Page 59 of Dark Bonds

A shadow passes over Bishop’s face. “I know. It’s just…” He runs a hand through his hair, mussing it up in a way that’s annoyingly endearing. “Can we talk while we walk?”

I glance at my phone. I have time before my meeting with Blackwood, and despite everything, a part of me is curious about what Bishop has to say. Another part, the one that’s still angry about all the secrets he kept, wants to slam the door in his face.

“Fine,” I concede, stepping out into the hallway, “but this isn’t going to be a regular thing, got it?”

The ghost of a smile tugs at his lips. “Got it.”

As we make our way across campus, the frigid morning air nips at my exposed skin. I pull my jacket tighter around me,stealing a glance at Bishop. He looks annoyingly unaffected by the cold, his composure a stark contrast to the chaos I feel inside.

“So,” I start, breaking the silence, “is this your new thing now? Coffee delivery and escort service? Taking notes from Leo?”

Bishop’s lips twitch into a small smile. “Only for my favorite shadow shifter.”

“Oh? And how many of those do you have?”

“Just one,” he says, his tone light but his eyes serious. “Though she’s a handful enough for four.”

Oh, he is smooth.

I roll my eyes but can’t help the smile tugging at my lips. “Cute. Did you practice that line in the mirror this morning?”

“Ouch.” Bishop clutches his chest in mock hurt. “And here I thought I was being charming.”

“Keep dreaming, Bishop.” I laugh, surprised at how easy this feels, given everything that happened. For a moment, it’s almost like we’re just two normal students, bantering on our way to class, but the illusion shatters as quickly as it forms.

My amusement fades as I remember last night’s events and the rushed return to campus this morning. The laughter dies in my throat as I recall the destruction we left behind at the Grotto, the fear in Andy’s eyes as she ushered us out. Bishop must notice the change in my mood, because his expression turns concerned.

“Hey,” he says softly, “are you okay?”

I nod then shake my head. “It’s just… everything’s so normal here, like last night never happened, but I can’t stop thinking about it. The beast, the evacuation, the way the shadows seemed to come alive…” My words falter as I struggle to convey the sheer thrill and terror of everything.

Bishop’s expression grows serious. “I know what you mean. How did you and Tori get back so early? Last I heard, the campus was still on lockdown.”

I think back to the early hours of the morning. The sky was still dark when Tori and I huddled in the back of her mom’s car. Abbi had driven us back as soon as the all-clear was given, her knuckles white on the steering wheel. The memory of her fear, so at odds with her usually calm demeanor, sends a fresh wave of unease through me.

“They say it’s safe now,” Abbi said, her voice tight with worry, “but you girls be careful, you hear? Any sign of trouble, call me immediately.” She handed us each a small bag. “I’ve packed you both some emergency supplies just in case.”

It was such a mom thing to do that it momentarily shocked me. I kept wondering if this was what it felt like to have a mom before I buried that thought in hell.

The campus had been eerily quiet when we arrived. A few security guards patrolled with watchful eyes, their tense postures and darting glances indicating they were just as on edge as we were. Tori and I hurried to our dorm, the weight of the night’s events heavy on our shoulders.

“Tori’s mom drove us back,” I tell Bishop. “As soon as they lifted the lockdown. It was… weird, like coming back to a ghost town. Everything looked the same, but it felt… different. Dangerous, somehow.”

Bishop nods, understanding in his eyes. “Yeah, it was like that when I got back too, but hey, at least we’re here, right? Together and in one piece.”

I’m about to respond when a sharp voice cuts through the air like a whip.

“Bishop!”

We both jump, coffee sloshing dangerously close to the rim of my mug. A woman strides toward us, her heels clicking against the pavement with military precision. Everything about her screams authority, from her perfectly coiffed hair to herrazor-sharp pantsuit. Even the air around her seems to crackle with power and purpose.

Bishop tenses beside me, his entire demeanor changing in an instant. Gone is the easygoing guy from moments ago, and in his place is someone more guarded, more formal. “Mother,” he says, his voice carefully neutral. “Good morning.”

The dean—Bishop’s adoptive mother, I realize with a start—comes to a stop before us. Her eyes, the same shade of brown as Bishop’s even though he is adopted, glance between us with laser-like focus. The faint scent of expensive perfume tickles my nose, underlaid with something else… a hint of ozone perhaps? It’s a reminder of the power she wields, both as dean and a shadow shifter.

“I wasn’t aware you were acquainted with Miss Vale, Bishop,” she says, her tone making it clear this is more than a casual observation. There’s an edge to her voice that makes me wonder if she still hates me. Considering we dated the summer before I ever stepped foot on this campus, she should know me, and yet, she chooses not to.

“We have some classes together,” Bishop replies smoothly. I try to keep my face neutral, even as my heart races at the lie. The shadows at my feet quiver, responding to my anxiety, and I force them to still.

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