Page 88 of Dark Bonds

Leo presses soft kisses along my shoulder as he carefully withdraws. Matteo pulls me close, cradling me against his chest, and I nestle between them, savoring their warmth and the lingering sensations.

“That was...” I trail off, unable to find words adequate enough to describe the experience.

“Incredible,” Leo finishes for me, his voice filled with awe and affection.

Matteo hums in agreement, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on my skin. “You continue to amaze us, Frankie,” he murmurs. “In every way.”

We lie in comfortable silence for a while, basking in the afterglow. The forest around us seems to pulse with energy, as if the shadow realm itself is responding us and our emotions.

Eventually, Leo props himself up on an elbow, his golden eyes serious as they meet mine. “As much as I’d love to stay here forever, we should head back.”

I sigh, knowing Leo’s right, but I’m reluctant to leave this perfect moment. “I suppose we can’t hide from reality forever,” I murmur, slowly sitting up.

Matteo’s hand traces down my spine, sending a shiver through me. “Reality has a way of finding us, no matter where we hide,” he says, his voice tinged with a hint of regret.

We get up, ready to shift again, and I can’t help but stare at them for a second. How did I get so lucky? Leo is all golden warmth and mischievous energy, his eyes still dancing with the afterglow of our lovemaking, and Matteo is dark and intense, his gaze softened with an affection that makes my heart skip.

The cool night air kisses my skin, and I shiver slightly, suddenly aware of our nakedness. Leo notices and steps closer, wrapping his arms around me. His warmth envelops me, and I lean into him, savoring the moment.

“Come on.” Leo presses a gentle kiss to my head before he shifts.

We change back into our animal forms, the transformation smoother now. As we race through the shadowy forest, back toward the shed, I feel a sense of peace settling over me—one I embrace instead of worrying about what could go wrong. I deserve a moment of peace, no matter how fleeting it is.

We all do.

Shadow Locke Island blurs around us, familiar yet alien in this realm. As we race back, I feel the shadow world more than ever. It’s like what we did made everything sharper and more real. It’s awesome and scary as hell all at the same time, which is exactly how I feel about the two men racing beside me.

Chapter 28

Frankie

I’m still buzzingfrom last night with Leo and Matteo. God, just thinking about it makes me all tingly, but reality’s a bitch, and this morning, it’s slapping me in the face. Still, I can’t help smiling as I head to class. Those two are definitely complicating my life, but maybe in a good way.

Tori and I are nothing more than two roommates waiting for the weekend to relax, which we both need. Luckily, it’s the end of the week after the first semester back from the holiday break.

My whole schedule keeps getting adjusted as I enter the shadow realm and shift. This morning, I’m in a new class with a Professor Everett—no last name.

That in itself should have been a red flag.

I slide into a seat at the back, my nerves doing the cha-cha. It’s my first time in Everett’s class on ancient shadow whatever, and I’m not sure what to expect. After what happened with Nyx, and how my powers seem to be growing, I’m hoping this class will give me some answers or at least stop me from accidentally opening portals to who knows where every time I sneeze.

Students are filing in, chattering away. The room smells like old books and dust, and there’s this weird tension in the air that’s making me antsy.

The classroom itself is unlike any other I’ve seen on campus. The walls are dark wood with crazy carvings. I swear they move when I’m not looking directly at them. Shelves laden with strange artifacts and ancient tomes line the walls, their spines bearing titles in languages I can’t even begin to decipher.

Professor Everett strides to the front, his presence immediately commanding attention. His eyes sweep the room, pausing briefly on me with a subtle nod of acknowledgment. The fluorescent lights flicker slightly as he passes, as if they bend to his will.

He looks disheveled and yet somehow put together, wearing loose jeans, open-toed sandals, and an untucked shirt. Top his ensemble off with a tweed coat, and he is the quintessential eccentric professor. Even his hair is a mess. He looks like he’s in his mid-thirties with ancient eyes.

A moment later, Dorian comes in behind him, an odd little smile on his face. Those fog blue eyes catch mine and hold them for a few beats, sending a thrill up my spine as he walks to the front of the class and sits in the spot reserved for TAs. His presence seems to darken the shadows in the room.

I swear Dorian’s thirst for knowledge is almost problematic.

“Alright, class,” Professor Everett begins, sounding way too excited for a Monday morning. “We’re diving into some old junk today that’s going to mess with everything you think you know about shadow shifters. Fair warning—this stuff might freak you out a bit.”

Professor Everett’s hands hover over an ancient wooden box, its surface a maze of scars and cryptic symbols. As he lifts the lid, the hinges wail a rusty protest. The sound scrapes against my nerves, setting my teeth on edge.

Professor Everett pulls out a mirror that’s just... wrong. It’s old and black, and the glass moves like it’s alive. It’s not reflecting light—it’s eating it. My skin crawls just looking at it.

---