Page 56 of Secrets and Shadows

“You’re not a Predator,” she states plainly.

Tony stammers, nodding way too quickly. “Yes. No. I mean, you’re right,” he says, completely flustered. I watch him squirm for a beat, a tiny bit amused, before stepping in.

“He’s here to check on me. You know, with everything going on...” I trail off, hoping to ease the tension.

Savina continues her silent assessment, her gaze lingering on him a moment longer. It’s intense enough that I almost feel like I’m intruding on their interaction.

“Very noble of you,” she says, offering a rare, genuine smile. It’s so unexpected that I wonder for a second if they’ve met before.

“I’m Tony,” he says, a bit more composed.

“Savina,” she replies smoothly.

Nope, definitely haven’t met before. Interesting.

A brief silence settles between us, the kind that quickly shifts from bearable to awkward. I glance over at Tony, who’s giving me that look—the one that begs for an exit strategy. I don’t need words to understand him.

“Could you give Savina and me a minute—” I don’t even finish before Tony’s up on his feet, grabbing his books and heading for the door like it’s his saving grace.

“I’ll catch you later, all right? See you in class,” he calls out over his shoulder, carefully avoiding looking in Savina’s direction as he makes his exit. He nearly trips on his way out, and both Savina and I exchange a glance, amused but also slightly concerned. He’s so fucking adorable. And by the look she sends his way, she might think so too.

Very interesting.

Once the door closes, my attention shifts fully to Savina. She’s easily one of the most stunning women I’ve ever met, so I can’t really blame Tony for his reaction. But what brings her here? Part of me suspects she’s come to talk about the recent buzz about me. After all, I’m the academy’s hottest topic of conversation currently.

Each step she takes is smooth, her heels barely making a sound on the stone floor before she settles into the chair across from me. Her eyes are sharp, assessing, as she finally speaks. “It’s true, then, isn’t it? You can summon both a Predator and a Prey.”

I hesitate before nodding. Savina and I got along well before this whole Dual thing surfaced, but now... I’m not so sure where we stand. Will knowing this change things between us?

“I spoke to Headmistress Bennett. She said I didn’t have to switch dorms or—”

“Is that why you think I’m here?” Savina cuts in, arching a perfectly shaped brow. “To judge you?”

I shrug. “Most people do.”

They’ve even gone so far as to debate whether I should be allowed to stay at the academy at all. Honestly, I get it. If I were in their shoes, I’d be cautious. The legend of the Dual—whether real or not—is deeply taboo, even if there isn’t much known about him. It has people questioning what’s right and wrong, what creates Balance, and what causes Chaos.

“Well, most people don’t know you,” she says, crossing her legs and leaning back. Her eyes flick to her long, scarlet nails, the gesture calm but deliberate. “Being a female Predator is already a challenge. People love to tell you it’s a role meant for men, that it’s nearly impossible to succeed. Yet, here we are, defying those expectations.” She meets my gaze, her tone softening. “So, to answer your unspoken question: no, I’m not here to judge you. And I’m certainly not here to push you out. I’m here to tell you that it’s time to stop hiding. Start embracing who you are. You’re destined for more than you realize, and I, for one, am excited to see where that takes you.”

Her words hit me harder than I expected. For so long, all I’ve wanted is to fit in, to follow the path laid out for me. But now I see that I’ll never be like everyone else. And maybe that’s not a bad thing. Maybe it’s a strength.

Perhaps being different isn’t a burden—perhaps it’s my greatest gift.

I lingerin the library long after Savina leaves, the daylight fading into the soft flicker of candles. The quiet is exactly what I need—a moment to think.

Instead of focusing on summoning my Shadows, I’ve buried myself in books about the Dual. I’m searching for answers like Simon had suggested—anything to help me understand who, or what, I am.

I remember overhearing my parents arguing about the Dual when I was younger. It became a sore spot between them, their hushed whispers full of tension that they didn’t think I heard.

My dad was relentless, chasing after every rumor, every lead, but nothing ever came of it. Eventually, people stopped believingin the Dual, dismissing him as a myth. It’s kind of like Balance itself. People don’t trust what they can’t see, and they fear what they don’t understand.

A sigh slips out as I slump over the pages. The memories of my dad feel distant, like they’re locked away somewhere I can’t quite reach. He spent so much of his life searching for the Dual, but what would he think if he saw me now? Would he see me as a threat, the same way he saw the Dual?

I shake off the thought and turn my attention back to the book in front of me. Information on the Dual is scattered and fragmented. Some say he came from chaos, born in darkness, with the power to summon both a Predator and a Prey. Theories about his purpose range from him being a Keeper of Balance to being a sign of the world’s end.

Definitely not the kind of reputation you want at Obsidian Academy.

There’s a sketch of him with his Shadows—a lion and a bison at his sides, his face hidden in shadow. The caption mentions how effortlessly he controlled both. I wonder if he struggled with it starting out as much as I do. How long did it take him to master that kind of power?

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