Page 4 of Vayn

“Why?”

“I’m curious.”

“It’s Rage.”

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but your rage shadow only leaves your side in battle when you order him to fight. Right?”

Right. Unlike some Fallen, I don’t allow my shadows to run off by themselves. Neither do they attempt to do so. They rest inside me until needed. Yet, that had changed since I’d started guarding this little dud.

“Why is your rage shadow leaving your side all of a sudden?”

“He pities her,” I told Alyk, which was sort of true. Rage does pity her. He also enjoys being next to her. I keep that fact to myself. I don’t need Alyk pitying me.

“Interesting,” Alyk drawled. “Very interesting.” Patting my shoulder, Alyk chuckled again as the training teacher announced that the class was over. Finally.

“We’ll talk about this more later, Vayn. Make sure your charge gets to her apartment safely. Though we have wards up and guardians stationed around the campus, there was a breech last week. The culprit was caught before he made it past the first gate. Still, he made it in, so everyone is on high alert. The late manifesters need guards more than ever now.”

The first gate was miles away from the main campus and the dormitories. My charge should be fine walking the campus alone. Before I could say, I’m not her damn babysitter, Alyk disappeared in a cloud of black smoke. Bastard.

The truth was, ever since I’d started watching over her, I’ve never allowed her to walk home alone after her night class. Alyk didn’t need to know that, though. Neither did she. I faced my charge again and watched her limp toward the girls’ changing room.

“Get over here,” I muttered to Rage.

My shadow shook his head. Until her, he’d never disobeyed my commands. Until her, he’d never wanted to be near a human, even half-ones. Until her, he’d never taken an interest in anything other than hunting and killing.

“Now, Rage!” I ordered. “You cannot go into the shower with her.”

No one else could hear or see me, thanks to my cloaking shield. I’d feel like a perv if they could. Again, Rage shook his head. Then, the strangest shit happened. My charge stopped and looked behind her. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear she was staring directly at my shadow. With the way he was staring at her, I’m sure he was thinking the same thing.

Dark clouds surrounded him, so even if he weren’t cloaked, others would only see his darkness. I see his features, my features. And the way he’s gazing longingly at our charge leaves me feeling uneasy.

“It’s okay,” my charge said, speaking low so the other students couldn’t hear her. “You can return to your Fallen now. Thanks for protecting me, Rage.”

My mouth dropped open as Rage bowed to her. Fucking bowed! Since being cursed to earth, we haven’t bowed to anyone. She turned and looked in my direction. She couldn’t see me. There’s no way she could see me. My shield was up.

I’m a Fallen, one of the ancient ones. I’m powerful as hell. This little dud with no powers shouldn’t be able to see me. So why the hell can I feel her gaze on me? A wave of heat washes over me, caressing my skin in a way that felt similar to a female’s touch, her touch.

“Stop lurking in the shadows like a perv and introduce yourself one day, guardian,” she hissed before turning away and limping to the bathroom.

My shadow remained behind, watching her. I could feel his desire to go after her. Luckily, he returned to me, his dark clouds seeping into my skin, slithering back to the abyss that was my tortured soul so he could rest until needed. I remained rooted in place, watching her, barely believing she just talked to me.

She saw me! She’s known I’ve been here this entire time. My gaze followed her until she disappeared around the corner. How the hell was she able to see me and my shadow? What the hell was Destiny Porter? And why the hell am I always anxious when she’s no longer in my sight?

You know why, Rage whispered from the abyss.

I don’t. I have absolutely no idea why this dud affects us this way or why she can see us.

But I intended to find out.

Chapter Two

Destiny

––––––––

I could feel his presence behind me as I limped down the sidewalk.

Even worse, I could feel his disappointment and frustration. There’s something else there that’s not usually present. Confusion maybe. I don’t know. This ability to discern the energy of others was new to me. I gritted my teeth as a sharp pain shot down my leg. Though one of his shadows had always been present to cushion my falls for the past two months, they hadn’t cushioned all the punches my body had taken.