Page 95 of Dark Bonds

Red eyes stareat me from an endless void, their gaze unblinking and hungry. I jolt awake, my heart pounding, to find Umbraxis licking my fingers. The clock reads 5:47 AM. So much for a good night’s sleep.

Tori’s empty bed mocks me across the room, the sheets pulled tight with military precision. The sight twists something in my chest. It’s only been hours, but her absence makes it feel like a chasm is opening between us, a void as vast and cold as the shadows themselves.

I throw on clothes haphazardly, my mind already racing ahead to meeting the guys.

The January air slices at my exposed skin like invisible knives, its icy fingers seeming to reach straight through my clothes. The scents of frost and pine needles fill my lungs, sharp and clean, a stark contrast to the stuffy warmth of the dorm. Students huddle in clusters, their excited whispers about the unexpected break mingling with undercurrents of fear. There’s this weird tension in the air, like the shadows are watching us, just waiting for us to screw up.

Leo and Matteo wait for me in the quad, Umbraxis padding silently at my heels. I catch Matteo’s eyes darting around,cataloging potential threats and escape routes. His protective instincts never seem to switch off. Dorian is decidedly absent, which leaves an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Leo’s usual grin is strained, his fingers drumming an anxious rhythm against his thigh. “Well, well, well. Unexpected vacay time. Who’s ready for some shadow-filled shenanigans?” he quips, his trademark grin not quite reaching his eyes as he hands me a cup of coffee.

Sans pun.

I grip the steaming cup, letting the warmth seep into my skin.

As we head out, I can’t help but wonder where Bishop is in all this. He’s been MIA for days, and it’s starting to feel less like his usual mysterious act and more like... something else. A pang of worry hits me, but I push it aside.

One crisis at a time, Frankie.Right now, we have a pack house to find.

“Hey,” Leo says softly, catching my expression. “You okay? Thinking about Bishop?”

I nod, surprised he read me so easily. “Yeah, it’s just... weird, you know? Him not being around for all this.”

Matteo’s face darkens slightly. “Indeed. His absence is... concerning. Perhaps we should?—”

“Later,” I cut in, forcing a smile. “Let’s focus on not ending up in a literal haunted house first, okay?”

Matteo’s gaze never stops moving, scanning our surroundings. I can practically see the gears turning in his head. “We need a plan,” he mutters more to himself than to us. “Training regimens, research schedules, contingency plans for?—”

“Slow down, Matteo,” I interrupt, placing a hand on his arm. “One thing at a time. Let’s start with finding a place to live, yeah?”

A familiar voice cuts through the tension. “Well, if it isn’t my favorite band of misfits. Looking a bit lost, aren’t we?”

We turn to see Professor Everett sauntering toward us, his weathered face creased with a mix of amusement and concern. His eyes linger on Umbraxis, and one eyebrow arches upwards, but he doesn’t comment.

“Professor,” Matteo begins, but Everett waves him off.

“None of that formality nonsense, not with the shitstorm brewing. Call me Everett.” His expression grows serious, shadows seeming to deepen the lines on his face. “Listen up, kids. With classes canceled, I think it’s time for some... extracurricular education. What do you say to a crash course in advanced shadow shifting? And I do mean crash, because we don’t have time for gentle learning curves.”

Hope blooms in my chest, warm and unexpected. “You’d do that for us?”

Everett’s eyes twinkle, a spark of mischief dancing in their depths. “Consider it my civic duty. Besides, someone has to make sure you lot don’t get yourselves killed.”

Leo’s eyes light up with a mix of excitement and relief. “Does this mean we’re trading those mind-numbing charts for some real-world shadow action? Because I’m all in for that.”

Matteo shoots him a look that could curdle milk, but I catch the hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

“I can’t promise it’ll be easy,” Everett continues, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, “but I can promise it’ll be more useful than whatever is in those dusty textbooks, which is where Dorian is.” He winks, as if sharing a private joke. “Meet me at the old lighthouse in an hour. Bring snacks—nothing kills the mood like a hungry shadow shifter.”

As Everett walks away, we huddle closer. Umbraxis presses against my leg, a cool, comforting presence.

“This could be exactly what we need,” Matteo says, his voice low and intense. “Everett’s knowledge of shadows is unparalleled. If anyone can help us understand what’s happening...”

I nod, feeling a spark of determination ignite within me. “Maybe we can finally get some real answers.”

Leo throws his arms around both our shoulders, his warmth a stark contrast to the biting cold. “Look at us, about to embark on a magical mystery tour. Next stop, kicking shadow ass and taking names.”

An hour later, we climb the winding stairs of the lighthouse, our arms laden with books and enough snacks to feed a small army. The scents of salt and old stone grow stronger with each step, the air heavy with secrets and the tang of ancient magic.

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