Page 74 of Every Shade of Shadow

It’s almost dark by the time we make it back to the Academy, Lily commenting on her ‘pea-sized bladder’ and running off towards the bathrooms, Ava smiling cordially and telling me what an enjoyable day she had, though I think it’s the wine talking. Come tomorrow she’ll be back her typical cast-in-stone self.

The hallways are quiet. Everyone’s out of the castle either in the village or wherever the right of that sign leads to—probably a giant orgy.

I fish in my pocket, my fingertips making contact with the cold metal of my key. But I hear something.

It’s moaning.

Loud. Passionate. Full of passion.

It’s not entirely different to the noises coming out of my mouth less than twenty-four hours ago.

At first, the desire to be alone in my room seems to prevail. I want to try on the gown again and look at myself in the mirror. Super childish, I know, but fucking sue me.

But I find myself pocketing my key and creeping down the hallway hunting for the source of these sounds, because fuck me, someone is having the absolute time of their life.

I keep going, finding it hard to pinpoint exactly where the sound is coming from.

I start off to the right, an image flashing through my mind. It’s the underwear poster boy, standing against the wall. Leo Wraithwood was the only person to see me that night Damien kicked me out of his quarters—naked, of course. Light is washing upon that particular spot right now. A glance to the left is enough to reveal its source. His door has been cracked open. The gap between the pane and the doorframe can’t be more than an inch or two, but it’s enough.

I draw near, the sounds of pleasure growing. I stop half a pace from the door and lean forward. Inside, I see two figures illuminated by a row of candles on the beside table, their side to me. Those long legs, that silver-blonde hair, those small, yet oddly perky breasts…

Cassandra?

I look closer.

And Leo?

There’s no mistaking it.

She’s bent over the bed, her palms clutching the white sheet below. Leo’s pumps forward, her plump ass cheeks wobbling in retaliation. Her mouth is open wide, Leo holding onto her hips and staring at her bubble butt.

“Harder, already,” she whines, rocking back to meet his thrusts.

That greedy bitch, I think, ordering him around.

A minor twitch between my legs brings an awkward smile to my face, because it’s kind of comical but also sort of exciting in a weird way?

I’m not a peeping Tom. I’ve never even considered sitting down to watch porn, but for some reason I find myself enjoying the show.

Leo bends towards Cassandra, wrapping his arms around her chest from behind, her nipples disappearing in his palms. Throwing her head back, she bangs the back of it against his shoulder, his sharp groans overshadowed by her erratic moaning. Born for porn, you might say. Perhaps Lily’s parents could put her to use.

Rub your clit.

A rich, male voice startles me. I take a few furtive glances right and left, but can’t seem to locate its owner.

I said touch yourself, my pet.

Darkwood.

He’s in my head.

And he’s watching—watching me watching them.

I don’t know how, and I have no idea where he’s hiding, but he can see everything in this hallway—including me watching Cassandra and Leo. What’s more, he asking me to, what? Masturbate? Here?

There’s another voice in my head, my own, telling me to laugh this off, to just turn and walk away, but his voice is stronger.

Before I know what I’m doing I’ve pressed my bent forearm to the wall, my free hand sliding down past the waistband of my pants and into the hot space beyond.

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