Page 50 of Secrets and Shadows

She bites her lip and I follow the movement, and I know, in that moment, she knows exactly what’s going on in my mind.

Slowly, with more effort than I’d care to admit, I force myself to break away and stand.

I extend a hand to help her up, my voice steady now despite the whirlwind of emotions churning inside me. “Come on. Let’shead back to the academy,” I suggest. “We can shower and then hit the library. There might be some books that can help us figure this out. I want us to use all the resources we can before we dive back into training. We’re going to need a bit more help, I think.”

Struggling to control a new Shadow isn’t uncommon, and I know having two makes it even trickier. But what worries me more are these blackout moments she’s been experiencing—those trances that leave her vulnerable. It’s like the magic is controlling her and not the other way around, and that’s… something they only talk about in myths.

Lilith stares at me for a moment, her gaze searching mine, before finally accepting my hand. “Thank you,” she whispers, her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and something else that makes my heart race and my cock harden even more.

We start heading back to the academy, but every step feels like I’m being pulled away from her, from the warmth and the connection still sparking between us. The last thing I want is to put distance between us, but the reality of our situation is hard to ignore.

As we make our way along the path, there’s this heavy silence, full of things left unsaid. I keep stealing glances at her, catching these moments where I see that fierce fire inside her—the girl who's learning to deal with her Shadows, even if they scare her.

I want to reach out, to close the gap, but the academy looms ahead like a barrier. The longing coils tighter in my chest, reminding me that there’s so much left unsaid. And as the familiar silhouette of the academy comes into view, I know that whatever happens next could change everything.

The frigid waterfrom the shower hammers against my skin, numbing my senses and dulling the primal urges that surge within me. I lean against the cool, smooth tiles, allowing the chill to seep into my bones and soothe my racing thoughts.

With a deep breath, I scrub my hands over my face, squeezing my eyes shut in a desperate attempt to purge my mind of the images that taunt me—Lilith beneath me, bare and writhing.

Shit.

Guilt washes over me like another wave, overwhelming and suffocating. She trusts me as her mentor, and the very idea of crossing that boundary should feel wrong. But with Lilith…

No matter how hard I try, she lingers in my thoughts like a haunting melody that refuses to fade. From the first moment our eyes met, I knew there was something important about her, but like an idiot I thought it was because she was meant to join Operation Nightfall. Now I know I was blinded by my sense of duty and naive in thinking I could manage to keep my distance.

The memory of our energies intertwining earlier today pulses in my veins, vivid and intoxicating. Experiencing someone else’s essence on that level is rare, further amplifying the pull I feel toward her. I exhale deeply, letting the breath escape like a whispered prayer, trying to shake off this sinful longing that threatens to consume me.

Fuck. What have I gotten myself into?

The creak of the bathroom door opening behind me jolts me out of my thoughts. Shit, did I forget to lock my door?

Next thing I know the shower door slides open, and my heart stops at the sight before me. Lilith stands there, her black haircascading down her back in damp waves, wrapped in a towel that barely covers her.

The air feels heavy with tension, buzzing with anticipation, and I find it impossible to look away from her. She’s the balance between vulnerable and fierce, a mix that stirs something deep inside me, coaxing my protective side.

As she steps inside and lets the towel slip away, my throat goes dry, and a hunger stirs within me that I’m not sure I can rein in. I try to hold her gaze, but my eyes betray me, drifting down her flawless skin and the alluring curves that I ache to touch. It’s hard to think about anything else.

Fuck. I don’t really want to anyway.

“Lilith...” I manage to choke out, utterly transfixed by her beauty. My mind conjures up all the reasons this is a terrible idea, but they all fade away when she flashes a grin at me.

I thought I was someone strong. Turns out all it takes is one smile from her and I am completely weak.

She shivers as she steps into the shower. “Gods. They really do have warm water here, you know,” she says, turning the knob the other way, and the water heats up almost immediately. “You should use it more often.”

Honestly, the water temperature doesn’t even register. “Lilith,” I say again, struggling to find my voice. “What are you doing here?”

In an instant, her hand wraps firmly around the back of my neck, tugging me closer. The moment her lips meet mine, all my defenses crumble like a sandcastle under a wave. I lose myself in the kiss, surrendering to the hunger I’ve been denying. It’s as if I’ve been waiting for this moment my entire life, and she’s the only one who can satisfy this overwhelming need.

Our bodies move in perfect harmony, water cascading over our skin and amplifying everything. My hands roam freely, needing to feel all of her all at once, then exploring her curvesuntil they settle on her hips. I lift her legs around my waist and press her against the cool tiled wall behind her.

“More,” she pleads. And in that moment, I realize I’m willing to give her anything and everything she desires.

“Are you sure?” I gasp out against her lips in between heavy breaths.

She nods frantically like she needs this as much as I do. “Yes, yes, please,” she begs and I don’t need any further encouragement.

My body is already ablaze, it has been since our training session at the beach, and my cock is pulsing and throbbing with need as I grip her tightly in my arms. She’s pressed against the cool tiles, her skin flushed and her breath coming in quick gasps.

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