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The letter mocks me even without knowing what it says. After the last one, I can't imagine it's going to be good.
And why is it in my room? The post doesn't come here, it goes to a central office for the whole academy and we get an email then have to go pick it up.
My whole body turns cold as the reality of what's happened sinks in.
Someone from the Shadow Association has been here. They may not have gotten inside my room, but they've been in the Sakura dorms. They're trying to send me a message, and it's working.
The door swings open, making me jump. I almost expect someone from the Association to come in and drag me away.
Relief crashes through me as Mathias steps inside.
"What happened?" he asks instantly, concern flashing over his face.
"Lock the door. Please?"
He does as I ask and places his closed laptop on the desk next to the coffees without a second thought. He sits on the bed beside me and puts his arm around me. I lean into him before I can think twice about how close we are. I'm surprised by how natural the move feels for us, but I like it all the same.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asks.
"I found this." I gesture with the letter.
"What does it say?"
"I haven't opened it yet," I admit. "But someone slid it beneath my door."
"And you think it's from the Shadow Association?"
"It has their crest on it." I flip it open so he can see the circle with the S in the middle, complete with a shadow.
"Ah." He pauses, as if unsure about whether he can say whatever it is on his mind. "Do you want me to open it for you?"
A soft sigh escapes me. "No. I need to do it myself."
I pull my head away from his shoulder, but don't break our embrace. I don't want to lose the connection we've finally managed to make.
The soft rip of the envelope doesn't capture the stress of finding out what's inside. I unfold the paper and hold it so Mathias can read the words too. I could keep it to myself, but I know I'll only show it to him after anyway. I don't want to keep anything about the Shadow Association from him again. I want him to trust me, and the only way to do that is to show him that I trust him.
Syxe Weston,
Your presence is required tomorrow night at six for your Shadow Oath. If you do not attend, you will be collected from Scythe Grove Academy by any means possible. Do not disappoint us.
The Shadow Seer Association
A shiver runs down my spine.
"They've changed the date from the first letter," Mathias observes.
"I guess they expected me to come running back to them after it. How did they even get into the academy?"
"They probably had a reaper do it. There's nothing stopping them from finding this place, especiall
y if they've been before."
Tears sting my eyes as the realisation that my safe place isn't all that safe at all. At least there's a lock on my door.
"I don't want to go back," I whisper.
He takes the letter from me and sets it to the side before pulling me further into his arms.
