Page 21 of Secrets and Shadows

Nope. Not happening.

Fuck this shit.

Without a second thought, I turn and start running. My feet squelch against the ground as I push myself forward, not daring to look back at whatever is chasing me. But I can feel it gaining on me.

It’s no use—the entity catches up, slamming into my back and sending me crashing to the ground. Pain shoots through my body as I hit the forest floor. At least this part isn’t soaked in blood—small mercies.

As I struggle to catch my breath, I roll over in time to see the dark figure hovering above me, readying to strike.

Fuck. I’m going to die,I think to myself.

I raise my hand instinctively to shield myself, even though I know it won’t make a difference… until a beam of light shoots from my palm, illuminating the entire forest. Magic surges within me, concentrating into a single point before erupting in a massive shockwave.

Drawn by the surge of energy, a fox materializes in front of me, glowing with pure light and radiating a power that envelops me.

A Predator. I’ve summoned a Predator to protect me.

Astonished and relieved, I watch as the small fox bravely faces the dark entity, staring it down with unwavering determination. There’s no trace of hesitation or fear in its movements.

Seizing the distraction, I scramble backward, using the diversion to create space. The darkness looms ominously above me, like a storm cloud ready to strike, but instead of attacking, it simply hovers there.

Welcome back.

Then, as suddenly as it appeared, the dark entity vanishes into thin air, leaving me alone with the fox in the eerie silence. It locks its gaze on me one last time before fading away, taking the light it emitted along with it. My heart flutters in my throat as the oppressive darkness returns.

With trembling limbs, I force myself to stand up, determined to escape this place as quickly as possible. I take off, running and running, pushing myself until my lungs ache and my legs burn.

I can feel the air growing fresher, the oppressive weight of the forest beginning to lift, and I know I must be nearing the edge. The trees are thinning, their trunks becoming less dense.

It’s only when I’m nearly out of this nightmarish place that I finally dare to glance over my shoulder. But as I do, I collide with something solid and unyielding. I almost bounce off and fall backward, but arms shoot out to catch me. My gaze snaps up to the familiar figure holding me steady.

Vaughn.

Normally, I’d find his presence annoying, but right now, he feels like a lifeline. Without a word, he shifts me behind him protectively, sensing my fear—or perhaps he can see the terror etched on my face. With a swift motion, energy surges through him, coalescing into a massive wolf. Whoa.

The wolf casts a warm glow into the forest, its luminous fur illuminating the path ahead and softening the eerie shadows of the trees. But the entity is long gone and nowhere to be found.

Nine

LILITH

To saythat the Shadowing left me freaked out is an understatement, really.

After finding me in a state of sheer panic, which only added to my embarrassment, Vaughn, surprisingly, didn’t mock me like I expected. Instead, his Shadow wolf scoured the forest, reporting back that everything seemed normal, no immediate danger. Still, despite his reassurances, I can’t shake the feeling that something is very wrong.

I’ve tried to convince myself that it was all in my head, that my nerves were simply getting the best of me. But no matter how hard I try to rationalize it, a nagging voice inside me refuses to believe that was normal.

There was a presence there, a dark and foreboding energy that didn’t belong in that place. One that could communicate. And the blood on the forest floor. Whatwasthat?

But what do I know? I’m a first-year and it’s not like I’m an expert—

“Gods, I can’t believe I’m actually a Prey,” Tony sighs beside me, snapping me out of my thoughts as we make our way up the narrow stairway to the Predator dorms. It’s the one time of yearPreys are allowed in without feeling like they’re walking into a lion’s den. They throw this huge party to celebrate the new Preys and Predators officially joining the fold.

“At least you managed to summon a rabbit,” I say, giving his shoulder a reassuring pat. “That’s more than the ones who got kicked out can say.”

Four students had to leave this year because they couldn’t summon their Shadows. It’s the highest number in years. After I failed that Spellcasting assignment, I was sure I’d be one of them.

Thank the gods, it worked out—or I think it did. Mostly. I’m the only female Predator this year, which I guess I should be relieved.

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