Now, of course, because I’m a smart bird, uhhuman,I want to flee. I’m not really in the mood to get my soul sucked to the shadow realm or something equally as terrifying.
I should explain there are nine realms including Seral, the demon realm where Blake lives, Kiru, the shadow realm, and Enes, the human realm where I am now. I won’t talk about the other ones for now, but the shadow realm is a neutral land where everyone’s souls go when they die. It’s a wild and brutal place ruled by the shadow queen, Queen Krosia. Within the realm, there are shadow creatures, some of which can tear apart the living and the dead. Apparently, some of them are formed from lost souls, but others are ancient beings from the land itself. It’s said some of the creatures guard the entrances and exits of the realm, but not much is really known about the shadow realm and the creatures within it.
Another thud sounds from somewhere at the back of the library, and I groan internally.Why, on all nights, did tonight have to be the night I got locked in here?
I figure I have two choices. I can either quickly tuck myself behind the head librarian’s desk and plan to stay there all night, and hope that by some luck I’m not discovered, or I can go and see what’s going on.
I want to choose the first option, really, but someone cries out, and I know I can’t hide. What if someone else got stuck in the library like I did, and I’m cowering while they’re getting murdered? Some might say hiding is the smarter option, but I don’t think I can live with that. Putting on my big girl pants, I force myself to start creeping past the bookshelves toward the back of the room.Please don’t let me regret this.
A rumbling sounds through the library, and I feel the vibration travel across the floor and up through the soles of my boots.Nothing to worry about, Shade. It’s probably just some big, scary shadow monster waiting to swallow you whole.I’m all down for sexy monsters if they want to ravish me, but not so keen when it comes to the ones who want to rip out my soul. Still, I calm myself. Keeping close to the bookshelves, I crouch as I move slowly toward the back of the library, already regretting my life choices. My heart pounds wildly against my ribcage, but I can’t shake the feeling of familiarity that makes me curious.
When I reach the far wall, I’m surprised when everything seems…untouched. At least, I think that until I see the door to the basement has been ripped violently open, leaving the door hanging from its hinges.Great. That’s just great. Of course, the monsters are in the basement.Through the doorway, a stone stairway spirals downward leading to the restricted section of the library. It’s where the most antique books are kept, and I know for a fact that the door is always locked.
Don’t do it, Shade.I want to talk myself out of it and not act like the idiotic main character in a bad horror movie, but that sense of familiarity draws me forward. Subconsciously, I place my hand over the ring on my finger. I tell myself that if I get into trouble, I can make a portal and escape, but I know that’s too risky. If I did that, then a shadow creature could follow me through the portal, and I’d be risking Blake, her mates, and the demon realm. Swallowing the hard lump in my throat, I try not to think about what I’m doing as I slowly creep toward the doorway and start down the stairs, careful not to make a noise.
I’m almost at the bottom of the staircase, when the sound of voices has me halting. Blood pounds in my ears as I peek my head around the last bend, gasping when I spot multiple figures standing with the backdrop of ancient books behind them.
Four abnormally large men surround a smaller guy with wispy, short blond hair and a wild look in his eyes. The smaller man backs up against the bookshelf behind him, pressing himself against the books like he’s hoping a portal will open up and swallow him whole. He looks young, barely eighteen, and going by the way the shit-eating grin melts from his face as the other four corner him, I’m guessing he knows he’s in trouble.
My attention goes to the four other men, and my breath catches in my throat becausedamn, they’re the most beautiful men I’ve ever seen. They’re all tall, possibly near seven feet, with broad muscular bodies, and intricate black tattoos inked onto their skin. Around them, shadows slither and writhe like snakes, curling and twisting, and though the basement is large, it’s like their presence fills the entire room, a dark power leaking from them like it’s impossible to be contained.
They’re not shadow creatures, they’re…they’re…shadow daddies?
I manage to hold in my squeak at the last minute, because I haven’t forgotten the situation I’ve put myself in. I shouldn’tbe here, no matter how attractive the men are. They’re obviously dangerous, and my life expectancy has just lowered considerably.
Still, I find myself studying the man who’s the closest to me. He’s turned to the side, but that doesn’t stop me from admiring him. His dark hair is cropped with the sides shorter than the top of his head, and curling tattoos are visible on his scalp. Dark brows complement his black eyes, and he has a straight nose that leads down to his chiseled jawline. Add to that the defined muscles on his bare forearms, and he is downright delicious-looking dressed in dark leather with a sword at his side.Well, hello shadow daddy one.I grin at the nickname. Even if it weren’t for the shadows pooling in the air around him, the man has serious daddy energy.
The figure next to him is wearing a similar outfit, but he has snow-white hair that’s pulled into a high bun, a sharper jawline, and while he’s still athletic, he’s not quite as muscly as the first guy. There’s something regal about him, and the thick lashes around his striking, turquoise eyes only add to his masculine beauty.Hi shadow daddy two.
I turn my attention to the third man. He’s the largest of the four of them, with broad, muscular shoulders and shaggy brown hair that’s only a shade darker in color than my own. His hands are so big, I swear they’re almost the size of my head, but there’s a softness in the man’s warm brown eyes that adds to the man’s daddy energy.And you would be shadow daddy three.
The last man on the right has identical features to shadow daddy one, and I figure they must be twins. Though, unlike the other guy who has cropped hair, this man’s hair is silky black and long enough that it reaches his shoulders. Despite looking just as beautiful, the lines on this man’s face seem harsher and more prominent as he scowls at the smaller man they’re cornering. I get the feeling shadow daddy four is the mostdangerous of the bunch, though going by the power still rippling in the air, they’re all equally terrifying.Terrifying and achingly, ridiculously beautiful.A spicy scene from one of my favorite why choose books pops into my head, but the image dissolves when one of the guys starts to speak.
Shadow daddy two’s sensual lips curve into a smile that makes my stomach flip. “Come now, Alexander, don’t look so surprised,” he drawls, spinning the blade in his right hand as he stares at the smaller guy who’s still pressed against the bookshelf. “You didn’t really think you’d gotten away with it, did you?”
“You know the rules,” shadow daddy one says casually as he cracks his knuckles. When he speaks, his voice is a husky rasp that makes my body heat.
“Guess you should have made the rules clearer,” the smaller man, who I now know is named Alexander, retorts. A smug smile has climbed back onto his face, but there’s no mistaking the fear in his dull, black eyes. Despite his casual reply, Alexander watches the shadow daddies warily.
Shadow daddy three rubs his temples and lets out a weary sigh. “The rules were clear,” he states simply. I can’t help but think the man looks tired, and he reminds me of a bear who’s ready to curl up and hibernate for the winter. The thought makes me grin again, though I know now isn’t the time to be fantasizing about bear shifters. “From the moment you entered the academy,” he continues with that rumbling voice of his, “you knew returning to the human realm was forbidden. That doing so would result in your expulsion.”
Alexander isn’t smiling now, and neither am I.
Academy?My mind whirls, curiosity making me strain my ears.Are they talking about an academy in the shadow realm?
I want shadow daddy three to explain more, but of course, I have to deal with the scraps of information that I’m given.
“B-but I wasn’t gone long,” Alexander stammers, his confidence slipping and panic beginning to take over his features. “I didn’t think?—”
“No, you didn’t think, did you?” shadow daddy four snarls, and his voice is so cold I actually shiver. I’m glad I’m not in Alexander’s position. These men might be beautiful to look at, but I’m not sure if I’d like being the focus of their attention. Their shadows are constantly moving around them like silent sentinels waiting for their next command.
A shadow moves from shadow daddy four’s hand. Lightning fast, it shoots out like an attacking snake, going for Alexander’s neck and coiling tightly around it. Instinctively, Alexander’s hands fly up, grabbing for the shadow, but while the shadow compresses against his neck, squeezing until his face goes red, Alexander’s fingers pass straight through the shadow like it’s nothing more than a long, thick tendril of smoke.
Alexander’s eyes bulge as the shadow snake tightens. “Please,” he wheezes, but the shadow doesn’t relent.
Shadow daddy four steps closer to him, and his eyes grow so dark there’s no white around them at all. “You made your choice,” Shadow daddy four says simply. There’s a dagger in his hand now, and he uses the tip of the blade to lift the bottom of Alexander’s shirt. “Or have you already forgotten what this mark means?” Inked onto Alexander’s abdomen is an intricate tattoo. There’s a skull sitting alongside a rose with black petals that trail off like they’re turning into smoke…or shadows.
Suddenly, I can’t breathe, because I’veseenthat tattoo before. In the goddamn mirror. Though, unlike Alexander, mine’s placed on my back. Mine also has a strange scar that slashes through it, but aside from that, it’s exactly the same. Blake and I had spent days researching what it could be from, but when we’d found nothing, we’d come to the conclusion it was simply a tattoo I probably had inked on me as a human. Now…well, now I’m not so sure.Have you forgotten what this mark means?The question repeats in my mind and sweat breaks out over my skin.
