Shadow had written, “Are you afraid?”
Frowning, I sat up.“Why would I be?”
After a moment, it held up another note.
“The Devil,” I read aloud. “Oh, you mean my darling mate?”
Shadow’s form rippled wildly, shocking me with how unstable it looked—as if it had lost control and didn’t know how to reassemble the man-shaped silhouette.
It wrote something again and handed me the paper.
“You should be afraid.”
I shrugged. “The monster should be afraid of me. Look at these guns?.”
I held up my slender arm, fully aware that nothing about me looked tough. But appearances were deceiving. If I got the right grip, I could hold a small house over my head or at least throw a car at the Devil.
I grabbed a Slim Jim from my back pocket as Shadow wrote another note.
“He might not want you.”
I threw my head back and cackled.
“Thank Hades for that! But how would you know? What if he wants me so badly, he’s holding himself back?”
I was trying to make light of the situation. What else was I going to do? Cry? I had to save sorrow for everything else. Once I became sad, I might never dig myself out. I didn’t like the thought.
Another piece of paper landed in my lap.
“You’re not fooling me.”
My chest tightened before I could suppress the cold sweeping through my body. I laughed it off.
“What’s wrong? Are you sad you’re not my mate?”
I shouldn’t have said anything.
My thoughts drifted back to that day again. How could I still remember after all that time?
It wasn’t a man. It wasn’t a man.
Even if Shadow wanted me to believe it was, once.
Shadow stepped closer. As the darkness swept over my cheek, the cool sensation sent a pool of heat into my stomach. I turned my head.
I’d never understand the relationship I had with that blob of darkness..
One thing was clear despite our confusing relationship. I was happy Shadow had come back, but forever resentful it had dared to leave in the first place.
Shadow wrote, “Go say bye to your father before it’s too late.” Rage flooded my veins. My temples throbbed as I scowled.
“Why do you talk as if I’m losing him?”
I knew exactly why. But I loathed Shadow for not letting me forget.
Shadow’s response came quickly.
“You won’t have anyone to cry to. I won’t be sad. I told you to accept it, but you’re not listening.”
