Page 28 of Shadow's Claim

Three monthsin captivity changes a person. Three months pregnant with a shadow demon's offspring changes everything.

I stare at my reflection in the polished metal surface that serves as a mirror in my bathing chamber. The woman looking back at me is both familiar and foreign. My face is still mine—same angular cheekbones, same gray eyes, same small scar above my right eyebrow from the early days of the Conquest. But my body has become a roadmap of shadow.

The dark patterns have spread dramatically in the past weeks. What started as faint tendrils around my abdomen now form an intricate network that follows my veins and arteries. They pulse visibly with each heartbeat, darkening and lightening in perfect rhythm. They've crept up my ribcage, down my thighs, and along my arms, creating swirling designs that look almost deliberate, as if an artist had painted living shadows beneath my skin.

I press my palm against the slight swell of my belly. At three months, the pregnancy is barely visible—shadow demon hybrids develop differently than fully human babies, Dr. Grey explained. More compact initially, with accelerated growth in later stages. But what lacks in physical size makes up for in presence.

A flutter of consciousness brushes against my mind—curious, alien, yet undeniably connected to me. The hybrid's awareness has been developing rapidly. Two weeks ago, I felt the first tentative contact; now these mental touches happen several times daily. Each time, I sense intelligence forming, watching, learning.

"What are you?" I whisper to my reflection, unsure if I'm addressing the patterns, the life inside me, or the woman I'm becoming.

The shadow markings pulse darker in response, as if answering.

This isn't the strangest development. That dubious honor belongs to my growing sensitivity to shadows themselves. I can sense them now, not just see them—feel their currents and movements like invisible streams flowing throughout Kael's domain. In moments of strong emotion, I've even managed to manipulate them slightly—darkening a corner here, shifting a shadow there. Nothing significant enough to be useful, but terrifying in its implications nonetheless.

A soft hiss announces the door to my chambers sliding open. Gabriela Vasquez enters, her small frame moving with the careful precision of someone who's learned to navigate shadow demon spaces without attracting unwanted attention. As Kael's human administrator, she occupies that gray area between servant and advisor, her technical expertise making her valuable beyond her barren omega status.

"Lord Nightshadow has been called to an emergency session at the Midnight Courts," she informs me, her quick dark eyes taking in my appearance with that neutral expression she's perfected. "He anticipates being absent until late evening."

I nod, processing this information with more interest than I should show. Gabriela notices everything; any reaction might be reported back to Kael. Though lately, I've begun to wonder about her true loyalties. Certain comments, hesitations, the way she sometimes watches me when she thinks I'm not paying attention.

"Thank you, Gabriela," I reply, matching her neutral tone. "Will the medical team still be coming for the weekly examination?"

She sets fresh clothing on the bed—loose garments designed to accommodate my changing body while displaying the shadow patterns Kael seems to find so fascinating.

"Dr. Grey has been delayed." She glances at the monitoring panels near my door, then adds in a slightly lower voice, "Security protocols in the eastern sector were triggered earlier today. The guard rotation schedule has been disrupted as a result. Systems are being resliced to compensate for personnel shortages."

My heart rate picks up slightly. This is more information than necessary for a simple schedule update. The shadow patterns on my skin darken in response to my accelerated pulse.

Gabriela's eyes track the movement. "Fascinating adaptation," she comments. "The integration is proceeding at an unprecedented rate." Then she turns and leaves, the door sliding shut behind her.

But the door doesn't seal with its usual pneumatic hiss and electronic lock confirmation.

I freeze, listening intently to the sounds of Gabriela's footsteps retreating down the corridor. When silence falls, I approach the door cautiously, hardly daring to believe what I'm seeing. The status panel shows yellow instead of the usual red—unsealed due to some administrative error. Or perhaps not an error at all.

With trembling fingers, I press my palm against the access panel. Nothing happens for a long moment, then the door slides open a fraction, enough to confirm it's truly unsealed. Beyond lies the corridor leading to the main living space of Kael's domain, and beyond that, the exit to the broader Shadow Dominion.

My mind races with sudden, desperate calculations. Guards are understaffed due to whatever triggered those security protocols. Kael is at the Midnight Courts, at least an hour away even with shadow demon transportation. My translator's credentials might still be valid in the system—if I could reach the outer perimeter, I could potentially move through certain sectors without immediate alarm.

And my growing shadow abilities... could they help me avoid detection? I've been practicing small manipulations when alone, learning to extend my awareness through the darkness. Nothing substantial, but perhaps enough to sense approaching danger.

Freedom beckons just beyond that door—the first real escape opportunity since my capture.

I hurry to the storage compartment where my few possessions are kept. My translator's uniform is still there, the navy blue fabric with the Shadow Dominion emblem representing both my prison and potential salvation. I change quickly, the familiar weight of the uniform settling on my shoulders like an old identity I'd nearly forgotten.

The shadow patterns on my skin remain visible at my wrists and neck, but in the low light conditions of the Shadow Dominion, they might be mistaken for unusual jewelry or decorative markings. Many claimed omegas develop some visual indicators of their status; these could pass as such to casual observation.

At the door, I pause for one final assessment. My heart pounds with adrenaline, each beat making the shadow patterns pulse dramatically. If I'm caught, the consequences would be severe—not just for me, but potentially for the hybrid growing inside me. Kael's patience has limits.

But if I succeed... I could reach Constantin. Warn him about the information that might have leaked through my mental connection with Kael. Return to my place in the resistance, and help plan our next moves against the Shadow Dominion. I could be myself again—free from Kael's darkness, his four-armed embraces, his mind touching mine during our most intimate moments.

The thought should fill me with determination. Instead, it leaves a hollow pit in my stomach that I refuse to examine.

I step into the corridor, extending my newfound shadow-sense to check for nearby presences. Nothing. The path to the main living area is clear.

Moving silently, I navigate through Kael's domain with the practiced caution of someone who's mapped every corner of their prison. The massive open space of his central chamber looms ahead, shadows moving in their eternal dance across walls and ceiling. I hug the periphery, using darker corners to mask my progress.

The main exit is just ahead—the threshold between captivity and potential freedom. The security panel glows with subdued light, waiting for authorized access. I press my translator's ID against it, holding my breath.

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