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I don’t know.
All I know is that her powers surprised me. Maybe even scared me a little. If she could do that, maybe she could defeat this king of shadows. But if she was the only one who could stand against him, that also meant she was in the most danger of anyone here. And I couldn’t stomach the thought of her in danger.
“You know something,” the elder says, and I realize I’ve been lost in my head for too long. My sister always said I was in my head more than I was ever in this world. Something that would make me smile, but I’m not smiling now.
“I’m not sure.”
His gaze narrows. “Can you control the light too?”
My stomach flips, and despite myself, I reach for my magic. Only, it’s not there.
Every muscle in my body stiffens. I try again. Turning away from the elder, I reach my hand out and point it at a flower. As a child of powerful fae, my ability to control nature was always easy, like breathing, not at all the struggle it was for Ann. But still, nothing happens.
“I-I don’t think I have magic in this body.” I speak the words aloud before I even process them myself.
No magic? That’s impossible.Magic has always come easily to me. It’s like part of my soul.Without it, who the hell am I?
When I turn back to the elder, he’s frowning. “Perhaps because you’re no longer technically a fae.”
Is he right? Am I… am I a shadow beast now? If I return home, will I even be recognized by my kind as one of them? Will my parents accept me as their son?My sister… my sister would love me in the body of a duck, but everyone else… even if I return home, I may not be able to convince them. And that means no longer being able to provide Ann with the life she deserves.
“Fuck,” I mutter.
“Fuck indeed,” the elder says.
Things just got even more complicated.
5
Ann
Time has passed,but the tension in the cave is still at an all-time high. Onyx allowed me to check over his injuries, which were thankfully not so bad, but he treated me like a random healer rather than someone he's kissed. Someone he's touched. Skimming my hands along his arms, back, and chest only made the torturous feeling between my thighs increase. Every so often, I'd steal a glance at Dusk. But he didn't look back at me. He just laid beside the fire, with a clear erection that made my mouth feel dry.
"You're looking much better," I tell Onyx.
His gaze falls on me, but all I can read in his eyes is disappointment before he pulls away from me and struggles back into his shirt. Then, he goes to clean his weapons, seemingly ignoring me, and yet, I know he isn't. I know neither of them have forgotten I'm here, even if they might wish they had.
We're all exhausted. Battles aren't easy, but we haven't had much of a break lately either, so it makes the feeling of pure exhaustion take on a whole new meaning. The sun has risen, which is usually time to sleep for us, so I feel like everyone is just holding their breath, trying to decide what Rayne and I will do.
The thing is, I don't know. But I do know I'm not going anywhere, at least any time soon. Unless Rayne needs me to,trulyneeds me to in order to stay in this body. But not unless it’s a life or death situation. Deep down I realize that Rayne coming back should have changed everything for me, and maybe it would have a few weeks ago, but now, now it feels like the most bitter-sweet gift I've ever received. My love, my fated mate is back.
But my shadow beasts, they're important to me too. Too important to walk away from, no matter how much Rayne might want me to.
When Rayne strides back into the cave, my gaze snaps to him. He stands in the doorway, radiating that regal energy he always seems to radiate, even in a different body. But then, Rayne has never had anyone look down on him. Not anywhere. Being the only son from a powerful family, he was treated like a prince among our people. Meeting him at the academy was like meeting a celebrity in real life. Realizing he was my mate was like winning the lottery.
Yet, it surprises me a bit that even here, far from our home and people, he still enters every room, or in this case, cave, like he owns it. It's sexy in a way, but also stressful, because there's no way the shadow beasts are going to appreciate his confidence.
And when Dusk's eyes open and he sees Rayne at the entrance to the cave, I know I'm right. Dusk's eyes narrow and he huffs out a breath, winces for his trouble, and then huffs another. It's like the man can assert his alpha presence with a huff alone, which is oddly impressive. Each movement he makes, even the way he glares at Rayne, screams thatno one is tougher than Dusk. That’s the message he’s trying to convey anyway.
After a moment, Rayne shoots him a glare right back. He crosses his big arms in front of his chest, stretching the brown leather clothes he wears. My gaze moves over him, and then up, realizing for the first time that his light brown hair is wet.He must have taken a bath in the river.Somehow, it's hard to imagine Rayne bathing in a river.
"So, where dowesleep?" he asks, and I know his question is directed at me, but his words are meant to be a blow to the shadow beasts.
And they are.
Dusk scoffs. They don’t exchange any more words. Mostly it’s posturing—a series of grunts and angry stares.
Finally, I break the awkward silence. "There are bed rolls over there if you want to grab one and put it by the fire."
