Page 1 of Secrets and Shadows

One

LILITH

“My Gods,how the time flies. My little girl is growing up,” Natalie exclaims with a wistful sigh, pretending to wipe a tear from her eye. She props her foot on the chair beside me and begins painting her toenails a rich, vibrant shade of red. “I’ll be an empty nester soon.”

Suppressing an eye roll at her theatrics, I can’t help but smile at my best friend. But beneath that smile, a twinge of sadness lingers.

Despite her constant jokes about our age difference, Natalie is only three months older than me. Not that you’d know it with the way she acts. She’s always been a bit of a mother hen, seeming much older and wiser than twenty.

“Yeah, yeah. You know it’s still a whole week away,” I reply, lounging on my bed beside her.

Her nose scrunches in concentration, and thick, brown curls frame her face in perfect ringlets, a striking contrast to her dark skin. Her focus stays on her feet as she carefully finishes each nail one by one.

I watch, wanting to absorb every second left before my life changes completely. This is one of the last times we’ll get to hangout together before I leave for Obsidian Academy. After I arrive, my visitations for the next four years will beverylimited.

My heart clenches at the thought of leaving Nat behind. She’s always been my rock, sticking by my side no matter what. The true definition of besties through thick and thin.

Moments like these—relaxing in my room, basking in each other’s company, doing things like painting our nails or studying for exams—are the ones I know I’ll miss the most.

“Done!” Natalie finally declares, holding her foot up for inspection, her toenails glinting like little rubies in the soft light of my bedroom.

I give her a thumbs up followed by a goofy grin, which makes her giggle. We’ve always had an easy language between us, unspoken yet understood. We fall back into a comfortable silence as Natalie moves on to her other foot.

It all still feels surreal to me; despite knowing that attending Obsidian Academy is a great honor and privilege, it also comes with immense pressure.

Especially for the daughter of Theodore Knight, a name synonymous with exceptional service to the Balance. The weight of that legacy presses down on me. I wonder if I can live up to it—or if the pressure will crush me instead.

“Why do the times have to change?” I murmur more to myself than anyone else but Natalie hears me.

She pauses, the nail polish brush hovering above her toenail. I can see the gears turning in her head as she contemplates my question.

It takes a while before she responds. “Change,” she starts, dropping her foot and turning to face me fully. Her eyes are serious, lacking their usual spark of mischief. “Is inevitable. It’s part of growing up, part of life.”

I watch as she takes a deep breath and readjusts herself. I don’t respond, simply absorbing her words. She’s right, of course, but yet…

“Babe, you need to stop stressing.” She leans closer, her expression softening, as if trying to read my thoughts. “You know your dad is already immensely proud of you, and will be, whether you’re a Predator or a Prey.”

A heavy sigh escapes me as I roll onto my back, my gaze drifting to stare at the ceiling spelled with twinkling magic to mimic a starry night sky. My dad set it up when I was three and I always thought it was the coolest thing ever.

Some would say my parents have spoiled me, but the truth is, I’ve been lucky to have such loving parents who have always encouraged and supported my choices.

“Yeah, that’s what he’s been telling me too.”

When my acceptance letter arrived, my father was ecstatic. And even though he says he’ll be happy regardless, I know there’s still a part of him that really hopes I’ll be a Predator like him.

Unfortunately for both of us, the odds are against me, since that’s usually a position reserved for male Protectors. Female Predators are very rare.

“Then what are you worried about?” Nat returns her attention to her feet. “Aside from packing all your things, of course. Nowthatis going to be a massive task. But don’t worry, you’ve got me.”

My gaze sweeps over my bedroom, taking in the deep blue walls covered in paintings and decorations that I’ve collected over the years. Given the size of the small duffle bag and backpack I’m allotted to bring, taking any of them with me won’t be an option. I need to reserve the space for important items like clothes and toiletries. Maybe even a few books…

Ugh. How will I ever be able to choose what comes with me and what doesn’t?

I rub at my chest, ignoring the heaviness that settles there each time I think about leaving.

So many of the memories I share with Nat were created in this very room. We used to get ready in front of the massive, silver mirror across from my bed before sneaking out in the dead of night. Endless hours spent studying for our primary education. And I don’t even know how many times we cried over boys in each other’s arms.

Now, it all feels like it’s coming to an end.

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