Page 29 of Shadows of Change

I roll my eyes, but I'm grateful for his familiar banter. It helps ground me, even as I find my gaze drawn back to Darian's enigmatic smile. There's something magnetic about him, despite the way my shadows shrink from his presence.

Or maybe because of it.

"Well, I look forward to seeing what other... surprises you have in store, Kaia Draven."

The way he says my name, like he's savoring each syllable, does funny things to my insides.

The temperature around me seems to plummet as Malrik materializes on my other side. He doesn’t seem happy about Darian’s presence if the scowl on his face is anything to go by.

My shadows, caught between retreating from Darian and reaching for Malrik, create an awkward dance that would be comical if I wasn't so confused by the tension crackling through the air. Bob keeps his distance, his usually solid form wisping nervously, while Patricia hovers indecisively. It’s Finnick who darts closest, curious despite the rising tension.

And Finn—he keeps his arm firmly around me, holding me against him like he’s afraid I’ll run off with Darian the moment he lets go.

What have I gotten myself into?

Somewhere in the chaos, Bob attempts to organize an emergency shadow meeting. I pretend not to notice when Finnick starts taking bets.

18. Malrik

I watch the scene unfold before me, my jaw clenching as this... Darian... steps far too close to Kaia. One moment, we're all practicing—fine, we're all watching Kaia practice—and the next, he's swooping in like some dashing hero, making comments that have her blushing.

I can't help but scoff internally. There wasn't even any real danger. Kaia's magic may have flared, but it's nothing we couldn't have handled. Yet here he is, playing the gallant savior, and Kaia's falling for it hook, line, and sinker. Her shadows—usually so perceptive—seem conflicted around him. They retreat, yet there's a curiosity in their movement that sets my teeth on edge.

I study him carefully, noting the easy grace of his movements, the charming smile that seems just a touch too perfect. There's something... off about him that makes the shadows around me writhe uneasily. I back away from Finn and Kaia… he can handle it.

"Aspen," I murmur, not taking my eyes off the newcomer as he continues to charm Kaia while Finn attempts to lighten the suddenly charged atmosphere. "A word?"

I don't wait for a response; I just turn and stride a few paces away, trusting that he'll follow. When he does, I keep my voice low and measured. "What do you make of our new friend?"

Aspen's icy blue eyes flick between me and the group. His expression is thoughtful as we watch Kaia laugh at something Finn says, while Darian maintains that calculated proximity to her. "He seems... convenient," Aspen says finally. “Do you know anything about him?"

I shake my head, frustration bubbling beneath my carefully composed exterior. "Nothing. And that's what worries me. In a place like Arcanum, secrets don't stay hidden for long. Yet I've never even heard his name before today."

"Worried about the competition?" Aspen's tone is light, teasing, but there's a knowing glint in his eyes that makes me want to squirm. Particularly as we watch Darian lean close to Kaia again, saying something that makes her cheeks flush.

I scoff, perhaps a touch too quickly. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm simply concerned about Kaia's safety. We don't know anything about this Darian character or his intentions."

"Uh-huh," Aspen drawls, a smirk tugging at his lips. "And I'm sure your concern has nothing to do with the way Kaia's looking at him right now. Or how well she and Finn seem to be getting along."

I refuse to turn and look, even as every fiber of my being screams to do just that. "I don't know what you're talking about," I say stiffly.

Aspen's laugh is soft and knowing. "Come on, Malrik. You're not fooling anyone. Well, maybe Kaia, but that's because she's oblivious to her own charms. The rest of us? We see right through you."

I open my mouth to argue, to deny everything, but the words stick in my throat. Because damn it all, he's right. I hate that he's right. I hate that I care this much, that Kaia has somehow wormed her way past all my carefully constructed defenses. And I especially hate how she looks at Finn with such easy affection, at Darian with such intrigue, while I... I stand here in the shadows, watching.

"Fine," I growl, running a hand through my hair in frustration. "Maybe I am... concerned. But that doesn't change the fact that we need to be careful. There's too much at stake here."

Aspen's expression softens. "I know. And we will be. But Malrik?" He waits until I meet his gaze. "Don't let your feelings for Kaia—or your jealousy of Finn, or your suspicion of Darian—blind you to potential allies. Or push away the ones you already have."

He pauses, his voice dropping even lower. "And Malrik? You need to tell her."

With that, he turns and heads back to the group, leaving me to stew in my own tangled emotions. I watch as he rejoins them, seamlessly inserting himself into the conversation.

Tell her.

The thought makes my insides squirm. She'll think I'm an idiot. Or that I'm trying to use her, manipulate her. She doesn't trust me, not enough yet. And I can't blame her. After all, I'm the one who stepped into her life uninvited, carrying shadows of my own. But it doesn't stop the pull I feel toward her—the way she fights to appear strong even when her shadows betray her vulnerability, the fierce determination in her eyes when she thinks no one's watching. There's something about her that draws me in, even as she keeps everyone at arm's length.

I'm about to rejoin them when Torric saunters up, his golden eyes narrowed as he takes in the scene. "Where the hell have you been?" I ask, unable to keep the edge from my voice.

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