as I can. Its eyes snap towards me, as if it finally noticed my candlelight. I freeze, mouth open in a silent scream as it crawls towards me. Blood drips from its maw, teeth stained red with it. A low growl rumbles from its throat and I suddenly feel as if I can't breathe. Nausea mingles with my fear when its breath wafts over me – stinking and rank with rotten meat.

Suddenly, a shadow bursts across my vision, coiling around the demon. It takes form; too long limbs, fingers with claws, a head that's too small. I fall, the candle slipping from my hands to roll towards the strange shadow creature. It looks up from the now-dead demon and its head slowly swivels towards me. My heart is in my throat, choking back a scream of fright. It's eyes. Oh, its eyes. Human. Bulging. It smiles at me and the scream finally splits from my throat, shrill and high. With a mouth filled with small, human-like teeth, the creature's smile is too wide. All features are lost to the darkness except its gleaming eyes and bright, white smile.

Shade. Shade. Shade. The word echoes round and round in my mind. I don't know how I know this, but instinctively I do. I scurry backward on my hands and feet, but the creature's grin only broadens. Shade. Shade. Shade.

“Verity,” it says my name.

I reach for the dagger at my waist and brandish it towards the creature.

“Verity.”

A hand wraps around my wrist as my eyes fly open. Thal leans over me, his brilliant eyes locked on mine. He doesn’t bother glancing at the dagger in my hand as he gently pushes it away from his neck. I gasp sharply, realizing that it was only a dream. Only a dream.

Tears leak from my eyes as the fear ebbs and I realize I’m safe. Thal scoops me into his arms and I don’t protest as he silently rocks me. He’s warm, his arms strong like branches that could keep any danger away from me. I choke back my tears, struggling to regain control of my breath.

“Shh,” he hushes me gently. His hand strokes my mussed hair, soothing me. “It was only a dream.”

My mind flashes to Altair as I try to remember a moment like this. But there isn’t one. I push away gently and take a shaky breath. “I saw something. I saw something called a Shade.”

Thal’s eyes widen imperceptibly but then he schools his face. “You’re sure?”

“You know what it is,” I say, brows furrowing.

His arms tighten around me and I realize I’m still cradled in his lap. A blush creeps to my cheeks and I consider slipping out of his arms completely, but he doesn’t seem bothered. I relax in his arms as he mulls over my accusation. “They are dark beings that pose a great threat to us. To the world.”

“But Sadal is defeated,” I trail off, quieting my voice as one of the Fae soldiers grunts in his sleep.

“The old Bloodbane warned us about the Shades,” Thal explains. “They’re trying to get out of the ether and into our realm.”

I bite my lip, fear lancing through me when I picture the frightening creature again. “Does Altair know? Does he have a plan?” The questions spill out of me before I can stop them.

“He’s working on it,” Thal says. He shifts me out of his lap and back onto the ground, curling up beside me. “You should rest.”

I stiffen as Thal drapes an arm over me, content to share my sleeping roll. “What are you doing?” I hiss.

“Sleeping,” he grunts. “Or at least trying to.”

“Go back to your own mat.” I jostle him lightly.

“If I do that, who will wake you from your nightmares before you wake up the whole camp?” He asks. His voice is light, teasing, but I feel a wave of guilt.

“Sorry,” I mumble.

I feel him shift beside me and he eases onto one arm, peering at me. “You know, most women would trip over themselves to sleep with me.”

“Beside you, not with you,” I correct him, laughing softly.

“Doesn’t matter,” he says, his voice low like a rumble in his chest. I swallow hard and meet his green eyes. “Take advantage of it tonight, Verity, I may not offer twice.”

I roll my eyes. “What a privilege.”

“It is for me,” he murmurs. I can’t look away from his gaze, from his eyes that seem to drink me in. He clears his throat, shattering the stillness between us. “Goodnight, Verity.”

“Goodnight,” I mumble, turning my back to him.

I try not to think of his heat washing over me, or his arm draped over my hip, or his fingers that curl only inches away from mine. I close my eyes and I immediately see the Shade in my vision. Fear lances through me and my heart pounds too fast. I open my mouth, breathing harshly. Thal’s fingers play over my hair, tugging lightly and gently. It reminds me of the nights when I had nightmares like this, and my mother did the same. I relax, easing into the sleeping mat. Sleep takes me quickly again and I feel Thal’s fingers threading through my locks all through the night.

Chapter 7

Altair

Pain smarts in my shoulder as I roll over, the first rays of the morning sun hot against my eyelids. I hiss in pain, startled by the guttural sound that escapes me. I open my eyes and see long claws stretched out in front of me. I lunge up, adrenaline rushing through me as I stare wide-eyed at the paws in front of me. My paws.

The bed frame creaks under the enormous weight of my body in my beastly form. I crawl off of it, tucking my wings close to my body so they don’t jostle the posts and canopy that keep out the frigid night air. Quietly, I pad across the room and swat the window open. Cool morning air rushes in with the first hints of Fall.

I catch sight of myself

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