Page 54 of Lion's Share
As if it sensed my attention, the shadow suddenly surged forward, flowing across the grass like spilled ink. Ben must have seen it then, because I heard the sharp intake of his breath.
“Why isn’t it attacking?” he asked. “The griffin and unicorn aren’t here to protect us.”
That was when the realization hit me, cold and certain. “Because it’s not just hunting randomly. It’s hunting me specifically.”
“What do you mean?”
I turned away from the window and forced myself to sound calm. “Think about it. The shadow stalkers appeared right after my telepathic abilities first manifested. The griffin said he’d protect Silver Hollow, but he specifically mentioned protecting the ‘shadow’ — which I thought meant protecting against the shadow stalkers. But what if he meant protecting me? What if I’m the shadow?”
Ben frowned, and he reached up to rub the scruff on his chin. “I don’t follow.”
“Magic leaves traces, doesn’t it? My developing psychic abilities are probably giving off some kind of weird magical signature.” Feeling too exposed, I moved away from the window, my brain sorting through pieces of an unfamiliar puzzle, desperately trying to find the pattern that connected them all. “The shadow stalkers aren’t just random predators. They’re drawn to magic. And right now, I’m broadcasting it like a beacon.”
Another telepathic flash interrupted my thoughts, this one crystal clear:
Sidney Lowell’s been acting strange lately. Seen her talking to that YouTube fellow an awful lot. And did you notice how she was the first one they called when the Hendersons’ goats were attacked? Like she knew something was going to happen….
This voice I recognized — Linda Fields, sharp and suspicious and looking for ammunition to use against anyone who might oppose her political ambitions.
“Oh, that’s just perfect,” I muttered.
“What now?”
“Linda Fields is starting to connect the dots. She’s suspicious about why I seem to be involved in everything that’s been happening around here.” I rubbed my forehead, feeling the beginnings of a headache pulsing behind my temples. “How long before she starts suggesting to Dr. Rosenthal that I’m worth investigating?”
Ben moved closer, his expression grim. “We need to get you somewhere safe. If that shadow stalker is specifically hunting you — ”
“Where?” I demanded, knowing my voice sounded way too rough. “The griffin can’t be everywhere at once, and we have no idea how many more shadow stalkers might come through if the portal destabilizes further.” I met his eyes and willed him to understand. “Besides, running away won’t solve the bigger problem. We need to figure out how to stabilize the portal before Rosenthal’s investigation exposes everything.”
Before Ben could respond, my phone pinged, telling me a new text message had just come in. I glanced at the screen…and my stomach flip-flopped.
It was from a number I didn’t recognize, but the message was sure clear enough.
Ms. Lowell, this is Dr. Sonya Rosenthal. I’d like to speak with you about your recent experiences with the electromagnetic anomalies affecting Silver Hollow. Please contact me at your earliest convenience. I believe you may have information that’s crucial to our investigation.
How the hell had she even gotten my number? It wasn’t as if she was contacting me at the store.
But I knew that question was silly. She was with the government; they had access to information I didn’t even want to think about.
I showed the message to Ben, and he muttered a curse under his breath.
“She knows,” I said quietly. “Somehow, she knows I’m connected to all this.”
As if summoned by our conversation, another telepathic flash hit me — but this one was different. Colder, even more analytical than what I’d heard from Rebecca Morse, whose inner voice contained a certain warmth despite its overall efficiency.
Subject exhibits classic signs of electromagnetic sensitivity. Dilated pupils, nervous behavior, avoidance tactics. If my hypothesis is correct, prolonged exposure to the anomalous fields should have triggered measurable neurological changes. Brain scans would confirm….
Dr. Sonya Rosenthal’s thoughts were as clinical and detached as I’d expected, but what chilled me was the casual way she was already planning to study me like a lab specimen. How had she even known whether my pupils were dilated or not?
Agent Morse, I realized then. She’d probably reported every single detail she thought could possibly be relevant.
“Ben,” I said, my voice a rough whisper, “I think we’re out of time.”
He reached over and wrapped his fingers around mine. I took what comfort I could from the strength in his touch, the quiet reassurance that he would be there for me and had no intention of taking off just because the going had gotten rough.
“Then we’d better figure out our next move fast,” he replied quietly. “Because thanks to Dr. Rosenthal and that shadow stalker out there, I think Silver Hollow is about to become a very dangerous place.”
I looked back toward the window, where the shadow had retreated to the edge of the tree line but was still just barely visible, still watching.
