Page 57 of Shadows Rising

I grit my teeth. “I’m not.”

He gestures toward where Mira is now trailing her nails down Kieran’s forearm. “Uh-huh. And that’s what—performance art?”

My shadows bristle.

Fine. Maybe I’m not fine.

But I’m not jealous.

I just really,reallydon’t like her.

I don’t notice at first when my shadows begin moving. I’m too busy glaring at my tea like it holds the secrets of self-control. They slip away from me, purposeful and silent, not the usual emotional flickering but something withintent.

The hall gradually quiets as people notice.

I’m still contemplating my beverage when Finn makes a strangled sound beside me.

“Oh mygods,” he wheezes, shoulders shaking with laughter. “Kaia, you absolute legend.”

I frown. “What?”

Aspen sits frozen, fork halfway to his mouth, eyes wide. Torric sets his cup down like he’s defusing a bomb. Malrik just sighs and takes another sip of coffee.

“What the hell—” Mira’s voice cuts through the room, sharp with indignation. “Some kind of shadow parade?”

I look up.

Andoh.

Two perfect columns of my shadows are marching through the crowd like they’re on military parade. Bob leads one formation, Linda commands the other, both moving with the grim determination of soldiers on a sacred mission.

They reach Mira before I can process what’s happening.

Without hesitation, they lift her straight off the ground.

Mira lets out an undignifiedsquawk, arms windmilling as shadows hoist her into the air. The entire dining hall falls silent.

She blinks, clearly not comprehending. “Excuse me?!” she sputters, still not taking it seriously. “If you wanted me gone, you could have justasked.”

Finn collapses against me, tears streaming down his face. “This is the greatest moment of my entire life.”

Mira starts struggling in earnest, but my shadows don’t falter. They carry her through the room with perfect coordination, past gaping warriors and stunned onlookers, straight toward the exit. Bob and Linda working in flawless synchronization like they’ve drilled this exact scenario.

Dead silence.

Malrik sets down his cup with deliberate calm. “She should feel honored,” he observes, completely deadpan. “They don’t usually provide personal escort service.”

Torric coughs to hide a laugh. Aspen just drags his hands down his face.

Finn wipes tears from his eyes, still wheezing with laughter. "Survival Tip #4," he manages between gasps. "If Bob disapproves, you're probably about to die or fall in love. Possibly both."

I open my mouth to deny involvement, but Finn beats me to it.

“Your jealousy isshowing, Trouble.”

I glare at him. “I’m not jealous.”

He points toward where Mira is actively cursing out my shadows as they cart her through the doorway. “Right. Total coincidence.”