Page 33 of Dark Bonds

“Like a terrible idea,” she finishes for me. “I get it, but just remember, having a few guys looking out for you isn’t a bad thing, you know.”

“I’ve always only had myself,” I whisper, the admission more painful than I’d like.

Just then, right in front of me, a student emerges from the shadow of the tower dorm, and I gasp, wide-eyed, as he looks my way and winks. The shadows seem to cling to him like an aura,making his presence almost surreal. It’s like watching a magic trick, except the magic is real and potentially deadly.

Tori laughs and tugs me toward the double doors that lead inside. “You’ll get used to it.”

“How did you all know?” I question, still shaken.

“We get an email,” she answers.

“An email?” I repeat incredulously. What, do they have a shadow shifter Listserv or something?

“Yeah, with a list of students who have crossed the veil and others who haven’t.” She pauses just inside the door and tugs me to the side while taking off her knit hat, her hair staticky and crackling. “There are laws that no one really understands, but we can’t just outright tell someone that the shadows lead to another world. It’s just not done.”

“I get it, you’ve said this.” I drag my nails down my face, scoring my skin. The dull pain grounds me a bit. “It still doesn’t make it any less shocking.”

“Let’s get our room keys. Mama is hungry.” Her stomach gurgles obnoxiously, and I can’t help but chuckle at the sound.

As we step into the student affairs office, my stomach bottoms out, and my skin comes alive with a strange energy. Dorian is behind the counter, and he looks just as bored with the student in front of him as he did the very first time I met him in here. The sterile scent of the office mingles with the faint hint of cologne.

As the door opens and the hinges squeal, he looks up at me, his eyes running the length of my body. I swear I feel a slight touch everywhere his eyes fall, a ghostly caress that leaves my skin tingling.

“Mm-hmm,” Tori hums and heads to the line with another student working behind the counter, leaving me to enter Dorian’s line. “Go get ‘em, tiger.”

I ignore her. Rightfully so.

As he works with another student, I have the chance to look at him, though I wait until he looks away. His hair falls over his forehead, and the sharpness of his jawline catches the light in a way that makes him seem otherworldly. His eyes, a deep foggy blue, glimmer with a hint of amusement as he deals with the student in front of him. There’s an air of indifference about him, as if he’s seen it all and nothing can surprise him anymore, but I know better.

I know the man behind the mask, the one who saved me when it mattered most. It’s a debt I can’t ignore, no matter how much I want to keep my distance.

It’s like we are bound by a string, and no matter where I go, I’ll always find him at the edge of my periphery—not necessarily watching and protecting me like Matteo, but almost as though he, too, can’t help himself, and he has no idea why.

I secretly love that he can’t help but steal little glances at me as he has the student in front of him sign here and there, but then I recall the moment he lifted me, blood coating my torso and his ruined shirt.

My heart clenches as I remember the chaos and fear, and then his hand reaching out, pulling me back from the brink. It’s a memory that haunts me, making it impossible for me to view him as just another student.

He will always be so much more than just another student to me, but I’ll never tell him. Not now, at least.

He shifts slightly, and our eyes meet for a brief moment. There’s a flicker of recognition, a silent acknowledgment of the bond that neither of us can deny. I quickly look away, my cheeks burning with a mix of embarrassment and something else I can’t quite name. This power he has over me is infuriating, a magnetic force that draws me in despite my better judgment.

As I step closer to the counter, I steal another glance at him. His lips curl into a half smile, a knowing look that makes mypulse quicken. Damn him. He knows exactly what he’s doing and the effect he has on me. He’s enjoying it. His arrogance should make me want to punch him, but instead, it only deepens the inexplicable attraction I feel.

I swallow hard, trying to steady my breath as I finally reach the front of the line. Dorian’s eyes lock on mine, and for a moment, the world around us fades away. It’s just the two of us, caught in this intricate dance of push and pull of enemies turned reluctant allies.

“Frankie,” Dorian says, his voice low and smooth. Something in his tone makes my stomach do a little flip, and I hate myself for it. I swallow hard, forcing my face into what I hope is a neutral expression.

“Dorian.” My voice comes out steadier than I feel, thank God. Part of me wants to deck him, while another part… Well, let’s not go there.

His smile widens, and I can see the challenge in his eyes. A part of me wants to verbally spar with him, and maybe before the moment he saved me, I wouldn’t have hesitated, but he also knew about Valerie, and I don’t know how I feel about that yet.

“Looking forward to our lunches again?” he asks, his tone teasing. “I’ve missed our silent debates.”

I resist the urge to snort. Our lunches have been a lot of things, but cordial and friendly they were not.

“Silent debates? Is that what you call them?” I raise an eyebrow, leaning on the counter. “I thought they were more like you trying to pretend I didn’t even exist.”

Why does it feel like something is vastly different between us?Because something is different.

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