I turn to find Finn standing beside us, his usual mischievous grin firmly in place. But there's something different in his eyes—something almost fierce.
"Actually," Darian starts, but I'm already stepping away from him.
"Sure," I say, ignoring the way Darian's fingers tighten briefly before letting go. My shadows seem to sigh with relief, curling happily around Finn's ankles.
Finn's grin softens into something warmer as he pulls me into the dance. "You look incredible, by the way. Like some kind of shadow goddess."
I laugh despite myself. "Now who's laying it on thick?"
"Hey, I'm always honest about the important stuff." His hand is warm on my waist, steadying rather than controlling. "Like how Bob's been trying to trip Darian all night. He’s currently doing a victory dance around my feet."
I glance down and can't help smiling at the way my shadows seem to preen under his attention. "You're ridiculous."
"You like it," he says confidently, then spins me in a surprisingly graceful turn.
"When did you learn to dance?" I ask, momentarily forgetting my unease.
His eyes sparkle with familiar mischief. "I contain multitudes of surprises. Also, Malrik's been teaching me. Don't tell him I told you—he'll deny everything."
The mention of Malrik makes me glance around, finally spotting him near one of the massive windows. He's watchingus with an unreadable expression, but something about his intensity makes my heart skip.
"He's worried about you, you know," Finn says softly, following my gaze. "We all are."
I stiffen slightly. "I can take care of myself."
"Oh, we know that." Finn's tone is light but his eyes are serious. "Doesn't mean you have to, though."
Before I can respond, he dips me dramatically, making me yelp in surprise. When he pulls me back up, we're much closer than before. His breath catches slightly, and I realize I'm staring at his lips.
"Kaia," he starts, his voice rougher than usual.
The music swells, and something in the enchanted constellations above shifts. The moment breaks as Finn glances up, his expression sharpening.
"What is it?" I ask, but he's already straightening, though his hand stays warm on my waist.
"Nothing good," he mutters, then flashes me a quick grin that doesn't quite reach his eyes. "Rain check on that dance?"
I watch Finn weave through the crowd, his shoulders tense, and a part of me wants to follow. But my feet stay rooted, my shadows coiling around my legs like chains. Across the room, I feel Thorne’s gaze settle on me, sharp and deliberate. It makes my skin crawl, but when I blink, he's gone.
The enchanted constellations continue to swirl overhead, but their light seems colder now, my shadows twist anxiously around me.
Chapter 38
Malrik
From my position near the window, I watch Finn spin Kaia across the dance floor. Her shadows trail after them like excited puppies—a sight that would be amusing if I wasn't so focused on the way Thorne keeps glancing at the enchanted constellations overhead.
"You're brooding again," Aspen says quietly, appearing beside me with two glasses of something that sparkles suspiciously. "Here. You look like you need this."
I accept the drink but don't take my eyes off the dance floor. "The alignment's wrong."
"What?"
"The constellations." I gesture upward with my glass. "They're not just decorative. Someone's using them to channel energy."
Aspen's expression sharpens. "Thorne?"
"Him and someone else. The patterns are too complex for one person." Across the room, Darian's movements are deliberate, his every step calculated. He's weaving through the crowd like he's part of the dance, but his focus never strays far from Kaia.My jaw tightens as I catch the faintest smirk playing on his lips. "We need to—"
