"You're not going to let this go, are you?"
"Nope!" He pops the 'p' sound, tossing me a package of my favorite cookies. "Besides, your shadows are already setting up a snack fort."
He's right. My traitorous shadows are arranging cushions in a loose circle, creating a cozy gathering space. Even Finnick is helping, though he seems to be mostly stealing cookies.
"Fine," I sigh, dropping onto a cushion. "Start talking."
Chapter 42
Kaia
The others settle in, forming a careful semicircle. Aspen’s expression is a blend of quiet determination and unease, his shoulders tense as he sets the drinks down. Torric’s brows are furrowed, and his fire rune flickers faintly like it’s mirroring his agitation. Malrik’s silver eyes remain unreadable, but his deliberate movements and the way he takes a seat with precision suggest he’s bracing for something. Even Finn, usually relaxed, settles in with a slight edge to his grin, his hands quick as he passes out snacks, like he’s trying to fill the silence. Close enough to talk, but giving me space.
"We should have told you sooner," Aspen says quietly, breaking the tension. "About our suspicions."
"You think?" The words come out sharper than I intend, but I can't quite help it. "How long have you all been... what? Coordinating? Spying?"
"Since the training accident," Torric admits, his rune flickering faintly. "When Darian conveniently showed up and was suddenly inserted into your life."
"He was helping me," I protest, but it sounds weak even to my ears.
"Was he?" Malrik's voice is soft but intent. "Or was he studying you?"
I open my mouth to argue, then close it as memories surface. The way Darian always seemed to know when my shadows were acting up. His carefully worded questions about their behavior. The calculating look in his eyes when he thought I wasn't watching.
"Start from the beginning," I say finally. "I want to know everything."
They exchange glances, having one of those silent conversations that should irritate me but instead makes something in my chest ache. It’s the kind of ache that comes from watching people care—because that’s what this is. And from realizing, despite all my efforts to push everyone away, they’ve stayed. It’s unfamiliar and raw, a strange mix of gratitude and fear.
Finally, Finn speaks up.
"It started with Bob, actually," he says, grinning when Malrik rolls his eyes at the name. "Your shadows have been trying to warn you for weeks. But only a few of us could see them."
"What do you mean, see them?" I look between him and Malrik.
"Most can see the effects," Malrik corrects. "The way they move things or create patterns with actual shadows. But the shadows themselves?" He gestures to where Bob is currently trying to steal another cookie. "Most people just see disturbances in the light."
"But you can see them clearly," I say slowly. "Both of you."
Finn nods. "In living color. Or, well, living darkness. Whatever. Point is, they've been putting on quite a show trying to get your attention."
"They were especially dramatic around Darian," Malrik adds dryly. "Though subtlety isn't exactly their strong suit."
As if to prove his point, my shadows start reenacting what looks like an interpretive dance of their dislike for Darian. Mouse watches with what I swear is amusement.
"Okay, but that doesn't explain why you were all at the ball tonight," I press. "Or what happened with the constellations."
"That was my fault," Malrik says, surprising me. "I caught Darian researching soul bonds in the library. He didn’t want me to know what he was looking at and seemed a little too calm for it to just be nothing.” He takes a breath, like this is hard for him to admit. “The things he was researching… it wasn’t just soul bonds, but honestly I’m not sure what to make of it yet.”
"Which is why we were watching tonight," Finn adds. "Though I still say my chaos distraction plan would have worked better."
"Your plan involved releasing enchanted origami birds into the punch bowl," Malrik reminds him.
"Exactly! Pure genius."
Despite everything, I feel my lips twitch. "You're all ridiculous," I mutter, but there's no heat in it. "So let me get this straight," I say, picking at a cookie. "You've all been secretly coordinating to protect me because my shadows told you Darian was suspicious?"
"Well, when you say it like that, it sounds ridiculous," Finn grins, then yelps as Bob swats him with a shadowy tendril. "But you have to admit, they’ve been acting weird.”
