Page 26 of Radiant Shadows

It stood as a single pointy peak like a volcano. While one part sat higher than the others, the entirety was a big piece of landmass, like an island cropping out of the snow. From such a high elevation, the late-morning sky was a gorgeous blue background to the blanket of white snow. Sure, the water above the Dome was a sight to behold, but the shifter-made structure seemed to pale in comparison to the natural wonder before me.

The place looked untouched and remote—a perfect place for gryphons to hide from the rest of the world.

But there was only one problem. I detected no scent of another gryphon. Had there been a flock that gathered here, it hadn’t been for a very long time.

I swooped lower, circling my way down until my large talons grabbed the snow-covered rocks below.

Grateful for the chance to rest, I tucked my wings in and felt my muscles burn from the long trip. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d flown so far in one go. I made a mental note to exercise my wings better when I returned to the Dome.

With my eagle eyes, I looked around for any potential signs that gryphons had been on the mountain recently, but the snow looked untouched. If gryphons had been spotted here, it had been a while ago.

I pressed on, keeping to my talons to give my wings a break, hoping to smell even a stale scent on the verge of disappearing. The powerful hope that had filled my chest during the flight began to wane, and a sudden panic struck my heart.

Was this a setup? Had Hadrian figured out Julian’s treachery and tasked him with getting me away from the Dome? If he had, there would be only one reason—an attack.

My phone was in my hotel room, and I wished I’d had the foresight to bring it. With how cold it was, though, chances were the phone wouldn’t have worked. Even less likely was the possibility of a cellular signal on top of the mountain.

My heart filled with a chilling terror as if confirming I had made a grave mistake in traveling away from the school so rashly.

Leaping and unfurling my wings, I ignored the aches of my sore muscles and let fear-filled adrenaline send me shooting through the air. I had to get back to Whitehorse. I had to get in contact with Julian!

***

Whitehorse was a smaller city, its population just under one percent of Chicago’s. I wasn’t too concerned with being spotted as I rocketed through the sky overhead. Although it was late afternoon, the sun had already set—an outcome of the geographical location.

My raptor eyes found my open window on the sixth floor of the hotel, and I decided to attempt the acrobatic maneuver of shifting back to human form mid-air just in time to clear the opening and shoulder roll into my room.

It had been years since I’d attempted anything like that, but I figured it was better than walking into the hotel lobby naked.

Slowing my momentum, I climbed the air just a tad higher than the open window, then tucked my wings in and began the rapid transformation. My claws shortened into feet, and my large, feathery body shrunk just in time as I entered my room, the drapes blowing side to side from my velocity.

As I impacted on the carpet, I tucked my shoulder down and rolled easily, coming to a stop before slamming into the wall that separated the bedroom and the bathroom.

I slowly got to my feet. “Looks like I still have it in me, after all.”

I shivered. Without the protection of my downy feathers, the freezing temperature practically scalded my skin. The window had been wide open for hours, allowing the room to match the chill from outside. I made my way to it and shut it with icy fingers.

I wanted to take a shower to help myself heat up, but my anxiety superseded that desire. I needed to call Julian. I settled for bundling up in the warm clothing I’d packed, then reached for my phone.

The screen illuminated, showing I’d missed two calls from the vampire. Of course, Julian hadn’t left a voicemail. He wouldn’t want his voice recorded, especially directing a message to a shifter. That would put him in too much danger.

Likewise, I would hate to be caught with a message from a vampire.

Tapping on Julian’s missed call, I held the phone to my ear. I didn’t even hear the first ring before his smooth voice was on the other end.

“Caesar, I’ve been trying to call you.”

My nervousness spun at the urgency in Julian’s voice.

“Have you arrived in Whitehorse?” I asked. “Are you here?”

“Yes, I’m at theSnow Eagle Inn, just as we’d planned,” he replied.

“So am I. We need to talk.”

“I’m in my room, but we can meet at the hotel café by the lobby,” he suggested.

I made for the door, only pausing long enough to crank up the heat on the thermostat. “I’m already heading that way.”

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