Page 81 of Shadows of Change

As we walk away, I notice how naturally we fall into formation around her—not just protecting, but belonging. My shadows tangle with Finn's chaos magic and her shadows, while Torric and Aspen flank us like golden guardians.

And if my shadows linger a bit too long around Finn, drawn to his wild energy and inconvenient charm, stirring a mix of frustration, curiosity, and something more dangerous? That’s a problem for another day.

Right now, we have a shadow girl to protect. Even if she’s becoming more than any of us bargained for.

Especially for me.

55. Kaia

I pace the empty classroom, my footsteps echoing against the cold stone walls. Shadows curl and twist anxiously around my ankles, their agitation mirroring the turmoil in my chest. Mouse prowls nearby, his tail lashing as if he, too, can sense my unease.

"You’re going to wear a hole in the floor," Finn calls from his perch on a desk. "Though Bob could patch it up. He’s getting pretty handy with construction work."

Bob puffs up dramatically at the mention of his name, but I don’t laugh. My thoughts are a tangled mess, and even Finn’s humor can’t untangle them.

Something’s wrong. The shadows won’t stop moving, and the weight of Thorne’s watchful gaze from earlier still lingers like a phantom.

"You need to breathe," Malrik’s low voice cuts through the room, grounding in its quiet intensity. He leans against the far wall, his silver eyes tracking my restless movement.

"I can’t," I admit, pressing my hands to my temples as my shadows writhe like living echoes of my turmoil. "They won’tsettle. It’s like they’re trying to tell me something, but I don’t know how to listen."

Mouse growls low, pacing circles around my feet. The shadows respond by curling tighter, their sharp edges brushing against my skin.

Malrik straightens, pushing away from the wall with slow, deliberate movements. "Then let me help." He doesn’t wait for my reply, stepping closer until the chaotic shadows flicker, uncertain.

"What are you—" My question dies in my throat as he extends a hand, palm up, and lets one of my shadows brush against his fingers. They tremble, retreating slightly, before cautiously curling toward him again.

"Shadows reflect their master’s state of mind," he murmurs, his voice as steady as the tide. "They’re connected to you, and right now, they’re feeding on your stress."

I close my eyes, taking a shaky breath. "I don’t know how to stop it."

"You don’t need to stop it." His voice is closer now, and when I open my eyes, he’s standing directly in front of me. His presence is grounding, his silver gaze impossibly calm. "You need to meet them where they are. Let them feel what you’re feeling, and they’ll quiet."

I shake my head. "What if I can’t?"

"You can." His fingers brush mine, sending a spark through my skin. His shadows stir faintly around his feet, a dark mirror of my own. "You’re stronger than you think, Kaia."

His words settle over me like a balm, and I focus on the warmth of his touch, the steadiness in his presence. Slowly, my shadowsbegin to calm, their movements softening, no longer jagged and sharp.

"There," he says, his voice almost a whisper. "See? They trust you. You just have to trust yourself."

The room feels quieter, the suffocating weight in my chest lifting. I meet his gaze, gratitude swelling in my throat. "Thank you."

Malrik’s lips quirk into the faintest smile. "Anytime."

Behind us, Finn’s exaggerated sigh breaks the moment. "Well, this has been thoroughly heartwarming. But if Bob starts writing poetry about you two, I’m blaming Malrik."

I exhale slowly, letting the tension drain from my body as my shadows soften further, their once-frantic movements now gentle, almost soothing. They ripple around Malrik’s fingers before curling back toward me, their presence no longer a weight but a quiet reminder that I’m not alone.

"They’ve always known what I needed before I did," I say softly, more to myself than anyone else. "But I’ve been so focused on keeping them controlled, I didn’t stop to listen."

Malrik’s hand lingers near mine, his expression unreadable but steady. "Then listen now. They’re on your side, Kaia. Always have been."

The truth in his words settles over me like a warm blanket, and for the first time in days, I feel a flicker of clarity. My shadows twine together at my feet, almost shyly, like they’re waiting for approval.

Finn, of course, can’t leave the moment alone.

"That’s all very touching," he interrupts, hopping off the desk and clapping his hands together. "But can we talk about how Bob’s been shipping you two since day one?"

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