"Bob's a perfectly respectable name," Finn protests, while Malrik pinches the bridge of his nose in exasperation.
I look around at my unlikely group—the twins with their steady strength despite not fully understanding what they can't see, Seren with her brilliant chaos and acceptance of everything weird, and Finn and Malrik, who see all of me, even the parts I tried to hide. My shadows dance between them all, finally free to show their true nature, at least to those who can see them.
"Okay," I say finally. "But we do this together. No more secrets, right?"
"No more secrets," Malrik agrees, his fingers brushing my wrist where one of my shadows has coiled like a bracelet.
"Except Bob's secret handshake," Finn adds. "That's sacred."
The tension breaks as everyone laughs, even Malrik cracking a smile that takes my breath away. My shadows celebrate by creating increasingly ridiculous shapes that only half the room can see, leading to some very confused looks from Torric when his papers suddenly arrange themselves into what I'm pretty sure is meant to be a rude gesture.
"Did you just?" Finn's eyes light up at Malrik actually giving an order to one of the shadows. "You're giving them orders now?"
"Shut up."
"You love us."
"I will end you."
"Bob, back me up here—"
Their bickering fades into the background as I watch my shadows play between them. Something in my chest loosens, a knot of loneliness finally beginning to unravel.
These men have given me so much already, and they’re willing to stick by me. How did I get so lucky?
Mouse bumps my hand, purring loudly, while Bob creates a triumphant arch over my head that makes Seren squint and mutter something about feeling a cold breeze. I can practically hear Finn naming the newer shadows in the background while Malrik pretends not to care.
We have a professor to confront and a conspiracy to unravel. But for now, in this moment, I let myself feel the warmth of belonging.
Even if that belonging comes with incredibly nosy shadows and two men who are going to drive me crazy.
"Bob, no encouragement," I mutter as the shadow tries to push me toward them again.
But I'm smiling as I say it.
Chapter 56
Kaia
We’re in the Shadow common room, where twilight wraps around us like a comfort. My shadows, sensing the shift from tension to sanctuary, become more animated. Finnick immediately demonstrates this newfound energy by attempting to redecorate, knocking over no fewer than three candlesticks in rapid succession.
"Finnick, no," Malrik and I say in unison, while Finn beams with pride.
"He gets it from my side of the family," Finn declares, sprawling across a plush armchair. My shadows—not just Bob, Patricia, and Finnick now, but several newer ones I haven't seen before—swirl around him affectionately.
"When did..." I trail off, watching two unfamiliar shadows in particular interact with my usual ones. One seems to be attempting increasingly dramatic acrobatics while the other keeps trying to catch it before it can knock anything over. Bob appears to be organizing them all, like a general with new recruits.
"They started showing up a few days ago," Malrik says quietly, his eyes tracking their movements. "Bob's been... training them, for lack of a better word."
"That enthusiastic one is Steve," Finn adds helpfully, pointing to the shadow currently attempting a backflip. "And the responsible one trying to stop him from breaking everything is Linda. She's shy but she's got spirit. They showed up together, actually. Linda basically adopted Steve on the spot."
"Like a shadow mom," I observe, watching Linda successfully redirect Steve away from a precariously balanced stack of books.
"Exactly!" Finn beams. "See? The naming system makes perfect sense."
Malrik pinches the bridge of his nose. "We are not naming every shadow that manifests."
"Try and stop me, princeling. Besides, Bob and Patricia approve. Look at them nodding."
