Page 37 of Radiant Shadows

“They always do,” I said, mimicking her commentary on my story while silently wondering who she might be talking about. Did I know this shifter? How had she met him?

“We just kept running into each other, and I figured I might be able to, you know, schmooze him into helping me get into the Dome. I never, in my wildest fantasies, actually expected him to be into me, or for anything to happen. But it just did. We connected on so many levels. But he wants to keep us a secret from everyone, and even though I get it, I hate the whole thing.”

The sorrow and rejection in her expression and voice touched me. I could relate. I’d been rejected at the Dome for a long time until recently, just for being different from everyone else. And she had it worse because she was a witch, a total outsider. I hated that for her.

“And this other guy, well…” She looked up at me skittishly. “This is the part you absolutelyhaveto keep secret. Like, take-it-to-your-grave secret.”

I mimed crossing my heart with my finger.

“So, don’t freak out,” she said, holding up both hands in a calming gesture, “but he’s a vampire.”

My eyes widened, but I kept my gasp in my throat.

“Now I know what you’re thinking, and that’s what I thought, too, when I first met him, but he’s not like the other vampires,” she said in one rapid string. “He’s good and kind and beautifullysad. He approached me for my magic, asking me to help him resurrect his dead lover. He offered me a grimoire, an actual chance to study spells, so I agreed. Again, I never thought it would turn into anything, especially considering he’s still mourning someone else, but things just…happened, and—”

“Hold on,” I interrupted, gesturing with a raised hand for her to pause. “Are you sure you can trust this vampire? That he’s not putting some kind of trance on you? Or using you to hurt us?”

After the attack I’d fought and narrowly survived, how could I not be concerned about that? I’d always wanted to believe there was good in everyone, but all I’d seen vampires to be was monsters. They’d proved themselves the enemy.

She gave a bitter laugh, rolling her eyes. “No, there’s definitely no way he’s using me. Even after I offered.”

I cocked my head at her curiously.

“Trust me, this guy is on our side.” She leaned closer and whispered. “He’s secretly working against Hadrian. He’s a spy.” She put a finger to her pursed lips, then sat back.

Why was she whispering that? Did she think we were being listened to? And by who?

I dismissed that thought. “Okay, so what happened? Are you still seeing both of them?”

She scoffed. “No. Turns out they both know each other, that they’re actually friends. And when Caesar, huh—” She slapped her hands over her mouth, her face paling as she stared at me.

It took me longer than I was proud of to realize what she’d just said. And then even longer to connect the dots.

Caesar. Professor Douche.Holy shit!

“Oh. My. God! Caesar is Professor Douche! You’ve been sleeping around with Caesar?TheCaesar?!”

She winced like she was in immense pain, shushing me loudly. “Yes, yes, alright! Yes.”

“Whoa,” I said slowly, staring at her.

The color that had drained from her face after her slip had now returned in vibrant red. One of my best friends was having an affair with my shifter history professor, my defense trainer, the director of my school!

“You really are a badass,” I said with admiration.

She barked a laugh and shook her head. “Not in this case. Please don’t tell anyone. It would destroy Caesar!”

“Of course,” I reassured her quickly. “I swear on my phoenix that I won’t say a word.”

“Not even to Arya?” she prompted. “I’m not ready for her to know.”

I swallowed. That was a tougher pill, but I’d already promised. “Okay. I won’t tell her.”

She closed her eyes and let out a slow breath. “Well, anyway, after he found out about me and Julian, he kind of freaked out, and they started arguing, so I told them both to basically fuck off until they figured their shit out.”

“Wow,” I said with a slow nod. “And you haven’t heard from either of them since?” I guessed.

She shook her head. “Nope. Not a fucking word.”

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