Page 50 of Shadows of Change

I hesitate, torn between confiding in him and brushing it off. The guys’ warnings echo in my mind, clashing with Darian’s recent helpfulness.

"Just my shadows being drama queens," I say finally, forcing a laugh. "You’d think I’d canceled shadow-palooza or something."

Darian’s brow furrows. "Your shadows seem... distressed. Are you sure you’re okay?"

I bite my lip, conflicted. On one hand, Darian’s concern seems genuine. On the other, Bob’s increasingly frantic movements are hard to ignore.

"I don’t know," I admit. "It’s like they’re trying to tell me something, but I can’t figure out what."

Darian steps closer, his voice low and soothing. "Maybe they’re reacting to the stress of the maze. You’ve been through a lot today."

I nod slowly, wanting to believe him. But a nagging doubt persists. "Yeah, maybe. It’s just... Finn and the others seemed pretty adamant about—"

"About me being untrustworthy?" Darian finishes, his tone carefully neutral.

I wince. "Well, yeah."

He sighs, running a hand through his dark hair. "Kaia, I know they mean well. But you have to ask yourself: who’s actually been here, helping you?"

I swallow hard, the weight of the decision pressing down on me. Trust Darian, who’s been nothing but supportive? Or listen to the warnings of guys who aren’t even here?

Bob stretches impossibly long, forming what looks suspiciously like the word "NO" at my feet. My stomach tightens at the sight, a battle waging inside me. Is it paranoia, or are my shadows truly trying to warn me of something I’m refusing to see? Doubt gnaws at the edges of my thoughts, but I push it down, unwilling to confront what that "NO" might mean.

"Oh, shut up," I mutter, kicking at the shadow. To Darian, I say, "You’re right. You’ve been here. You’ve helped me. I... I trust you," I say, though the words taste like ash on my tongue.

The moment the words leave my mouth, my shadows erupt in chaos. Finnick seems to be having a full-on meltdown, while the others twist and writhe like they’re in pain.

Darian’s smile, however, is radiant. "I’m honored, Kaia. Now, shall we show this maze what you’re really capable of?"

I nod, pushing down the lingering unease. As we continue on, I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve just made a monumental choice. I just hope it’s the right one.

Another shadow wall looms before us, this one rippling with strange patterns. My shadows coil anxiously around my feet, but I ignore their protests.

"Ready?" Darian asks, his hand finding the small of my back.

I nod, gathering my power. This time, when I reach for the shadows, they respond—reluctantly, like children being dragged to bed. The wall parts beneath my touch, revealing the maze’s exit.

"Impressive," Darian murmurs as we step through. "You’re getting stronger every day."

My necklace flickers once, sharply, sending a cold shiver through my chest. A small part of me wonders why it’s choosing now to act up.

This is the moment I need to focus on the victory, not the unease creeping in the background of my mind. "Thanks to you," I say. "I couldn’t have done this without—"

"Kaia!" Finn’s voice carries across the field. He’s running toward us, the others close behind.

Darian’s hand tightens slightly on my waist. "Speaking of interruptions," he says softly, then turns to face me fully. "Before they get here—would you do me the honor of being my date to the Equinox Dance this weekend?"

I blink, caught off guard. "The dance?" I didn’t even know there was a dance. Although to be fair, I’ve had a few things going on. Somehow Darian was the first to ask me. None of my… nope, not going there.

His smile is warm, genuine. "Unless you’d rather go alone?"

"No! I mean, yes. Yes, I’ll go with you." The words tumble out just as Finn reaches us, slightly out of breath.

"Kaia, are you okay? That maze looked intense and—"

"She’s fine," Darian cuts in smoothly. "Better than fine, actually. We were just discussing the dance."

Finn's face falls slightly. Behind him, Malrik's expression darkens, and Torric looks like he might actually burst into flames.

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