Page 22 of Dark Bonds

It wasn’t until I was older that I understood why. People like Valerie—those utterly dead inside—are the reason. It should be enough that we’re a dying race, but it never is. Life’s funny that way.

I shift slightly, trying not to disturb Frankie. I want to know every part of her. What’s her favorite color? Which songs make her smile? Those books she gets lost in for hours… and her mind—God, how it works. Those quiet moments when she thinks no one’s watching… What goes through her head then?

It’s not just about satisfying my curiosity or deepening our bond. It’s about protection. The more I know about her, the better equipped I’ll be to keep her safe. Know thy ally as well as thy enemy, as they say.

Frankie stirs, her grip tightening on my shirt. Even in her sleep, she seeks comfort from me. It fills me with a warmth I haven’t felt in a long time. I want to be her anchor, her safe harbor in the storm that’s coming.

I brush a strand of hair from her face, marveling at the contrast between her soft features and the fierce spirit I know lies within. She’s a puzzle I’m eager to solve piece by agonizing piece.

As the sun rises higher, casting a golden glow over the room, I feel a sense of peace settle over me. Holding Frankie like this feels right. It feels like home. We have a long road ahead of us, filled with blood and shadows and pain, but I’m ready to face it all as long as she’s by my side.

I press a kiss to the crown of her head, breathing in her intoxicating scent. “You’re my gem,” I murmur. “Beautifully polished by hell itself. You don’t need me, you may not even want me, but I will never fail you again.”

I mean every fucking word.

I close my eyes, intent on just lying here for as long as she needs, when my phone buzzes in my pocket. Shifting slightly, I tug it free and see my mother’s face flash across the screen. I should let it go to voicemail because I don’t want to wake Frankie, but I know my mother. She’ll worry and eventually show up here just to make sure I’m alive. Swiping to answer, I press the phone to my ear and whisper, “Hello.”

“Matteo,” my mama replies, relief and worry tangled in that single word. I can almost see her furrowed brow and the way she’d be gripping the phone too tightly.

“Yeah, I’m here,” I murmur, freezing as Frankie stirs against me. Her warmth seeps into my side, a reminder of everything I stand to lose. I wait until her breathing evens out before asking, “You okay, Ma?”

She grunts, and I can hear her moving through the house. “I’m fine, don’t you worry. The eclipse was… well, it was lovely. Your father and I just ran and ran until—” She pauses, and I can almost see her shaking her head. “But then we woke up to all this talk about your college town. They are calling it a mishap. A mishap!”

I snort. “Who called what happened a mishap?”

“Well, that was Leo’s eldest sister, Lenora,” my mother says in that motherly tone that holds a note of worry. Lenora is known to be a gossip. Great, just what we need. “But it was enough for your father to call his contacts in the guild.”

I repress a groan. The guild is the guardians of our kind, at least that’s what they call themselves. They are more like a bunch of bureaucrats playing at being heroes if you ask me. “And?” I prompt, curious to know how close to the truth they are or if everything got blown to hell and back.

“A shadow beast got through the veil,” she states matter-of-factly.

“Correct,” I confirm, my mind already racing with the implications. If they know this much, then what else do they know?

She sighs sadly. “Their attacks are increasing, Matteo. I don’t like it. How are they getting through? They are nothing more than beasts that should exist in the shadow realm, and yet as our world dies, sightings of them are increasing all over the world,” she says in one long breath.

“I know.” The one at the game was not the first, and it won’t be the last. They never are. It’s like trying to plug a dam with your fingers—eventually, you run out of fingers.

“Stay diligent,” Mom orders, “and send Leo my love.”

“I will,” I promise. “Love you, Mom.”

“Love you,” she whispers back before hanging up.

As I hang up, Frankie stirs, her face scrunching up as if she’s fighting off a nightmare. I press another gentle kiss to her forehead, pouring all my unspoken promises into that simple gesture—promises to protect her and stand by her side as she faces the darkness that’s coming for us all.

I carefully extricate myself from her embrace, every cell in my body screaming in protest. I don’t want to leave, but I have responsibilities, information to gather, and threats to assess.

“I’ll be back,” I whisper, knowing she can’t hear me. “I won’t be far.” Never far, not when it comes to you.

I slip out of the room, each step away from her feeling like a small betrayal. The cold morning air hits me as I step outside, the last traces of the eclipse fading into dawn. I scan my surroundings, cataloging potential dangers. Old habits die hard, and in times like these, they might keep us alive.

I roll my shoulders, feeling the familiar pull of my muscles as I prepare to shift. The air around me darkens as shadows coalesce. It’s a heady feeling, one that never gets old. As I melt into my panther form, sleek black fur rippling across my skin, determination fills me.

There’s so much at stake, and I’ll do everything in my power to protect us. For now, the darkness might be closing in, but as long as I have breath in my body, I’ll keep fighting. Each silent step is a promise to Frankie, to my people, and to myself.

As I prowl through the shadows, my tactical mind kicks into overdrive—gather intel, fortify defenses, and prepare for the worst while hoping for the best. With Frankie in the equation, the stakes have never been higher.

I circle back toward the home where she sleeps, noting potential weaknesses in our security. Mental notes are made,and plans begin to form. We’ll need to address these issues, and soon.

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