Page 38 of Secrets and Shadows

“Lilith? Lilith!Fuck!”

I scoop Lilith’s fragile body into my arms, feeling her shallow breaths against me. Panic grips me and I just run. I run through the forest, weaving around tree roots and ducking under low-hanging branches. My feet move on instinct, guided by the familiar paths I've memorized over the past four years. I’ve been here a million times, there’s never been anything like this. Not the dark threatening entity, no destruction, and definitely no one able to cast two Shadows.

The weight of Lilith’s life in my arms drives home the urgency of getting her out of here and to the academy, where the healers can help her. As powerful as Predators are, teleportation isn’t one of our abilities, but I really wish it were right now.

Bursting through the edge of the forest, I nearly crash into Headmistress Bennett. Her eyes widen in shock as she takes in the sight of me carrying Lilith. “What happened?” she demands, her voice sharp. But I don’t stop or slow down to answer. Bennett, despite her age, keeps pace right behind me. “Simon Blake, answer me!”

“She was attacked!” I shout, my voice shaking with fury. I had warned against letting Lilith return into the forest without more information—until we were sure she was safe—but against my better judgment, I let myself be swayed into believing her Shadowing was an isolated incident. And now she’s paying the price. And it’s my fucking fault.

I was there! I was there to protect her and make sure everything went smoothly. It was supposed to only be training, a way for her to finally get a handle on her fears. I push all my worries aside for now, though. All that matters now is getting Lilith the help she desperately needs.

Sweat beads on my forehead as I push myself up the seemingly endless one thousand seventy-five stairs leading to the academy, leaving Headmistress Bennett far behind.

The moment I step into the healing quarters, Tanya, a skilled Prey, rushes toward me. The tall halls are eerily quiet, but the comforting scent of healing herbs hangs in the air. I finally allow myself to slow down, trying to calm down.

Lilith is still unconscious in my arms, barely breathing, her skin much paler than usual. “W-where should I take her?” I manage to stammer, struggling to keep my voice steady despite my best efforts to remain composed. I’ve heard recounts of the horrors Protectors face in battles against the Rogues, but I’ve never heard of anything like this.

I can’t keep seeing her like this, fragile, vulnerable, weak. Not the headstrong girl with the purple glint in her eyes. I was right fucking there and I let this happen on my watch. I’m not sure what to do with all the emotions running through me; all I know is someone will pay for this.

Tanya grips my shoulder, guiding me toward an empty room to our left. “This way.”

The healing quarters are stark and simple. The room holds only a clean bed, a small wooden bedside table, healing supplies stacked on the opposite side, and a wooden chair. A massive window spans one wall, with the blood moon casting a crimson glow across the room.

I gently lay Lilith down on the bed, careful not to jostle her wound. Only then do I notice that my chest is smeared with the black ooze, which feels like acid burning against my skin.

Tanya’s eyes narrow as she inspects Lilith’s unconscious body, her fingers deftly tracing over the damage. “What happened to her?”

“I don’t know exactly,” I reply, my voice shaking slightly. “She was attacked in the forest, and I—”

“Remove your shirt,” she commands, her focus still locked on Lilith.

Um, yeah, good idea. As I peel off my shirt, I wince at the burns marking my chest. “Fucking hell,” I mutter under my breath, stealing a glance at Lilith and feeling a wave of worry wash over me. If this stuff is burning my chest, what’s it doing to her insides?

“Close the door,” Tanya says, her expression unreadable. I quickly do, anxiety tightening in my chest with every passing second. “Take some marigold from the shelf and apply it to your chest,” she instructs, pointing to a stand filled with various herbs. “I’ve infused it with my magic; it should help speed up the healing process.”

I scan the bottles and spot the marigold, uncorking it and pressing the orange petals against my bare chest, a sharp sting spreading through me like wildfire. I let out a soft groan—fuck that hurts—but I try to push my own pain aside. Lilith is in far worse shape.

“Is she going to be okay?” I ask, nodding toward the black ooze seeping from her wound. “What the hell is that?”

Tanya’s fiery red hair falls around her face as she leans in closer to examine the injury. “It looks like some kind of infection,” she explains, her fingers glowing faintly green as she probes the area. “But this is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. Do you have any idea what might have caused it?”

I shake my head., I’m not going to talk about what I witnessed until I fully understand it and can ensure Lilith’s safety. And even then…

Tanya’s fingers slip into the wound, causing Lilith to flinch even though she is still unconscious. The healer’s face contorts with effort as she works to draw out the black ooze that has infiltrated Lilith’s body. An awful sizzling sound fills the air, and faint tendrils of stinky smoke curl up from the wound. My stomach churns at the sight, but I force myself to keep watching. I need to know she’s going to be okay.

After a few moments, Tanya finally pulls back, and I see relief washing over her face. Is that good?

The stand beside her is cluttered with an array of herbs—some dried, others still fresh—along with dozens of vials filled with liquids of varying shades and intensities. She moves around the stand with practiced ease, selecting different items and mixing them together in a small bowl. And I just stand there, still watching. Feeling fucking useless.

“Sit,” Tanya commands without looking up from her work. “You look like you’re about to pass out.”

I hesitate, reluctant to leave Lilith’s side, but eventually give in and collapse into a nearby chair. Tanya manages to split her focus between Lilith and me, tending to both without missing a beat. I try to push through the exhaustion threatening to pull me under; Lilith needs me. Ineedto know she’s going to be okay.

“Will she be all right?” I ask again, my voice barely above a whisper. It was my job to protect her—and I fucking failed—miserably.

Tanya pauses, meeting my gaze with her cautious green eyes. “I can’t make any promises, but I’ll do everything in my power to—”

Before she can finish her sentence, the door swings open to reveal Headmistress Bennett, her expression as unreadable as ever. She fixes her icy gaze on me and speaks one word, her tone leaving no room for argument. “Out.”

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