My shadows react to my spike of fear without conscious command, forming a protective barrier between us. They rise like a wall of living darkness, ready to defend me if he makes any threatening move. The sensation of them moving is like flexing muscles I’m still learning to control.
Constantine observes the shadow barrier with scientific interest rather than alarm, which somehow makes my panic worse. “Fascinating. Instinctive protection response. Just like my mother described.”
“Stop that,” I snap, my voice echoing off the ancient books. “Stop treating me like a fucking research project.”
“I’m not.” He raises his hands in a placating gesture, palms up and empty. “I’m trying to understand you, yes. But not for the reasons you think.”
“Then explain it to me. Why is a Hunter instructor helping an Ascendant instead of killing her?”
He leans against the bookshelf, suddenly looking tired in a way that makes him seem more human. “Because my mother died trying to prove that Hunters have been wrong about Ascendantsfor centuries. That you’re not the threat we’ve been taught to fear.”
My shadow barrier wavers but doesn’t dissolve. “What does that have to do with me?”
“Everything.” He gestures to the journals scattered across the reading table. “Her research suggested that Ascendants aren’t inherently unstable or dangerous. That the historical purges were motivated by fear of your abilities, not an actual threat.”
“And you believe that?” I ask skeptically, though something in his voice makes me want to trust him.
“I didn’t. Not until I met you.” His gaze meets mine directly, and I can see sincerity burning in his amber eyes. “Not until I saw how your shadows dance with my fire instead of burning away. Not until I experienced the Vessel bond firsthand.”
My heart beats faster at the mention of our connection, the memory of shadow and flame intertwining sending heat through my body. The shadow barrier thins slightly, responding to my conflicted emotions like a mood ring made of darkness.
“After yesterday’s demonstration,” Constantine continues, stepping closer, “I needed answers. The way our energies merged was unprecedented. It contradicts everything Hunters are taught about elemental opposites.”
“So you came here to research me behind my back instead of just asking?” The hurt in my voice surprises even me, raw and vulnerable in the sacred silence of the library.
Something like guilt crosses his features, softening his angular face. “I didn’t want to burden you with theories until I had more concrete information. You’re already carrying enough weight. The shadow-fire connection we’re developing could change everything we understand about elemental magic.”
“It’s not just about magic for me,” I remind him, my voice smaller than I intend. “It’s about survival. If the Lightbringers report yesterday’s demonstration?—”
“They won’t.” His certainty catches me off guard. “I’ve already spoken with Seraphina.”
“You what?” My shadows spike with alarm, the barrier solidifying again. “Are you fucking insane?”
“It was a calculated risk.” He moves toward me slowly, like he’s approaching a frightened animal that might bolt. “Seraphina isn’t like her sister. She values knowledge over dogma. I convinced her that your unusual abilities warrant study rather than immediate reporting.”
“And she just agreed? Out of scientific curiosity?” I can’t keep the disbelief out of my voice.
“Not exactly.” He looks uncomfortable, his jaw tightening. “I had to offer something in exchange.”
A sinking feeling settles in my stomach like swallowed lead. “What did you promise her?”
“A controlled demonstration of our shadow-fire connection. Under supervised conditions.”
My shadow barrier solidifies again, reflecting my horror. The darkness thickens until I can barely see his face through it. “You want to put me on display for a light Nephilim? The very people who would kill me if they knew what I am?”
“Not on display,” he corrects quickly, his voice urgent. “A collaborative research session. Seraphina has information about light-shadow integration that could be valuable to us.”
“Us?” I laugh bitterly, the sound harsh in the reverent silence. “There is no ‘us’, Constantine. You’re a Hunter instructor playing with fire—literally. I’m an abomination with a target on my back.”
“Is that what you think?” He steps forward, placing his hand directly against my shadow barrier. Instead of pushing against it, he simply holds contact, his palm flat against the darkness. “That this is just an experiment to me?”
To my surprise, my shadows don’t recoil from his touch. Theyripple around his hand like water accepting a stone, the barrier thinning where his skin makes contact. Without his fire actively manifested, there’s no energy exchange, but something still passes between us—a connection that transcends the physical. I can feel his warmth through the shadows, his steady heartbeat, his genuine concern.
“I don’t know what to think anymore,” I admit quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. “Bael says your loyalty is to knowledge, not to me.”
A flash of annoyance crosses Constantine’s face at the mention of Bael, quick as lightning. “Your guardian has his own agenda. One that’s been centuries in the making, if I understand correctly.”
“And you don’t have an agenda?” I challenge.
