Page 56 of Shadowed Fate

I gently place the scroll in my bag, praying it doesn’t fall apart before I can get back to my room. Gotta get out of here. Now.

I creep to the door, ears straining for any sound but it’s silent. I slowly turn the handle and ease the door open, peering into the hallway.

Empty. I exhale the breath I’d been holding and say a wordlessthank youin my head.

I slip out, keeping my steps light as I hurry towards my room. Every noise makes me flinch, expecting to be stopped at any moment, but I make it back without running into anyone.

I slam the door to my room, relieved to be safe in my room.

All I can think of is the scroll in my bag. I want to look at it, to unravel its secrets, but my hands are shaking too much.

Too late, I realize I’m not alone in the room.

Lochan.

Chapter 26

Brigid

"What are you doing in my room?” I shout, my voice shaking. “Get out!” I chance a glance at my bag, hoping the scroll isn’t poking out.

"Not until you tell me what you were doing in Dean Charlton’s office,” he says smoothly

So it was Lochan I heard talking outside in the hall.

“What are you hiding?” Lochan crosses the room in two strides and he’s on me before I know it.

I can feel my heart racing and I force myself not to back down.

We're in each other's faces now, chests heaving.

"I'm not hiding anything," I hiss.

"Bullshit. What did you do?" Lochan stalks around me. “I knew we couldn’t trust you.”

My anger and anxiety boil over. “You don't know anything!"

Suddenly, the room plunges into darkness. A massive raven shadow erupts from me, its wings spanning the walls. It screeches, a sound of pure rage that echoes my own.

Lochan stumbles back, eyes wide with shock.

The shadow dissipates as quickly as it appeared, leaving us in stunned silence.

"What... the fuck... was that?" Lochan asks.

I'm trembling, staring at my hands.

Lochan’s eyes narrow and he moves towards the door, his expression unreadable. "This isn't over."

He slams the door behind him.

I collapse onto my bed, the tears gathering in my eyes.

"Well, that was quite a display."

I jolt upright.

Marius leans against my desk, a wicked smile on his face.

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