Page 35 of Academy of the Wicked: Year Three

I study his face, my small hands coming up to press against his cheeks. The skin is cool beneath my palms, familiar even in this strange form.

"But... you'll leave." The words emerge small, broken by certainty built from too many examples. "Everyone leaves me."

His smile transforms his face. Not the calculated expressions I'm used to, not the careful control of a Duskwalker prince. This is genuine in a way that makes my eyes widen with wonder.

"You're mine, Little Mouse."His voice carries absolute certainty and power."That bond mark is a reminder of that. I won't leave you. Even if it means facing death."

I frown, reality intruding on the comfort of his words.

"But the others aren't here."

"They're somewhere," he assures me, his voice calmer now. "They won't leave you either."

He pauses, mischief entering his expression.

"Even Nikki," he adds with a wink.

I pout in annoyance at the teasing, which draws a chuckle from him.

His shadow tendrils come alive, ruffling my hair with gentle touches, poking at my cheeks until giggles escape despite my attempt at maintaining grumpiness.

The laughter fades as he leans close, pressing a soft kiss to the top of my head. The gesture is protective, paternal in a way that makes me wonder if this is what having a father should feel like.

It’s an odd thought, but then it also makes me think Cassius would be a good father one day…

Would we have children?

Beings of darkness who will have their futures read and determined before fate can settle it in stone?

"Trust us to get you to the gate," he says softly. "If we're worthy... then you can reward us with the final key. What do you say?"

I consider the offer, this bargain between guardian and guardians.

Trust for keys.

Faith for freedom.

"There they are!"

The voice breaks through our moment. I turn to see them approaching through the strange landscape—Atticus moving with vampire grace despite obvious exhaustion, Zeke's cat-eyes tracking everything, Mortimer scholarly even in crisis, and Nikki...

Nikki who looks at me without fear despite what my realm has done to her.

I look back at Cassius, his earlier words proven true.

They came. Despite everything, they found us.

"See?" he says gently. "Think you can trust us a bit longer?"

I nod slowly, but trust needs more than words.

I lift my hand, smallest finger extended in the universal gesture of childhood promises.

"Promise," I whisper, the single word carrying weight of the goal, the bargain, the hope that maybe this time will be different.

Cassius adjusts his hold, freeing one hand to meet mine.

His pinky seems enormous next to mine, but the connection is perfect.