Page 60 of Dark Bonds

The dean’s perfectly manicured eyebrow arches slightly. “I see. Well, in light of recent events, I wanted to inform you that the board is considering implementing pack pairings for all students. We’re also instituting a buddy system. It’s not just about safety, it’s about building stronger pack bonds.”

I feel Bishop go rigid beside me, his coffee mug creaking slightly in his grip. “Is that really necessary?” he asks, a thread of tension in his voice.

“We must take every precaution,” the dean says firmly. Her gaze swings to me, and I resist the urge to step back. Her eyesseem to see right through me, past the façade of normalcy I’m desperately trying to maintain. “Miss Vale, I trust you’ll comply with any new safety measures we put in place?”

Pack pairings? Buddy systems? Great, just what we need—more ways for them to watch us twenty-four seven, but I can’t exactly voice that concern to the dean.

Well, I could…

“Of course,” I manage to say, proud of how steady my voice sounds. Then, surprising myself, I add, “Actually, I was thinking about organizing a student safety committee. Maybe we could work with the faculty to implement these measures effectively?” The words tumble out before I can stop them, born from a sudden desire to have some control over the situation.

The dean’s eyes widen slightly, clearly not expecting this. “That’s… not a bad idea, Miss Vale. We’ll discuss it further at a later time.” There’s a hint of something in her voice—respect or wariness, I’m not sure. “Very well. Carry on.” With that, she turns and strides away, the click of her heels fading into the morning bustle.

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly. “So,” I say after a moment, “that was…”

“Yeah.” Bishop sighs, his shoulders slumping. He glances around then leans closer, his voice taking on a more urgent tone. “Look, there’s something I need you to do. It’s important. It’s about the library—the one Dorian oversees.”

I raise an eyebrow, wariness creeping back in. “More secrets, Bishop?”

He shakes his head emphatically. “No more secrets, I promise. Frankie, I need you to focus on Dorian’s section of the library. It’s crucial we find information about the eredar beast as soon as possible. There’s an old text calledShadowsof the Ancientsthat might have answers about its origins and weaknesses, but I need you to ask Dorian about it.”

“Why me?” I ask, confusion and curiosity warring inside me. “And why can’t you just ask Dorian yourself?”

Bishop’s expression turns grim, his voice barely above a whisper. “The dragon won’t tell me. There’s… history there, but you… He likes you, Frankie, when he hates everyone, and right now, we need all the help we can get. The eredar beast isn’t just some random monster. I think it’s connected to the decay of the shadow realm, and maybe even to the missing elders. We need to understand what we’re dealing with before it’s too late.”

We’re approaching the building where my meeting with Blackwood is scheduled. The building looms over us, and I swear the dark windows are staring right at me. Creepy. A shiver runs down my spine that has nothing to do with the morning chill.

“Okay,” I say, then an idea strikes me. “Maybe we could use my shadow powers to search the library without being detected. It might be faster and safer that way.”

Bishop looks surprised then impressed. “That’s… actually a really good idea. We’ll need to plan it carefully though. Your powers are still new, and we don’t know what kind of protections Dorian might have in place.”

“Agreed.” I nod, my mind already racing with possibilities. “But Bishop? No more lies or half-truths. If we’re going to figure this out, I need to be able to trust you completely.”

Relief washes over his face, softening the worry lines around his eyes. “I understand. And Frankie? Thank you. I know I don’t deserve your trust, but I promise, I’m trying to make things right.”

I watch him disappear into the sea of students, my heart racing with uncertainty. What have I gotten myself into?

I turn to head toward the building, but I pause when I see people grouped together, all looking at their phones.

As I pass, I catch snippets of a news report. “Unexplained shadows spotted in downtown areas… Residents report strange noises and sudden temperature drops…”

The students exchange worried glances. “You think it’s connected to what happened here?” one whispers, and another nods grimly.

“Has to be. First the eredar on campus, now this? Something big is coming.”

I hurry past, my mind racing. If eredar beasts are appearing in the city, nowhere is safe.

I take a deep breath to calm myself and turn toward the daunting building towering before me. The coffee in my hand has long gone cold, but I chug it down anyway, needing all the caffeine I can get.

As I push open the heavy doors, a nagging thought tugs at the back of my mind. What if the answers we find inShadows of the Ancientsare worse than the questions? What secrets are hidden in the depths of Dorian’s library, and am I ready to face them?

It doesn’t much matter right now, because I have to meet with my advisor, and I’m already late.

Chapter 19

Frankie

I standoutside Professor Blackwood’s office, my hand hovering over the doorknob. My stomach does its usual flip-flop before these meetings, but today there’s a weird buzz of curiosity too. After everything that happened, this routine advisement feels almost… normal.

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