Page 22 of Secrets and Shadows

“And you didn’t have an asthma attack,” I add with a small smile. “You handled it pretty gracefully.”

Which is more than I can say for myself.

“Hmph. Fine,” Tony pouts, crossing his arms and letting out a dramatic huff of defeat. “You’re right. I’m just glad I get to stay here with my bestie,” he adds, linking his arm through mine with an exaggerated grin. It’s enough to pull a small, half-hearted smile from me. There’s still too much uncertainty gnawing at my insides for a full one.

As we make our way down the hallway, the distant thudding of music grows louder, its steady beat reaching us before we even round the corner.

It’s hard to believe that by tomorrow morning, I’ll be moving into the Predator dorms permanently, leaving behind the cramped, shared rooms. The thought of having my own room with my own bathroom excites me, but there’s also a twinge of sadness knowing Tony won’t be right beside me anymore. It’s comforting to have someone watching your back.

On a positive note, I don’t have to use the locker room showers anymore.

As we push open the heavy wooden door, we’re immediately hit by a surge of energy so strong I can almost taste it—a result of dozens of Predators and Preys gathered in one space. Faintly glowing orbs hover near the ceiling, casting a soft, otherworldly light over the room.

To our right is an impressive wooden bar, lined with bottles of swirling, magic-infused cocktails that almost seem to invite you over the longer you stare.

“It’s not all bad, apparently,” I tell Tony, nodding toward the bar. Two Preys stand behind it, expertly mixing drinks with magic in a way I’ve never seen before. “You can make great cocktails now…”

Across the room, the air is thick with smoke, the rich scent of various magical substances floating toward us, something I recognize all too well. Natalie and I have dabbled with similar things a few times.

And then there’s the crowd. They dance, move, and touch like a single, pulsating mass. The music pumps through every inch of my body, invigorating and enticing me to join in their rhythmic movements. It slowly releases all the tension I felt seconds before. It’s mesmerizing, I can’t tear my eyes away from the hypnotic flow of bodies.

“I don’t know what I expected… but it wasn’t this,” Tony admits, nervously running his hand through his hair.

To his left, I spot the cute blonde who’s been eyeing him for days. She turned out to be a Prey too, and this is his moment to make a move.

I lean in discreetly. “Don’t be too obvious, but the blonde behind you is checking you out. Go grab her a drink,” I whisper with a nudge.

Tony’s eyes widen, and his mouth opens in surprise, but he quickly recovers, shaking his head. “No, I can’t. I can’t just leave you alone…”

I roll my eyes. “Tony, seriously. Go have fun. I’m not a damsel in distress. Besides, this is a perfect chance for both of us to meet new people and you’re kind of cockblocking me right now.”

Tony snorts and shakes his head, causing his glasses to slip down his nose. He pushes them back up with a chuckle. “Fine, but if you need anything—like a wingman or whatever—just, I don’t know, signal me somehow, and I’ll be there.”

“Got it,” I grin, nudging him again. “Now go.”

With that, he heads off. I watch him make his way toward the blonde, moving with surprising confidence. Maybe it’s because she’s also a Prey, or maybe because he’s rocking that formal suit tonight. When her face lights up as he approaches, I know encouraging him was the right call.

Once he disappears into the crowd, a strange sense of loneliness creeps in, despite the pulsing energy all around me. I wanted us to meet new people, but now that he’s gone, I feel oddly exposed without him nearby. I knew change was coming, but it still catches me off guard.

I sigh, turning my attention back to the room. The energy is intoxicating—the thumping bass, the seamless flow of bodies moving together in rhythm. It draws me in.

I head toward the dance floor and let the music take over. For a while, I lose myself in the moment, dancing with no one and everyone, unaware of time or space. It’s liberating, my body tingling with excitement as I surrender to the beat.

When I finally need a break, breathless and drenched in sweat, I retreat to a quiet corner of the room. I barely get three seconds of solitude before someone interrupts me.

I sense Vaughn’s presence behind me before I actually see him, and a wave of dread ripples through me. I consider keeping my back turned, hoping he’ll take the hint and leave. But,knowing him, that’s wishful thinking. A beat passes and neither of us seems to be going anywhere.

With a reluctant sigh, I finally turn to face him. “Out of all the places, you have to be here to bother me?”

He’s holding a drink—dark liquor with glowing cubes bobbing inside. Annoyingly, it looks delicious. Vaughn flashes that infuriatingly charming smirk of his. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be, Fox.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Since when are we on a nickname basis?”

He takes a slow sip from his drink, and even in the dim light, I can see the way his throat moves as he swallows. “Since last night, when I found you freaked out, and you admitted you summoned a fox..." Ah. There it is. I was wondering when he’d bring that up.

Fair enough. I can’t deny it—Iwasfreaked out. Still am, honestly, though I’m doing my best to push it aside. After all, opportunities to let loose like this don’t come often, and it was actually working. Until Vaughn showed up.

His icy blue eyes, always carrying a mysterious glint, sweep over me. I cross my arms in a feeble attempt to shield myself from the intensity of his gaze. But despite my defiance, the small, infuriating smile curling on his lips stirs something inside me. Gods, how can someone so aggravating also be so ridiculously attractive?

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