Page 95 of Shadows of Change

"You’re forgetting he one thousand percent has all the feels for Kaia.” Finn smirks, but he doesn’t actually seem happy about it. “Maybe she’s got him questioning things.”

Trying to change the subject “There is definitely something wrong with his shadows. I don’t know what but they’re not normal, but in a bad way.”

"Right now, we don’t have the time," Aspen interjects. "If Darian’s a wildcard, we need to figure out how to use him—or neutralize him—before Aldrich does."

"Well," Finn says with forced lightness, "guess we know what he's been doing for the last twenty years. Teaching shadow magic to teenagers. Totally normal career change for an evil cultist."

My shadows coil anxiously while Mouse growls low in his throat. Bob attempts to herd everyone away from the door while Patricia frantically updates her notes.

"The trial," I realize. "He's been planning this for decades. Waiting for..."

"For you," Aspen finishes. "For someone with the right power. The right connection to the Heart."

"We have to tell someone," Torric insists.

"Who?" Malrik's laugh is bitter. "The Headmaster, who hired him? The other professors, who've worked with him for years? We have no proof beyond an old photo and a signature."

"Then we run," Finn says. "Get Kaia far from here before the new moon."

"He'd find me," I say, certainty settling cold in my chest. "He's been three steps ahead this whole time. Running would just put everyone else in danger."

"So we what?" Torric demands. "Just let you face him alone?"

"No," Malrik says with quiet steel. "We prepare. We train. And we make sure that when he makes his move, he finds out exactly how dangerous shadow magic can be."

Finn's hand finds mine, squeezing. "Well, when you put it that way, it almost sounds fun."

"This isn't a joke—"

"I know." Finn's eyes are fierce. "But if we're going up against an immortal death cultist, I'm doing it with style."

Despite everything, I feel my lips twitch. My shadows seem to rally, straightening their posture as Bob starts organizing what appears to be a tactical briefing.

"We need more information," Aspen says. "About Aldrich, the Heart, and the ritual. If there’s anything we’ve missed, we have to find it now."

"Split up," Malrik orders, his tone sharp with resolve. "Twins, back to the archives. Finn and I will take the shadow wing's restricted section. Kaia—"

"Should stay here," Finn interrupts, glancing at me. "We can’t risk Aldrich getting to her."

"I’ll stay with her," Mouse’s voice echoes in our heads, cutting through the tension.

The room goes dead silent. Even my shadows freeze mid-motion, Bob dropping the tactical map he was creating while Patricia's notes scatter like startled birds. The new, smaller shadows seem to reanimate, quickly getting into a formation "WTF?" spelled out with their bodies.

Slowly, as one, we all turn to stare at Mouse, who sits calmly grooming his paw on Malrik's desk.

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. My heart soars and shatters at the same time as his voice echoes in my head. My entire body starts to shake.

"What," Torric says faintly, "the actual hell."

"Did everyone else hear..." Finn waves vaguely at his head. "Or am I finally cracking?"

"If you're cracking, we all are," Aspen says, looking as rattled as I've ever seen him.

Malrik's eyes narrow. "You've been able to speak this entire time?"

Mouse fixes him with a violet stare. "Obviously."

"Obviously," Finn repeats in a slightly hysterical voice. "Right. Obviously the shadow panther talks. Why not? Makes perfect sense. Bob, buddy, you got anything to add? A sonnet maybe? A dramatic monologue?"

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