Page 155 of When Death Whispers

The Evergloom shudders,like it’s exhaling.

I’m still catching my breath, curled safely between Steo’s protective shadows, Rad’s sturdy warmth, and Hudson’s reassuring presence. But the sudden shift in the air sends tension racing through our intertwined connection, jerking all of us into alertness.

“What was that?” Hudson whispers, immediately defensive, his hands tightening gently around mine.

Rad’s eyes narrow, muscles coiling with readiness. Steo’s shadows pulse tighter around me, pink light flaring—then fading. But nothing comes. No threat, no monsters trying to claw their way into our burrow. Instead, the hum of energy gently settles, and the room shifts around us. The veins of pink glow along the walls and ceiling brighten slightly, bathing the space in warmth like the sun would.

A faint melody drifts through the air—soft, lyrical, like wind chimes caught in a gentle breeze. It caresses my senses, tugging gently at my chest, calming the last traces of panic from my heart.

“What’s happening now?” I ask softly, confusion and wonder mixing in my voice.

Rad tilts his head, suspicious but relaxing slightly. “I don’t know. But it feels… calm.”

Steo breathes in deeply, eyes closing briefly, his body softening. “The Evergloom is at peace. You are at peace, so it responds.”

Hudson’s gaze shifts between us, cautious but fascinated. “You’re saying it’s reflecting our feelings?”

Steo nods slowly, his gaze intense. “We are bound to it now. The Gloom doesn’t just hear us—it echoes us.”

I glance around the room, awe sinking in as the realization fully hits. This realm—this dark, once-hostile place—is responding to our emotions, mirroring our connection. Its energy hums gently now, serene and warm, vibrating softly through each of us.

I shift slightly, feeling their attention refocus fully on me, concern and affection radiating softly through our newly forged bond. “So, you’re telling me, if we’re calm, it stays calm?”

Rad smirks. “So the Evergloom’s now dependent on our moods? Better keep our human happy then.”

I shoot Rad a playful glare, but it quickly melts into a gentle smile as the realization sinks deeper. The thought of the Evergloom had terrified me, a realm of monsters and nightmares—but now it pulses around me, aroundus,softly attuned, protective, comforting even. It feels like home.

Weird. Totally fucking weird. But oh so right.

“So… I’ve somehow tamed this place,” I murmur, glancing between them.

“You didn’t just tame the Gloom,” Steo murmurs, voice low and reverent. “You tamed us.”

His words hang in the air. Emotion ripples through our connection—vulnerability, admiration, affection. I can feel Hudson’s gentle acceptance, Rad’s acknowledgment, and Steo’s possessive devotion swirling together, binding us deeper than ever before.

Hudson reaches out first, tentative fingertips travelling up my arm. The touch sends a warm spark through our bond, gentle and reassuring. He smiles softly, voice low. “I never thought I’d feel safe in a place like this, but with you… I do.”

Rad shifts closer at my feet, and is surprisingly gentle as his clawed fingers brush my thigh. “You do seem to have a habit of making monsters behave, Snow.”

Steo lets out a soft growl of agreement from my other side, his shadows gliding tenderly across my skin. “She has always held more power than she realizes.”

The air between us thickens with something deeper than words, charged with emotion, vulnerability, and an undeniable pull. Hudson’s hand continues its path up, Rad’s tail trails slowly along my calf, while his claws tighten around my thigh, and Steo’s shadows ripple gently.

I exhale slowly, heart thudding steadily now, warmth pooling through me, driven by the affection I feel pouring through our bond. I meet each of their gazes, a soft smile forming on my lips.

“Then maybe we should stop fighting it,” I whisper. “Maybe we should lean into this—whatever this is—together.”

Rad’s mouth curls slowly into a heated smirk, his tail gliding further up. Hudson’s eyes darken softly, fingers stopping at my chin and turning my face towards him, his gaze lingering on my lips. Steo’s shadows wrap tenderly around us all, pulling us closer, weaving us tighter.

The energy in the room shifts, charged with a heady mix of anticipation and desire that travels through the bond. I feel a delicious shiver run down my spine as their gazes intensify, each of them responding to my invitation in their own way.

Rad’s low growl vibrates through me as he presses closer, pulling my attention back to him, and I see his nostrils flaring as he inhales deeply. Possessive need reaches my chest before he says, “Once we start this, Snow, there’s no going back,” he warns, his voice thick with barely restrained hunger.

Steo’s shadows pulse around us, his energy thrumming with barely contained desire.

Hudson’s lips brush my ear as he whispers, “Are you sure, Parker? This isn’t just the adrenaline talking?”

I turn to meet his concerned gaze to find him now sitting beside me, and I reach out to trace the curve of his jaw.

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