Page 26 of Secrets and Shadows

“I have something more challenging in mind for today,” I say, gesturing for her to come closer. “You clearly had some training before coming here, so I want to push your limits and see what you can really do. No holding back—not like in class.”

Lilith steps forward, shedding her jacket and tossing it aside with a playful smirk. “Is this why you brought me all the way out here? To try and murder me?”

A laugh bursts out of me. There’s that sassy Pred quality I’ve come to appreciate. For a moment, I was worried it had vanished.

“I wouldn’t go as far asmurder.But I won’t go easy on you, either. I expect the same from you. You need to give it your all because I need a proper assessment of your abilities. And if at any point you want to stop, just say—”

“Wow, you’re serious about this if we’re picking a safe word.” She tilts her head, her Predator instincts kicking in as we both begin to move slowly, sizing each other up, stalking one another. The atmosphere shifts, becoming charged with tension. “Renegade. If I feel I can’t continue, I’ll say ‘renegade.’”

I nod, feeling a familiar surge of energy coursing through my veins as I trace an intricate sigil in the air with my index finger. My Shadow bear responds to my call, materializing in front of me not as a solid figure, but as a shimmering barrier that wraps around me protectively like a bear cloak.

Lilith’s mouth falls open in shock at the sight. I know there’s a vast difference in our power levels, and while I don’t want to intimidate or overwhelm her, I want to show her the true strength of my abilities. My bear snarls fiercely, its glowing eyes locked onto her as if daring her to make a move. She remains frozen, uncertain of how to respond.

“Let your magic guide you,” I say, keeping my tone steady and encouraging. “Trust yourself and don’t overthink it.”

My words are the only warning I give her. With fierce determination, I slam my fist into the dirt, sending a shockwave of power rippling through the training grounds.

The exhilaration of the release washes over me, but my concern for Lilith sky rockets as the force knocks her off her feet, sending her crashing to the ground with a loud thud and a pained groan.

Shit.

But before I can rush to her side to check on her, Lilith springs back up, radiating an impressive display of power. A pale purple aura envelops her, demonstrating how quickly she can summon her abilities. Yet, I know she has even greater potential waiting to be unleashed.

I want to see her dive deeper and explore the full extent of her powers; there’s still so much more for her to discover.

Closing in on her, I see a determined glint in Lilith’s gray eyes.“Show me what you’ve got,” I taunt as she, too, moves closer.

A smirk spreads across her face, and I expect her to back away or try to dodge me. Instead, she charges at me, aiming a strike at my Shadow—a hasty move that shows she’s forgotten some of the lessons I’ve taught her. My force easily intercepts and redirects hers, sending her staggering backward again. But this time, she manages to regain her balance and land on her feet.

Maybe she’s starting to learn after all.

The aura surrounding her darkens to an inky, pitch-black color, catching me off-guard. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.

The aura surrounding her shifts to an inky black, catching me off guard. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever encountered before. For a brief moment, I’m stunned, mesmerized by the sheer intensity of her magic. But I quickly snap back to reality, regaining my composure.

I raise my hand and cautiously step toward her, bracing myself for whatever may happen next, but also wanting to make sure she’s in control. It’s easy at the beginning to let the Predator magic take over. Less so to control it.

“Lilith, are you—” Before I can finish my question, a sudden, searing pain strikes me from behind, like a thousand needles piercing my skin. Instinctively, I raise a barrier of light to shield myself.

A blazing fox, wreathed in flames, lunges at my bear, effortlessly tearing through my protective barrier as if it were made of paper. Its fur is a vibrant orange-red, flickering and dancing with the energy of its flames. My Shadow roars in response, ready to defend me from the assailant.

I glance around, expecting to see someone else join the fight, but quickly realize Lilith is the only one here with me.

Is the fox her Shadow?

It’s unlike anything I’ve ever faced. The fox moves with a distinct, almost autonomous presence, as if it’s working in tandem with Lilith rather than being controlled by her, yet it’s undeniably connected to her. Is this what she didn’t want to discuss about her experience in the forest?

Darkness coils around her arms like living tendrils, creeping toward me with an unsettling purpose. It seems to have a mind of its own, latching onto my legs with an iron grip andthreatening to climb up my body, rendering me immobile. While she’s impressively strong, my physical strength and mastery of magic allow me to break free before it can wrap around me completely.

“Lilith!” I call out urgently, but it’s as if she’s not fully present; my words seem to have no effect. Shit. This is not good.

A trickle of blood runs down her nose, a clear sign that she’s pushing herself too hard. She’s putting herself in danger.

Definitely not good.

Sweat drips down her forehead, mixing with the blood as the darkness continues to swirl around her.

Without hesitation, I raise my voice and call her name again, this time with an edge of desperation.“Lilith!”

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