Page 93 of Shadows of Change

"We'll get more books from the library," Aspen decides, hauling a grumbling Torric to his feet. "Meet back here in a few hours."

As the twins leave, I find myself hyper-aware of the room's new dynamic. Malrik still sits against his headboard, all dangerous grace and sharp edges. Finn has migrated to the window seat, his usual manic energy softened by fatigue. I'm caught between them, my shadows swirling with an agitation I don't want to examine too closely.

"You should rest," Malrik says into the silence. "We'll wake you if anything happens."

"I told you, I'm—" A yawn betrays me. "Fine."

"Sure you are, Trouble." Finn pats the space beside him. "Come on, this window seat is surprisingly comfy."

"I don't—"

"Kaia." Malrik's voice is quiet but firm. "Let us help."

Something in his tone makes me shiver. Or maybe it's the way Finn's watching me, his usual humor replaced by something deeper. My shadows practically shove me toward the window seat.

"Traitors," I mutter, but I go.

The window seat is comfy, and Finn is warm when I settle beside him. Through half-closed eyes, I watch Malrik pretending not to watch us while he reads. My shadows drift between them like lazy cats, equally content in either's presence.

"Sleep," Finn murmurs, and his fingers brush my hair with surprising gentleness. "We've got you." His touch is light, but it anchors me in a way I can't explain. A warmth blooms in my chest, easing the tension I didn't realize I was holding. For once,the chaotic swirl of my shadows settles, matching the steady calm they seem to draw from Finn and Malrik. Trusting them feels natural, even if it terrifies me.

The last thing I register is Malrik moving closer, his voice a low murmur as he and Finn discuss watch rotations. Their quiet conversation is intimate, but I'm too tired to overthink it. I fall asleep to the sound of their voices, feeling safer than I have any right to be.

61. Kaia

I wake to warmth and whispers.

"—can't just tell her," Malrik's voice, unusually soft.

"Why not?" Finn. "Bob agrees with me."

"Bob is not a relationship counselor." My lips twitch despite myself. Of course Finn would drag my shadow into his matchmaking schemes. I can’t decide whether to laugh or roll my eyes.

"Have you met Bob? He's very wise."

I keep my eyes closed, partly to gather my thoughts and partly because I'm suddenly aware of my position. Somehow in my sleep, I've ended up with my head in Finn's lap while my legs stretch across Malrik's. I can feel my shadows draped around all of us like a contented blanket, and Mouse is purring somewhere above my head.

"She needs to focus on surviving," Malrik continues. His hand rests lightly on my ankle, thumb tracing absent patterns that send shivers up my spine. The touch is gentle, almost thoughtless, but it sets every nerve alight. I can't tell if thewarmth pooling in my chest is from his touch or the realization that even subconsciously, he can't seem to stop protecting me.

"Pretty sure that's easier with people you trust at your back." Finn's fingers card through my hair. "People who care about you."

"It's not that simple."

"It could be." Finn's voice turns serious. "We could make it simple."

The air feels charged, like the moment before lightning strikes. I should move. Should let them know I'm awake. Instead, I lie perfectly still, my heart thundering.

"Finn..." Malrik's voice carries a warning, but something else too.

"Tell me you haven't thought about it," Finn challenges. "Both of us. All of us." The words hang in the air, heavy with unspoken possibilities. I feel my shadows ripple with tension, their movements mirroring the nervous flutter in my chest. It feels like the world is holding its breath, waiting for an answer no one is ready to give.

A sharp intake of breath. "That's not—"

The door bursts open with a bang. I bolt upright, nearly cracking my head against Finn's chin as Torric stumbles in, out of breath and wild-eyed.

"We have a problem," he gasps. "A big one."

"We found something else in the restricted archives," Aspen says, holding up what looks like a student record book, old and covered in dust. "Remember those records Seren found about Thorne? We kept digging."

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