Page 32 of Every Shade of Shadow

And that’s when it hits me.

Lily was right. This is absolutely. Fucking. Intoxicating.

Maybe Ms. Clueless upstairs knew what she was on about. Maybe this is better than sex.

Like you’d know, I tell myself.

So facts, Darkwood fingered me, made me come, and suddenly I’m what? A sex kitten, a pro?

I yank myself from the self-criticism, closing the book and picking it up again.

But the shadows are calling. Louder now, a siren song.

The aftermath of the shadows cling to me as I make my way back to my room, wisps of black trailing in my wake. At first, I think this is some kind of mental illusion, a trick, but they’re there alright—as real as the hand in front of my face.

I rub my arms, trying to shake off the chill, but whatever it is, it’s seeped deep into my bones, become part of me.

It doesn’t matter. It’s nothing. It’s in your head.

But reassurance doesn’t seem to be working.

The feeling fades as I climb under the covers.

Sleep comes quickly.

*

My eyes snap open. I can’t tell if it’s been minutes or hours owing to the fact there are no windows in here. There’s light coming from the hallway under the door, though, enough to carve out a pool of deeper darkness in the corner of the room. I stare at it, heartbeat quickening, unable to look away.

The shadows stir and stretch, twisting into a humanoid shape.

There’s a voice, barely a whisper, but it’s there all the same. "You called, witchling?"

It comes as a raspy hiss, and though the creature has no visible mouth, I see an ivory flash of teeth in the shadows. I scramble back against the headboard, clutching the blanket around me, but where am I going to go? This thing is moving between the door and my position, cutting off any escape.

"What do you want?" My voice quivers, betraying me.

It shifts closer, easing over the bed. Finally, it slides past my legs and my midsection, teeth much closer this time.

A cold, dark tendril strokes my cheek. "Your power. Your flesh."

I try to push it away, but my limbs are heavy. A strange lassitude steals over me, terror fading into a haze of desire.

The creature slides onto the bed, its shadowy form pressing me harder into the headboard. It starts to claim my mouth with vigor, icy tendrils working their way up my thighs.

A sharp rap at the door startles me. I jolt upwards. The shadows are gone, but the taste of cold ash lingers on my tongue.

Was it a dream?

Sure as fuck didn’t feel like a dream.

I get out of bed, feet shuffling across the floor. “"Just a moment," I call out, hastily combing my fingers through my hair. I take a deep breath to steady my nerves before opening the door.

I open it expecting to find Lily or Ava, maybe my neighbor who I swear has smuggled in a bong.

But no. It’s Darkwood.

Shit.

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