Page 25 of Radiant Shadows

“Okay, thanks.”

Ashlyn jetted from the room, and I chuckled. I sure was grateful I had Ashlyn in my life right now.

Ms. Heather grabbed what looked like four water bottles, but I was sure their unlabeled contents held the antidote I’d taken earlier. The memory of the drink made me cringe, but I supposed if I was desperate enough, I’d get over the awful taste.

“You’ll want to keep these in case the chills and aches come back. One a day should suffice, but only take it if you’re still experiencing flu-like symptoms. Here are some mints to help with the aftertaste.” She grabbed a tote and put the bottles and a large bag of mints she’d pulled from her desk inside, then brought it to me.

I nodded as I swung my legs off the side of my bed and grabbed my blanket. The ursa thing was a bit of a shock, but at least I didn’t feel like death warmed over anymore.

“Bring any unused bottles back when you’re done with them,” Ms. Heather requested.

“I will. Thanks.”

I reached for the bag, but Ms. Heather held on a moment longer. “And please check in once a day. We’ll need to monitor your progress closely, along with the phases of the moon. Most weres experience their first full shift during a full moon, and we have one coming up soon.”

“Of course, we do,” I deadpanned—just my luck.

She let me take the bag, and I stood on uncertain legs.

“And Arya?”

“Yes?” I said before I headed for the door.

“Please consider Mr. Sharp’s advice carefully. I know this particular shift is kind of a sensitive thing, but it might be easier on everyone if you don’t try to deal with it on your own. Tell your friends. You’ll need them.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

I would tell them. I just needed a little time to process first. Hopefully, a few hours would be all I needed.

Chapter 10

Caesar

The late-morning Canadian winter air was bitter cold, but my gryphon form was well equipped to withstand the biting currents. After all, I was a master of the weather. And the possibility that I’d finally run into other gryphons ignited a fire within my soul that no chill could bite through.

Without any hesitation, Celeste had approved the funding to get me to Yukon by plane. I’d worded things in such a way that protected Julian’s identity, and I was set to meet the vampire at the only city in the province: Whitehorse. It was just under two hundred miles east of Mount Logan.

Julian wasn’t due to arrive until the evening, and though I was immensely grateful for his intel, I wasn’t sure how to feel about seeing him. We hadn’t been in contact with each other since Christmas Eve, and I didn’t know where that left our strange friendship.

He had intimate feelings for Shea, and she clearly returned those feelings. But she also claimed to have feelings for me, and there was no questioning my obsession with her. How could anyone have romantic feelings for two people at once? One would have to win out, wouldn’t it?

I wanted to demand she choose, but what if I wasn’t her choice? Was sharing her with someone else better than not having her at all? Did it make it better or worse if that someone else was a friend?

As soon as I landed, I checked into a hotel, went to my room, and stripped down to nothing. After opening my window, I’d jumped out six floors above the ground and shifted in mid-air. My wings had instantly caught the harsh wind that was now carrying me.

A surge of liberation unfurled as my wings whipped through the air. It wasn’t just an escape from my turbulent emotions. The confinement of the Dome wasn’t obvious, probably due to its technological majesty, but being aboveeverythingand away from it showed how stifling the underwater school really was. Gryphons were meant to be free to fly. Still, I wouldn’t trade my experience as Director for anything.

But that didn’t mean I couldn’t enjoy myself while I was away. I swooped, climbed, spun, and drifted on the winter wind. The sky was my playground, and I felt like a teenager again, allowing the air to blow away all my concerns and worries.

I was flying toward hope—a hope I hadn’t felt in a long time. The kind of hope that invigorated my body and outmaneuvered exhaustion. Flying two hundred miles without stopping? It would be abreeze.

Although I couldn’t smile with my beak, the thought of finding out I wasn’t the last of my species made my heart soar. What if I found a female gryphon my age? What if she turned out to be wonderful and made me forget about Shea?

Rather than igniting more hope, the thought made me sad. I didn’t want to forget about Shea.I might even love her… That thought scared me more than anything else.

It seemed no time had passed at all when the tall, snow-covered mountain came into view.

This is it.Mount Logan.

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