Page 40 of Shadows of Change

We burst into the hallway at full speed, Seren clutching her smoldering notebook like a bomb.

"Explain to me again how this was supposed to work?" I ask, trying not to trip over Mouse, who thinks this is a fantastic game.

"It's basic runic transference," she huffs, dodging a startled first-year. "I amplify the power source through a stabilization matrix, then channel it into—"

"Into an unholy firebomb?" I point at our smoking trail.

"Details," she mutters, clearly annoyed that I'm ruining her fun with facts.

Behind us, someone yells about "damage to academy property" and "repeat offenses." My shadows dart ahead, guiding us around corners, though Bob lingers just long enough to topple a particularly tall stack of scrolls.

"Was that necessary?" I hiss.

Bob doesn't answer, but his smug ripple says everything.

Seren yanks me into a side passage, and we flatten against the wall as heavy footsteps pass by. That’s when I notice Finnick jumping excitedly trying to get the attention of whoever is out there.

Damn traitor.

"Well," she says, clutching her notebook triumphantly, "that was invigorating."

I glare at her, then at her singed notes. "You're going to get us expelled."

"Please." She waves dismissively. "They wouldn't dare expel me. I'm too brilliant. And you..." Her grin sharpens. "You've got Thorne's dark little eye on you, so you're basically untouchable."

"Lucky me," I mutter. My shadows twist uneasily at Thorne's name. "Next time you decide to play with forbidden runes, leave me out of it."

"You say that now," she teases, tucking away her notebook, "but we both know you'll come running the second I mention explosions again."

I start to argue, but Mouse's laughing huff makes me glare at him instead.

All of you! Traitors!

We step back into the main corridor, and Seren heads toward the library, still muttering about calculations. I hesitate, suddenly drained. Between Darian's training and Seren's chaos, my nerves feel raw.

"Coming?" she calls over her shoulder.

I shake my head. "I need some air. I’ll see you later."

Even as Seren vanishes down the hall, her laughter trailing behind her, the unease remains. My shadows twist tighter around me, their restlessness matching the knot in my chest.

26. Kaia

The courtyard beckons, its open archways promising escape from the academy's suffocating halls. As I step into the cool night air, Mouse pads silently beside me, his form rippling with barely contained energy. My shadows stretch in the moonlight, but their movement is agitated, defensive.

"You're paranoid," I tell Mouse as we pass an empty fountain. The sound of water would be soothing if the basin wasn't dry. Everything here feels half-alive, caught between what it should be and what it is. "Nobody's following us."

Mouse's muscles tense, and he grows slightly larger—a warning sign I've learned to heed. His ears flatten as he stares at the edge of the courtyard. Following his gaze, my stomach flips. Darian leans casually against one of the archways, his arms crossed and a faint smile playing on his lips. He looks like he's been waiting—like he knew exactly where I'd go.

"Couldn't sleep?" he asks, pushing off the wall with an effortless grace that makes my pulse quicken despite myself.

Bob positions himself between us like a barrier. The other shadows follow his lead, creating a subtle but distinct wall.My stomach churns as Darian steps through them as if they're nothing but smoke.

"Stalking me now?" I try to keep my voice light, but there's an edge to it. "That's not a great look for you."

He chuckles softly, closing the distance between us with measured steps. "I was worried about you. You seemed... overwhelmed earlier."

Overwhelmed? Oh, you know, just caught between three arguing guys with more simmering hostility than a poorly written tavern brawl.

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