But as I look down, my shadows twist restlessly around my ankles, their movements jagged, uneasy. Bob brushes against my calf, his form flickering with something like agitation. Even Patricia, usually preoccupied with her endless shadow tasks, hovers close, almost wary.
Darian notices, of course he does. "Your shadows have a life of their own," he says, his tone casual, but his eyes sharp, watching every flicker and curl. "It's fascinating, really. You don’t see that level of instinctive magic very often."
I force a smile, but it feels thin. "I guess they like to keep things interesting."
"They certainly do," he agrees, his gaze lingering on the amethyst pendant at my throat. "You’re full of surprises, Kaia."
There’s something in the way he says my name that makes my shadows ripple—not in the usual playful way, but like they’re bristling. I take a step back, creating just enough space to feel like I can breathe again.
"Well, I should get to class," I say, my tone clipped. "Thanks for the, uh... guidance."
Darian’s smile doesn’t falter, but there’s a flicker of something in his expression—disappointment, maybe? Annoyance?—that I catch before he schools it into something more polite. "Of course. We’ll continue tomorrow. Usual time."
I nod, but as I walk away, I can feel his eyes on my back, and I don’t know what to make of it. My shadows tighten around me like a protective shield, and I clutch the amethyst pendant against my chest, its warmth a small comfort against the growing cold in my gut.
My insides feel at war with each other. My feelings a jumbled mess right up there with Finn’s chaos. And don’t even get me started on that mage. I’ve got too much to worry about without these men getting into my head.
Chapter 22
Kaia
The corridors of Arcanum whisper with secrets as I make my way to class. It's been a week since Darian's magic wrapped around mine, since his touch left me feeling both thrilled and wrong in ways I can't explain. My shadows have clung closer than usual, agitated and skittish, when a familiar voice cuts through my brooding.
"Kaia! Hold up!"
A flash of lavender hair bobs through the crowd like an exotic bird. Seren practically bounces to my side, her mismatched earrings—one a tiny dragon, the other a crescent moon—jangling merrily. The sight of her loosens something in my chest.
"Where have you been?" I ask, relief flooding through me. "I was starting to think one of your experimental portals had finally swallowed you whole."
"Family drama." Seren rolls her eyes, falling into step beside me. Her satchel clinks with what I’m sure are dubiously legal magical ingredients. "I’ve been gone for a week dealing with Gran's divination mirror. It cracked, and you know how she gets about omens. I had to talk her down from sealing theentire house in protective runes. Even the outhouse, Kaia. The outhouse."
I can't help but laugh, picturing Seren's eccentric grandmother frantically scrawling symbols on every available surface. "Please tell me you at least brought back some of her chaos cookies you’ve told me so much about."
"As if I'd dare return without them." She pats her bag, which emits a faint purring sound. "Though I'm starting to regret ever mentioning them, since now I have to share. But enough about my domestic disasters." Her eyes glitter with mischief. "How's your smorgasbord of sexy treating you?"
Heat creeps into my cheeks. "Is that what we're calling it now?"
"Well, what would you call it? Because from where I’m standing, you’ve got yourself quite the collection of drool-worthy specimens circling." She waggles her eyebrows suggestively. "Come on, spill. I want all the juicy details I missed."
"It's..." I hesitate as my shadows coil tighter. "Complicated. There's been some tension lately. And then there's Darian—"
Seren stops dead in her tracks, nearly causing a pile-up in the hallway. "Darian? As in Darian Luthar? Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Magically-Delicious himself?"
"You know him?"
"Know him?" Seren's laugh has an edge of hysteria. "Kaia, darling, everyone knows Darian Luthar. He's practically academy royalty. And have you seen the way he moves? It's like watching living shadow given form."
Damn. Breathe, girl.
My stomach twists. I'd known Darian was skilled, but hearing Seren gush about him makes me question my own misgivings. "He's been helping me with my shadow work," I admit.
Seren's squeal echoes off the stone walls, drawing curious stares from passing students. "Private lessons with DarianLuthar? Kaia, you lucky witch!" She grabs my arm, practically vibrating. "How have you not spontaneously combusted from the sheer hotness?"
"It's not like that," I protest, even as something warm and dangerous flutters in my chest. "It's just training."
"Uh-huh." Her skepticism could cut glass. "I’ve been back a day and already I’m seeing Malrik and Finn act like jealous watchdogs. What happened while I was gone?"
I stumble, nearly tripping over my own shadows. "What do you mean?"
