Page 39 of Shadebound
They started bickering, their voices climbing over each other, getting louder with every petty jab and snide comeback. I pinched the bridge of my nose, already regretting every life choice that had led me to this very moment. Even more so when Zayden ordered Maya out into the hallway, so they could continue their secret keeping in... well, in secret.
I stopped glaring at the door when my brother stirred.
He gave me a small wave and signed,Morning.
I signed back.How did you sleep?
All good thanks. He yawned and stretched, and the bed next to him shifted.
Luna poked her head out from under the thin blankets, her silvery hair a tangled mess. She signed to Draven,Want to get breakfast while the grown-ups argue? I’m starving.
He nodded eagerly, and just like that, my brother had been stolen away. Off to do normal things, in the prison he wasn’t supposed to be in. Not at all concerned that he was a walking target, or that he was meant to be back home doing teenager things. Like... like doom scrolling online. Perhaps playing video games. Or debating about how capitalism was a plague and murdering billionaires should have led to knighthood, not death sentences. Or whatever else it was people his age cared to do.
I didn’t care to ask. Teenagers disgusted me.
I kept glancing around the room as they hurried to dress and slipped out. Once again, I tried to stay calm. To let him do his thing without smothering him. It was hard—harder than I wanted to admit. But I liked that he was being included. And Luna seemed nice.
She was also too young to have her bones rot from the inside out. Too young to meet Death in the quiet, crumbling way that left no glory behind. I liked dying things, sure—but not for girls like her. And if my brother could bring her a few smiles before the inevitable came, then I was all for it.
See seemed the sort to enjoy smiling, rather than think it was hideous.
Shoving aside my empathy, I sent Silk to follow my brother again. Even if it drained me for the rest of the day, I knew I had no choice.
Unfortunately, with the wolves and my brother gone, Maya and Zayden taking their sweet time bickering about whatever secret they were hiding, and no shadows awake enough to let me eavesdrop, that left me with nothing to do but stare.
At the gifted doll on my bed, with its eyes watching me. At the walls.
At Fiore, especially.
He glared as he dressed. I stared at his face, not at his presumably tiny cock. When he started breathing smoke from his nose, I sarcastically waved. But even though I clearly bothered him, he did nothing in response.
Clearly, he was too much of a coward to attack me in the daylight.
I was growing annoyed with each passing second. Not just because of him. But with Zayden and Maya.
If my friends wanted to keep secrets, fine. I could hardly cut their filthy tongues out. That was not the way one kept friends. But I had better things to do than sit around waiting for twoidiots to avoid the obvious option of truth telling. Itwasmy first full day at Mors. I had plans. Things to figure out.
So I wasn’t going to wait anymore. Instead, I grabbed the pile of clothes Zayden had left at the foot of my bed, ready to continue my morning and get on with it.
With another sigh, I ducked into the tiny bathroom. There was a small box of toiletries on a rickety wooden shelf. Zayden had shoved it into my hands last night. It had everything: soap, deodorant, toothpaste, even hair ties. It was surprisingly full and easy enough for me to get ready with. Less than a single hummed lullaby later I’d scrubbed my face and the blood on my skin, then fluffed up my hair, and tied it into messy braids.
Then I peeled off the rest of my old clothes, one piece at a time. They smelt of sleep, public spaces, and desperation. A gross combination. The straps of my bra dug into my shoulders and ribs, fabric twisted tight across my chest, punishment for passing out fully dressed. But I had no time to lie around braless and in heaven. So it was with a heavy scowl that I left it on as I changed into the approved uniform. Hating every second of the cheap material touching my skin. Before yanking on some black socks and my own combat boots I’d arrived in.
The new uniform Zayden had picked out fit perfectly. Even the fresh underwear. Which was sweet. And mildly unsettling.
I wasn’t bothered that he knew my underwear size, but I was trying to work out how he’d figured it out when I’d never told him. I hadn’t pegged him as a panty sniffing hooligan, but perhaps that had been a mistake.
Perhaps he had a drawer full of stolen thongs and lace-kissed tokens of our relationship hidden away.
PerhapsIwas having a mental break down because the notion sounded disturbingly sweet in my head. Not at all like a red flag screaming at me.
Blowing out a deep breath, I stared at my reflection once I was done. I did it for long enough that I could wish Death would murder me before I had to continue socialising with strangers. Unfortunately, he didn’t, so I had to carry on with my day.
Though I pocketed my magic stones, hoping one of them was designed to make me feel less like a corpse warmed up. And to help me feel less horrid about my missing necklace.
When I forced myself to leave the bathroom, I walked straight into Fiore. Or at least, his broad chest.
He’d clearly been waiting outside the room. I collided with him on my way out, stumbling as I caught myself. He didn’t move, didn’t offer a hand, just stayed exactly where he was—smirking like he’d found something amusing and was far too proud of himself to explain why.
