Page 52 of Dark Bonds

“However, the guardians will remain on the island until further notice to ensure your safety. These are unprecedented times, and we must take unprecedented measures.”

Blackwood’s voice fades into the background as a familiar figure catches my eye. Andy, Tori’s aunt and my boss for the past two years, emerges from behind the bar, her movements as precise and purposeful as ever. She weaves through the crowd with the grace of a dancer, balancing a tray of her signature calm before the storm cocktails.

I watch as she deftly maneuvers around a cluster of panicked freshmen, her eyes darting from table to table. It’s the same look she gets during our busiest nights—alert, focused, and ready for anything—but there’s something else there too, a tightness around her eyes that I’ve rarely seen.

As she approaches our booth, Andy’s gaze locks with mine. Her left eyebrow arches slightly—our shared signal that things are under control. I feel my shoulders relax a fraction. If Andy’s on the case, then we stand a chance.

She doesn’t break her stride, but as she passes, she mutters, “Bar’s yours when you’re ready, kid. These rookies couldn’t mix a drink if their lives depended on it.”

Despite everything, I feel a smile tugging at my lips. Leave it to Andy to put me to work in the middle of an apocalypse. As she continues her rounds, I notice the subtle signs of stress—the way she rolls her shoulders between tables, and the extra force sheuses to set down drinks. Andy might project calm, but she’s as rattled as the rest of us.

As I watch her work, a sense of normalcy washes over me. The Grotto has been my home for two years, and even now, with the world turning upside down, it feels like home, but can anywhere really be home now with this new power simmering inside me?

“There’s more,” Blackwood says, drawing me back to him, his tone grave. “In light of recent events, it’s crucial you understand the significance of the previous lunar eclipse. Its effects on the shadow realm and shadow shifters can’t be overstated.”

The professor launches into an impromptu lecture, explaining how the eclipse amplified shadow powers, thinned the veil between realms, and potentially attracted more creatures like the eredar beast.

Ironicallym that is exactly when everyone stops listening.

Blackwood finally shuts up and gets off the table. The guys crowd around me, all looking like someone just canceled Christmas.

“Frankie.” Bishop walks through the crowd to reach our table. Nerves flutter in my stomach because he came to find us.

“Hey,” I say, but my voice cracks.

“I understand this is a lot to take in, but we need to think long-term.” He launches right into leader mode, not even asking how I am. “Given what’s happened and what’s coming, we believe a pack house would provide the stability and protection you need to develop your powers safely.”

I blink, taken aback. “A pack house? But I—” The idea of being confined, even for my own safety, makes my skin crawl. The shadows around me seem to darken, responding to my unease.

“I know you value your independence, Frankie,” Matteo interjects tactfully, his eyes calculating, “but from a tacticalstandpoint, a pack house offers significant advantages. We can protect you better and create a controlled environment for training.”

Dorian nods, his intense gaze boring into me. “Your powers are growing, Frankie, and the shadows around you are restless. A stable environment is crucial for maintaining control.”

“Plus,” Leo adds with a grin, although I can see the worry behind his eyes, “think of all the fun we could have. Movie nights, study sessions, midnight coffee raids… It’ll be a real grind, but in a good way!”

I look at each of them in turn, touched by their concern but feeling a familiar stubborn streak rising within me. My gaze lands on Tori, who’s watching the exchange with a mixed expression.

“I appreciate the offer, really,” I say, my voice gaining strength, “but I can’t just abandon Tori. She’s my best friend, and after everything that’s happened…”

Tori steps forward, squeezing my hand. Her voice is firm and decisive. “Frankie, I have your back no matter what, but if you’re staying with me, we’re turning our dorm into a fortress. I have some ideas that could rival any pack house.”

I feel a surge of affection for my best friend. “No,” I state firmly, meeting each of their eyes. “I’m staying with Tori. We’ll figure this out together, all of us. I don’t need to be in a pack house to be protected or to learn. We’re stronger together, all of us.”

The guys exchange glances, a mix of frustration and admiration on their faces.

“Well,” Leo says, breaking the tension with a chuckle, “I guess that’s that. Stubborn as always, our Frankie, but don’t worry, we’ll still be around to help you stay grounded. Coffee pun totally intended.”

Our?Don’t overthink it, Frankie.

My lips curve into a faint smile, but it feels more like a grimace. A yawn escapes me, and I slump against the worn leather of the booth. The voices of my friends blur into a distant hum as my eyelids grow heavy.

Fragments of the day’s events flash behind my closed eyes—the eredar beast’s glowing red gaze, the shimmering surface of my shadow shield, Professor Blackwood’s grave expression as he spoke of the eclipse. Each image sends a jolt through my body, like static electricity.

There’s this weird energy running through me, pulsing in time with my heartbeat. It feels alive somehow, like it’s just waiting for a chance to burst out. My fingers twitch involuntarily, and I watch as tiny shadows dance across my knuckles, disappearing as quickly as they formed. It’s beautiful and terrifying all at once.

I flex my hand, trying to recreate the effect, but the power slips away like smoke. Frustration bubbles up inside me, mixing with fear and a strange sense of exhilaration. Whatever’s happening to me, whatever I’m becoming, it’s bigger than anything I’ve faced before—maybe bigger than Valerie. Part of me wants to run from it, but another part—a part that’s growing stronger by the minute—wants to embrace it and see just how far this new power can take me.

The low murmur of my friends’ voices grows more distinct as they argue over plans and theories. I catch snippets about safe houses and training regimens, but it all seems distant and unreal. Right now, the only thing that feels solid is the booth beneath me and the untamed power simmering just under my skin.

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