Page 102 of Shadows of Change

“Finn,” I growl, sitting up and pulling Kaia protectively against my chest. “This isn’t the time for your games.”

Finn's grin widens, his green eyes sparkling with wicked delight. “Oh, but I think it’s the perfect time,” he counters, resting his hands behind his head. “You two were about to make some... fascinating decisions. As your dear friend, I feel it’s my duty to ensure you’re thinking clearly.”

“Void help me," I growl, but even as I hint for Finn to leave, part of me can’t tear my gaze from the way his green eyes gleaming with unrelenting mischief. The current between the three of us is undeniable, crackling with possibilities.

66. Kaia

I’m caught between mortification and lingering desire, my body still thrumming with heat even as embarrassment floods my cheeks. Malrik’s arms tighten protectively around me, the tension in his muscles unmistakable. But there’s something else—a spark crackling in the air, growing sharper under Finn’s watchful gaze.

“Thinking clearly?” I manage to sputter, my voice higher than usual. “What are you even talking about?”

Finn’s grin softens, his mischief giving way to something rawer, more vulnerable. As he moves closer, my breath catches at the intensity in his emerald eyes. “I’m talking about us, Kaia. All of us.”

My heart pounds so loudly I’m certain they can both hear it. Shadows coil around us, reflecting the atmosphere. Even Bob seems unusually alert, his inky form rippling like the surface of a storm-touched lake.

“Finn…” Malrik’s voice is low and warning, though I can feel the subtle shift in his posture. He angles slightly toward Finn at the same time I do. The current between the three of us crackling like fire on dry leaves.

Finn takes a steadying breath, running a hand through his tousled copper hair. “I mean it. I have feelings for both of you. And I’m pretty sure you both feel the same way about me.” His gaze flicks between us. “Just like I know you’re crazy about each other.”

The silence thickens, heavy with possibilities I hadn’t dared to consider. Malrik’s arm tightens around my waist again as Finn steps closer, his usual confidence softened by something vulnerable.

“You can’t just burst in here and say things like that,” I manage, though my voice lacks conviction. The Heart of Eternity seems to hum against my throat, in sync with my racing heart.

“Why not?” Finn challenges, standing just close enough that I can see the flecks of gold in his green eyes. “Because it’s complicated? Because we’re in the middle of a crisis? Or because you’re afraid I’m right?”

Malrik’s fingers twitch against my side, his voice gruff. “Finn…”

“No,” Finn says firmly. “I’m done pretending. Bob’s been trying to tell us for weeks—haven’t you, Bob?”

To my utter disbelief, Bob nods solemnly. Patricia and Finnick bob in agreement behind him, their shadowy forms almost smug. A laugh bubbles up in my throat despite the tension.

“You’re taking relationship advice from shadows?” I ask, but the words don’t carry the bite I intend. They’re too close to the truth, and my shadows have always known me better than I know myself.

“They see everything,” Finn says, his voice softer now. “The way Malrik watches me when he thinks no one’s looking. The wayyou light up when I make you laugh. They see how we all orbit each other like stars caught in the same gravitational pull.”

I swallow hard as Finn kneels beside the bed, bringing himself level with us. His proximity sends my pulse racing again. “Tell me I’m wrong,” he says, his voice gentle but unrelenting. “Tell me you don’t feel this too.”

Malrik exhales sharply, his voice rough. “Of course we feel it.” He glances at me, his silver eyes searching. For a moment, I think he might stop, but something in my expression—maybe the way my breath hitches—seems to give him the answer he needs. “But that doesn’t make it simple.”

“When has anything about us ever been simple?” Finn counters, brushing a strand of hair from my face. His fingers tremble slightly—a crack in his facade that twists something in my chest. “We live in a world of shadow magic and time-traveling Valkyries. Maybe it’s time we stopped expecting things to make conventional sense.”

I lean into his touch before I can stop myself, and Malrik’s sharp intake of breath sends a thrill down my spine. The air hums with tension, and my shadows tighten their protective cocoon around us.

“What exactly are you proposing?” I whisper, though I think I already know the answer.

Finn’s smile is softer now, his usual bravado tempered by sincerity. “I’m proposing we stop pretending. Stop fighting this.” His gaze flicks to Malrik. “All of this.”

Mouse chirps softly from the foot of the bed, his violet eyes gleaming with what feels like approval. My shadows coil closer, their movements languid and content.

Wrapped between these two men, I finally let myself stop fighting the pull. I’m tired of resisting, tired of pretending not to feel the electricity that arcs between us. “Okay,” I breathe, the word barely audible.

Finn’s grin lights up the room, hope blazing in his emerald eyes. “Okay?”

I catch his shirt in my hand, pulling him closer. “Okay.”

He moves closer, the mattress dips under his weight, and I find myself caught between him and Malrik—not trapped, but grounded. My shadows move with a contented hum around us, and I swear Bob looks smug.

“So,” Finn says, his usual playful tone softened by something deeper, “do I get a good morning kiss too, or do I have to wait my turn?”

---