Page 28 of Secrets and Shadows

As he heads down to the floor below, where the Preys’ dorms are located, she makes her way upstairs to her room. I follow closely behind like a shadow, silently ascending the winding staircase that curves through the stone walls.

Mastering my own darkness was an immense challenge, but it now offers endless possibilities. I can follow her, watch her every move, and even reach out to her without her ever knowing at all.

As she softly hums to herself, her heartbeat resonates with mine. A part of me wishes she could feel this torturous bond, while another part is content to remain hidden in the shadows. What would I even say? And what would she see when she finally notices me?

Lilith reaches for the door and slips into the dorms. I pause for a moment before following her down the familiar hallway, lined with crimson banners. At Obsidian Academy, every student is assigned their own room after being sorted into a Predator or a Prey, which is convenient for me. It allows me to keep a close watch on Lilith without drawing attention to myself.

Technically,I’m doing Simon a favor. He requested that I monitor her after their one-on-one training session that ended with a close encounter with a Rogue. He wants her under constant surveillance in case anything happens. He won’t say exactly why though, other than she is powerful and that the headmistress wants to know, which is interesting.

So we take shifts, and honestly, I don’t mind it. Neither of us wants to rely on Vaughn for this—he excels at many things, but discretion isn’t one of them. This is just a precaution on Simon’s part. Given the power she’s shown, he wants to be certain there’s something worth reporting to Headmistress Bennett. Inmy opinion, she simply has a lot of power, and it’s intriguing. It makes me want to have a taste of it. At least that was the reason why I started following her.

In reality,I follow her because I’m drawn to her. I want to understand what drives her, what pushes her to her limits, and what truly unravels her. I want to knoweverythingabout her.

When I reach the second floor of the Predators’ dorms, I carefully push open the massive arched window and step out onto the stone façade that crowns the academy. Rain pours down, accompanied by distant rumbles of thunder, but I press on undeterred.

The shadows envelop me as I navigate the narrow stone path, moving slowly to avoid any missteps that could send me tumbling to my death. Each cautious step feels like an eternity, especially with the slick stone beneath my shoes. Thankfully, Lilith’s window isn’t too far off.

I linger near her window, leaning in just enough to catch a glimpse inside. Lilith collapses onto her bed, dragging her hands down her face. The strain of hours spent training with Simon is clearly taking its toll on her.

For a few moments, she lies there, staring blankly at the ceiling, her hair splayed messily around her head as she kicks off her shoes.

A sudden rumble of thunder shakes the sky, drawing her gaze toward the window. A flash of lightning illuminates the stormy night, casting eerie shadows across her room. As she stands to approach the thick glass, I hold my breath, testing my ability to blend into the shadows. Will she notice me? Will she sense the presence of her fated mate?

Her face scrunches in concentration, mere inches from my hiding spot. She remains focused on the storm outside, blissfully unaware of my presence.

And yet, we’re so close to each other that I can make out every freckle on her skin, every speck of purple in her gray eyes—eyes that hold secrets she’s not yet ready to share with anyone. I’m sure of it.

As she places her hand on the window, captivated by the storm outside, I carefully maintain my balance on the narrow stone ledge. Slowly, I raise my own hand and press it against the cool glass, yearning for even the slightest connection with her. For now, this is as close as I can get.

The next morning,the rising sun feels blinding after a restless night spent moving through shadows. Simon approaches me in the hall, his expression tight, hands resting on his hips. It’s obvious he’s bracing for bad news—he always expects the worst, even when it doesn’t come to pass.

I tend to judge people based on what I observe, and from what I’ve seen, there’s no reason to suspect Lilith of being involved with the Rogues—especially not them. My fated mate could never be tangled up with that kind of scum. The Balance wouldn’t do that to me, would it?

I’d sense it through our bond if it were true. For now, I’ve kept that bond a secret. I don’t want Simon to question my integrity or doubt my capability over something he might think clouds my judgment—especially something like this.

“You can relax,” I say, trying to ease his worry. “Nothing suspicious happened, and Lilith is safe. I made sure of that.”

Simon lifts a skeptical eyebrow. “And you watched her the whole night?”

I shake my head. “No, that would’ve been inappropriate. But yeah, I kept an eye on her for a while, just to be safe.” Ipause, remembering how I had to pull away when she started undressing to wash off the training grime. No matter how much I crave her, that’s a boundary I won’t cross until she lets me. “When I left, my Shadow stayed behind to watch. No unusual activity.”

He sighs, rubbing his temples. “Still blows my mind how you trained your Shadow to be your personal stalker, but I guess it’s useful now.”

“Let me guess—you spent the night combing through the forest?” I ask, shifting the conversation.

Simon nods. “Yeah, I wanted to sweep the area for more Rogues. Something was off about this one. He kept repeating, ‘he’s here.’ I’ve already talked to Bennett. It’s not much to go on, but at least we know the target’s gender. We can use that to keep a closer eye on the male students.”

His words stir a memory from about a month ago—an encounter with a Rogue I killed. That one had chanted something similar, signaling someone’s deadly presence. I had dismissed it as the usual Rogue nonsense, but now, hearing it again, Simon might be right. Maybe it’s more serious than I thought.

I wait for Simon to continue, but when he doesn’t, I ask, “Anything else?”

He shakes his head. “No, that’s it. I’ll take over now. I’ve got a training session with Lilith anyway. Oh, and Bennett wants to see you,” he adds, his expression shifting slightly.

Simon and I couldn’t be more different. My bond with Lilith, though powerful, is something fated—set in motion long before either of us had a say in it. Simon, on the other hand, connects easily with the people around him. Sometimes I envy that, but mostly, I’m content in my solitude. It’s less complicated that way.

“You don’t have to worry,” I reassure Simon. “I won’t say anything to Bennett about what happened with Lilith.”

And I mean it. Involving Bennett would only put Lilith under more scrutiny, and that’s the last thing she needs. If she does join Operation Nightfall, at least I’ll be able to keep a closer eye on her, to protect her.

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