Page 56 of Shadows Rising

Finn drops into his seat with his usual sprawl of limbs. I slide in next to him, forcing myself to focus on tea and normalcy and anything but the way my chest feels like it’s caving in.

Then the roomshifts.

Conversation doesn’t stop, exactly, but it changes pitch. A collective intake of breath, like the hall itself is bracing for impact.

I glance up—and freeze.

Mira glides through the crowd like she owns every inch of stone beneath her feet. Confident. Poised. Making a beeline straight for Kieran.

I don’t react.

Not at first.

Kieran’s eyes find mine for a heartbeat before shifting to the woman approaching him. Something sharp coils in my stomach when she stops beside him, resting her hand on his arm with casual possessiveness.

He barely acknowledges her initially, but when she leans in close, murmuring something meant only for his ears, his mouth curves into a slow smirk.

Something inside mecracks.

I don’t understand the feeling, not entirely. It’s not like I haven’t seen people flirt with him before. We’re bonded by force and circumstance, nothing more.

Except apparently, Idocare.

Mira’s laugh is soft and knowing, her fingers trailing down his forearm. She presses closer, claiming space I didn’t even know I wanted to protect.

Something ugly and possessive sparks in my chest.

Not the bond. Not magic. Something rawer.

Finn’s fork scrapes porcelain as he leans in, voice dropping conspiratorially. “Uh-oh.”

I exhale sharply, forcing my gaze back to my tea. “What?”

His grin is pure delight. “You jealous, Trouble?”

I scoff. “OfMira? Please.”

“Sure.” He props his chin on his hand, watching me like I’m the most entertaining thing he’s seen all week. “So that white-knuckle grip on your cup? That’s just… enthusiasm for breakfast?”

I flex my fingers, realizing I’m moments from shattering ceramic. “I don’t care what Kieran does.”

Finn hums like he’s never heard a bigger lie.

I try to ignore it. Try to ignore the way my shadows are coiling tighter, the way Bob is radiating disapproval toward Kieran and Mira, the way Patricia’s frantic note-taking has turned sharp and aggressive.

I’m fine.

Absolutely fine.

Except when Mira laughs again, her palm pressing flat against Kieran’s chest, I am absolutely, definitively,notfine.

The sharpclinkof my cup hitting the table echoes across our section.

Malrik’s knowing gaze finds mine. Aspen and Torric both tense, attention bouncing between me and the scene unfolding across the room.

Finn just leans closer, voice rich with teasing delight.

“Kaia, darling—” His smirk widens. “You look ready to commit murder.”