abstract patterns on his forearm. “Everything just feelsoff. Reality seems to twist and turn around us, and I constantly feel like someone or somethingis watching us. It’s like I can no longer bury what I always buried before, and it’s demanding I address every little thought and emotion.”

Matteo’s silence stretches for a moment, and I can almost hear the gears turning in his mind. When he speaks, his voice is low and measured. “Gem, what you’re experiencing is not uncommon in our world. The veil between what you’ve always known and what truly exists is thin, and once you’ve glimpsed beyond it, there’s no going back. The shadow realm bleeds into ours, leaving traces of magic and danger in its wake.”

I shudder, his words confirming my fears. “So I’m not going crazy? This isn’t just some elaborate hallucination brought on by too many late study nights and not enough caffeine?”

“No, you’re not,” he assures me, his fingers tracing soothing circles on my arm. The calluses on his fingertips catch slightly on my skin, a reminder of the strength hidden beneath his gentle touch. “If anything, you’re becoming more aware. More attuned to the reality that’s always existed beneath the surface. Your intuition is sharpening and adapting to this new world.”

His analytical approach helps ground me, giving structure to my swirling thoughts.

“You’re right,” I concede, letting out a shaky breath. “I’ve never felt so confused, but I’ve also never backed down from a challenge before. I just need to figure out how to approach this logically, like solving one of those impossible puzzles that Bishop loves.” I sigh, the sound heavy with unshed tears. “And every time I close my eyes, I see Valerie. It’s like the wound was ripped open, and I can’t ignore its existence anymore.”

Matteo shifts, propping himself up on one elbow to look at me in the dim light filtering through the gauzy curtains. His eyes are soft, filled with a tenderness that makes my heart ache, but there’s also sharp intelligence there, a reminder of the strategic mind constantly at work behind his gentle demeanor.

“You’re resilient,” he says, his voice a low rumble that I feel as much as hear. “It’s one of the things I admire most about you. You faced down the unknown. This is just another puzzle tosolve, albeit with higher stakes.” His thumb brushes my cheek, wiping away a tear I didn’t realize had fallen. “Now, tell me more about your concerns. The more we understand, the better we can prepare.”

I swallow hard, pushing past the lump in my throat. “What if I’m not truly a part of your world? I want to believe you, but doubt still gnaws at me like a hungry beast. What if?—”

He silences me with a gentle kiss then pulls back, his gaze intense enough to steal my breath. “No what-ifs,” he states firmly. “Let’s focus on what we know and what we can control. You’ve shown incredible adaptability so far. We’ll tackle this systematically, one step at a time, just like you approach your research.”

I open my mouth to argue and let out all the fears and doubts that are tearing me apart, but then…

His lips crash against mine, and suddenly, the world narrows to just us.

I melt into his embrace, letting his warmth and logic envelop me. For a moment, the supernatural world and its dangers feel far away, pushed back by the heat of Matteo’s kiss and the strength of his arms around me.

When we finally break apart, I feel lighter somehow. The doubts are still there, lurking at the edges of my mind, but they’ve receded, pushed back by Matteo’s unwavering presence and strategic mindset.

“Okay,” I whisper, my voice barely audible in the stillness of the night. “One step at a time, like you said, but I’m holding you to it. We need a plan. Even a loose one will help me sleep.”

Matteo’s fingers trace soothing patterns on my skin, and I start to relax. “First,” he begins, his voice taking on a tactical tone, “we need to gather more information tomorrow. There might be ancient texts that can shed light on what’s happening. I can ask Dorian.”

I nod, feeling a spark of determination ignite within me. “And then?”

“Then we start training,” Matteo continues. “I’ll teach you how to hone your intuition and recognize the shadows in yourself and the world around you. It’ll be like learning a new language, but instead of words, you’ll be reading the fabric of reality.”

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