Page 115 of Power of Shadow

Tomorrow, 11 p.m. at the warehouse, 178 Ocean Road. Ashley can’t know about this.

One second can change everything.

Aisling pops into my head, and doubts arise in my heart once again.

Her voice echoes in my head louder than ever: “He’s not telling you the truth.”

Am I so stupid that he deceived me?

Am I so blind that I gave my heart away, and it was a mistake?

What are you playing at, Ryker?

Chapter 27

Ashley

Until I climb into the car, I just can’t settle down.

I’m trying to trust Ryker, believe in his good intentions, and not overthink things. I really am. But the seed of doubt has been planted, and with every passing hour, something I can’t predict is growing. I doubt everything I know.

Ryker doesn’t mention the meeting referred to in the message. He doesn’t mention the conversation with my father Aisling told me about. Not a word about why he was such a mess that night.

Doubts and secrets are piling up, and that’s never a good sign.

As Shadow, I should know better.

For a moment, I allow myself to just be Ash, the girl who wants to believe in happy endings. I forget about Shadow, who knows all the dark and ugly sides of life.

By not telling Ryker about my talk with Aisling, I’m a hypocrite. What if? is running through my head. What if I’m really wrong about him? What if making me feel something is simply a game or has a specific purpose? Maybe he just wants to get to my dad? Perhaps I shouldn’t have trusted him? What if...

I don’t want to label him as a traitor right away. But if I’m to continue believing him, I need to see the truth with my own eyes. For once, I won’t trust any words—only facts.

That’s why, on the day of the meeting, I get into a rental car and drive to that godforsaken warehouse on Ocean Road. It’s in the middle of nowhere, perfect for a secret meeting. Although it’s not very sensible, I park on a wooded side road and walk to the warehouse. I would rather not risk anyone seeing me.

I have no problem getting into the warehouse, which isn’t fenced off. There’s no one guarding the place.

Going around the building, I notice that all the windows are painted over. The white paint has yellowed with time, but I can still see a little light shining through. It doesn’t help much.

At the third window, the paint has been scraped a little off the glass. Bringing my face as close as possible, I peer through the small gap.

A dim light illuminates two men standing in the middle of the space. My mouth opens in surprise, not believing what I see.

But actually, I do believe it. Now I believe it.

Ryker doesn’t look like a winner or my father’s loyal dog. He looks more like someone caught in the middle of a minefield—tense, ready to strike, but far from relieved.

In a way I’ve used many times, I move along the walls until I find the back door and use my magic tools.

A moment later, I’m inside, following the voices. I stay in the shadows, finding a spot where I can not only see the two of them but also hear them well.

“It’s in her best interest. The threat that follows us—I don’t want that for her,” says the man. I see him up close for the first time, though I don’t see anything familiar in him. Nothing that would be visible on my face.

My father. Standing so close to me, and yet...

My heart pounds, and hands are starting to sweat. I don’t quite understand why because after all, he’s a total stranger. We don’t know each other, and I know almost nothing about him.

A mix of emotions hits me like a wave. Relief mixes with anger, interest with a thirst for revenge, and on top of that, a pile of questions.