“Yes.”
Shadow let Inky twirl around him. “You need to work on your mental communication skills.”
“Nah.” I shook my head. “I’m cool with it being all one-sided in that regard. There’s only so much of this magical shit that I can get used to. So I’ll be speaking out loud for the foreseeable future.”
He didn’t seem to be upset by that. “I want to hear your thoughts. Don’t start hiding them from me.”
“No plans to,” I promised.
I’d never held back from Shadow—well, almost never—from the first moment we’d crossed paths. It had probably brought me close to death a time or two, but now I saw that it had also endeared me to the beast. Over time, he’d come to appreciate my brand of quirkiness, and apparently… I wasn’t too much for him, either.
It was odd that what had started as one of the worst days of my life, ended as one of the best. In this second, I felt happy and accepted.
For how long? Well, fate was a nasty bitch. And the sun was often the brightest right before a storm.
Luckily, I was well-equipped with both a raincoat and knee-high galoshes to handle whatever wild weather was thrown my way.
7
I’d been through a lot in the past twenty-four hours, and before I could handle one more situation, I needed a shower, a change of clothing, and food. In that order. Shadow left to finish his preparations for our journey into the realm, and I headed toward my room.
Midnight stayed close, and since I wasn’t exactly used to my new companion yet, I asked for a little space.
Space?
I nodded, my shirt half over my head as I stepped into the bathroom. “Yeah, human-type people like privacy when they shower and dress and even at other times. We often need a moment alone to gather our thoughts. Some space between us and the rest of the world.”
It seemed to understand then, swelling and sparking lights around its darkness.
Right. I will wait for you outside. I prefer to exist up high anyway. Just call if you need me.
It twirled away, under the bedroom door, and I took a deep, extended breath, trying to sort out my mental state. The exhaustion that had plagued me before my nap wasn’t completely gone; it lingered on the edges of my energy, confirming that I hadn’t had enough sleep or food to completely restore my well of power.
One thing at a time, though, and those two would have to wait.
The shower felt amazing, and I sank to the floor, letting the heavy stream beat down on me. Cranking the heat even higher, the chill that had been lingering in my bones eased with each drop of water. I might have even dozed off for a few minutes, allowing an extra boost of healing and restoration to kick in.
Eventually, I had to get out, and after drying off, I did my teeth-brushing and moisturizing routine, feeling a hundred times more myself after. I really needed to spend more time on self-care because I’d been a ragged mess when I’d dragged my ass in here an hour ago. Most of which had been washed away in the shower.
Figuring it probably wasn’t long until we made our way into the Shadow Realm, I dressed in the most comfortable outfit I could find. And since the library provided it, it was of course perfect.
Black jeans, with enough stretch that they could have passed as thick leggings. Black leather boots that slid perfectly over the jeans, stopping around my calves. A green tank that brought out the lighter tones in my hazel eyes, and over the top, I threw on a leather jacket for protection and warmth.
I had no idea what sort of weather or temperatures to expect in the Shadow Realm, but there was every chance that parts of it could be as extreme as Earth. At least from what I’d seen in Midnight’s memories.
Midnight.It was so weird how I could feel the mist in my energy, the tingling on my palm reminding me that I was now bonded to another powerful entity. One that was at war with Inky.
At least Midnight might be a source of information, and for once, I’d be ahead of the game.Ether mists… a blanket from above. It was the oddest concept, and I couldn’t quite picture it. In the images from Midnight, I hadn’t noticed a black cloud across their world, so maybe… maybe it was hidden from sight. I supposed I’d find out once we stepped foot into the realm.
My stomach churned at the mere thought, and I hoped that whatever happened there, Shadow finally found his revenge. If anyone deserved it, he did. Of course, I still owed some shifters a knife through their chests, but that could wait. Compared to how long Shadow had been waiting to enact his own vengeance, I was a few thousand years behind.
Midnight floated down to me as soon as I stepped out from my bedroom door, and I didn’t waste any time. “How many different beings live in the Shadow Realm?” I paused. “Wait, that was rude. Hello, how are you? I have a few questions if you don’t mind?”
Midnight swelled and jiggled, and I heard the disembodied laugh in my head.My knowledge is yours.
That one line might have been better than an orgasm.
“Tell me as much about the inhabitants of the Shadow Realm as you can.”
