Page 58 of Every Shade of Shadow

Triumph and lust roar through me, a raging inferno that demands to be sated, the shadows working themselves in lieu of the blood to follow. I fist my hand in Cassandra's hair, dragging her forward until I feel the heat of her breath against my—

"Enough."

That single, sharp word cuts through my haze of desire. I blink, disoriented, and find myself staring at an empty stretch of wall.

Cassandra has vanished. Leo has vanished, the other students… The entire fucking room has gone.

I have no idea where I’m standing now, only that it’s small and enclosed, but a door to my right is open, so there’s that.

I’m sure I’ll turn around the find Darkwood assessing me, that crooked smile cutting across his mouth, but no, I’m alone.

I bring my hands to my head, elbows pointing outward.

All that was…nothing?

You’re losing it, I tell myself. Get a grip.

But did I really believe that was happening? That I’d be like ‘Oh, magical duel? Sign me up!’

Those girls in high school? They beat the shit out of me on the regular. I’ve got a false tooth to prove it.

It’s not like I arrived here at Lumina, memorized a couple of spells and suddenly I’m Morgana Le Fay—all powerful.

I leave and pad down the corridor, irritation in my veins.

It appears I’m somewhere on the other side of the castle.

"Rough day?" A familiar voice interrupts my brooding. I glance up to find Leo leaning back against the wall, a sympathetic smile playing about his lips.

"You could say that," I mutter.

“You found your clothes, I see.”

I ignore that, looking to keep walking. I’m not in the mood for conversation.

"I saw what happened back there." He pushes off from the wall and falls into step beside me.

“What do you mean?” The curiosity sends my voice up an octave.

“I mean I can’t understand why one minute you’re sitting in the common room and the next you’re fighting thin air. Before you rushed out and all.”

So I’m not going completely crazy then.

“I heard Darkwood just now.”

I come to an abrupt halt. “You did?” I ask, cocking an eyebrow.

“Didn’t sound terribly pleased with whatever it was you were doing down here.”

I shrug, feigning nonchalance and trying my best not to betray my tension. "He'll get over it."

"Oh, I don't doubt that." Leo's grin turns wicked. "In fact, I'd wager he rather enjoyed it. Our dear professor does have a taste for the theatrical, after all."

"Is that so?"

"Absolutely. All that repressed pain and darkness? He loves fucking with everyone’s heads around here. Real psyops shit.”

I ought to tell Leo to mind his own business—and yet, I find myself weirdly captivated by the teasing lilt of his voice. Not that I’d go there. No, no, no. ‘Arrogant preteen’ isn’t my type.

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