Page 14 of Hitched to the Shadow Creature (Monster Matchmaking #3)

Alone again, I extinguished the remaining candles with a gesture. For the first time in my life, I wasn't afraid of what lived inside me. I let them merge, feeling a new power flow through my veins.

I had one more night before we faced Umbra. One more night to prepare.

One more night to be with Aya.

The Integration Festival transformed the neutral territory between human colonies and monster lands into a riot of color and sound.

Pavilions representing each tribe stretched across the valley, banners snapping in the breeze.

Humans and monsters mingled, some awkwardly, others with the ease of long association.

I moved through the crowds in my formal attire, shadows carefully controlled to appear more solid, more human.

Aya walked beside me, her hand in mine. She'd dressed in traditional shadow walker ceremonial clothes, flowing black fabric that caught the light in strange ways, making her seem to flicker between worlds.

"There are so many people," she whispered, eyes wide as she took in the gathering. "I've never seen all the tribes together like this."

"It only happens once a year," I replied, guiding her through a dense crowd. "The perfect opportunity for Umbra to showcase his 'successes.'"

Our plan was simple, but dangerous. When Umbra took the stage for the opening ceremony, our allies would step forward with the evidence. I would confront him directly, revealing his corruption before all the tribes.

Throughout the day, I caught glimpses of our allies moving into position. Elder Morokh drifting near the main stage, Lyra and her pack securing the perimeter, the Void Walkers melding with the shadows of the festival tents.

As evening approached, I led Aya toward the central pavilion where the ceremony would begin. The uneasy feeling that had plagued me all day intensified.

"Something's wrong," I murmured, pulling her closer to my side.

Aya's eyes scanned the crowd. "Umbra's guards are everywhere," she noted. "More than usual."

I caught sight of Seris moving urgently toward us through the throng. His usually stoic face was tight with concern.

"We have a problem," he growled when he reached us. "Someone talked. Umbra knows."

My blood ran cold. "How much does he know?"

"Enough to have doubled his security. He's moved the ceremony up by an hour and changed the location." Seris glanced at Aya. "And he's looking specifically for her."

I instinctively stepped in front of Aya, shadows darkening around us. "We need to regroup. Find Elder Morokh and?—"

"There's no time," Seris interrupted. "The ceremony begins in minutes. We need to move now or lose our chance completely."

I felt Aya's hand on my arm. "We can't turn back," she said firmly. "Too many people are counting on us."

She was right, but the thought of her in danger made my shadows writhe.

"Stay with me," I told her. "No matter what happens, do not leave my side."

We followed Seris through the festival, taking circuitous routes to avoid Umbra's guards. The new location for the ceremony was a natural amphitheater at the edge of the festival grounds, more isolated, with fewer escape routes.

When we arrived, the amphitheater was already filling with representatives from each tribe. On stage, Director Umbra stood resplendent in his ceremonial robes, his face a mask of benevolent authority.

"We're too late to change positions," Seris muttered. "I'll signal the others."

He disappeared into the crowd as Aya and I found places at the edge of the gathering.

I scanned for our allies, relieved to see most had adjusted to the change in plans.

Elder Morokh hovered near a cluster of shadow faction representatives.

Lyra and three of her pack positioned themselves at different exits.

The ceremonial horns sounded, and Umbra stepped forward to address the crowd. His voice boomed across the amphitheater.

"Welcome, friends from all tribes and colonies! Today we celebrate another successful year of the Integration Program..."

As he spoke, I felt Aya tense beside me. Following her gaze, I spotted guards quietly positioning themselves around the perimeter.

"We need to move now," I whispered to her. "Before they lock down completely."

She nodded, determination in her eyes. We began edging toward the stage, staying within the shadows cast by the setting sun.

Umbra's speech continued, full of platitudes about harmony and cooperation that now rang hollow to my ears. I signaled to Elder Morokh across the crowd. He nodded almost imperceptibly and began drifting closer to the stage.

We were halfway there when a commotion erupted near the exit. Lyra was being restrained by Umbra's guards, her pack members similarly surrounded.

"A diversion," I realized too late. "It's a trap."

Before I could react, guards materialized from the surrounding crowd. I pulled Aya behind me, letting my human facade drop as shadows exploded from my body in deadly tendrils.

"Run!" I shouted to her as I engaged the first guard, shadows piercing through his defenses.

But more guards were coming from all directions. I fought furiously, shadows lashing out to protect Aya as she tried to break through their circle. The crowd scattered in panic, screams filling the air.

On stage, Umbra's voice cut through the chaos. "Seize the traitors! They plot against the peace we've built!"

I caught glimpses of our other allies engaged in similar battles throughout the amphitheater. Elder Morokh's shadows battled three guards at once. The Void Walkers were disappearing with wounded allies, trying to get them to safety.

A piercing scream cut through my focus. I turned to see Aya being dragged away by two guards, a third pressing something to her neck as a sedative injector.

"Varkolak!" she cried out, struggling against their grip.

Rage like I'd never known surged through me. My shadows exploded outward in a lethal wave, cutting down the guards surrounding me. I lunged toward her, but more guards blocked my path.

Through a gap in the fighting, I saw Umbra himself approaching Aya, a satisfied smile on his face.

"The human who would undo decades of my work," he said loudly enough for me to hear. "How interesting that your blood sample shows such unique properties."

Aya's struggles were weakening as the sedative took effect. Her eyes sought mine across the chaos, wide with fear but still defiant.

One of my shadows reached her, wrapping protectively around her wrist. I felt her pulse through that connection, slowing dangerously.

"Choose, shadow walker," Umbra called to me, his voice carrying over the noise of battle. In his hand, he held up a data crystal, the evidence we'd gathered against him. "Save your human pet or expose your precious conspiracy. You can't do both."

With a gesture, his remaining guards began retreating, taking Aya with them toward waiting transport. Other guards pressed forward against me, preventing pursuit.

At the same moment, Elder Morokh appeared at my side, his form wavering from exertion.

"The stage is clear," he said urgently. "We can still reveal the truth. All the tribal leaders are watching."

I stood frozen between two impossible choices: the woman who had awakened my soul or the justice thousands deserved.

Through our shadow connection, I felt Aya's consciousness fading. The fear that I might lose her forever clawed at my chest.

In that moment, I thought of the ancient carvings, of what Morokh had told me. About embracing both sides of my nature. About being something neither shadow nor human alone could be.

"I choose both," I growled.

With a surge of power I'd never accessed before, I split my consciousness. Half my shadows remained to fight alongside Elder Morokh, carrying the physical evidence toward the stage. The rest of me, my core essence and my most powerful shadows, launched after Aya.

The strain was immediate and devastating. Pain tore through me as I divided my being, stretched between two purposes. But I pushed through it, racing after the transport where they were loading Aya's limp form.

Behind me, I could feel my shadows helping Elder Morokh reach the stage, presenting the evidence to the stunned tribal leaders. Umbra's shouts of denial echoed across the amphitheater.

But my focus was singular now: Aya.

I reached the transport just as its engines fired. With a roar of effort, my shadows wrapped around the vessel's landing gear, holding it in place. Guards fired weapons at me, energy bolts passing harmlessly through my non-corporeal form.

"She belongs with me," I snarled, pulling myself up onto the transport as it struggled against my hold.

Inside, I found Aya strapped to a medical gurney, unconscious but alive. The pilot turned in shock as shadows filled the cabin. I didn't waste time with words. My darkness engulfed him, throwing him off the transport while I took control of the vessel.

As I carefully lifted Aya into my arms, I felt the other part of me succeeding on the stage. Through my divided consciousness, I could hear Umbra's confession as Elder Morokh's shadows forced the truth from him before all the tribal leaders.

The pain of maintaining my divided form was becoming unbearable. Darkness crept into the edges of my vision as I guided the transport back toward the amphitheater.

"Stay with me," I whispered to Aya's unconscious form. "I found a way to choose both."

Her eyes fluttered open briefly, focusing on my face. "I knew you would," she murmured before slipping back into unconsciousness.

As the transport descended toward the now-silent amphitheater, I glimpsed Umbra being restrained by leaders from multiple tribes. Justice and Aya, I had refused to sacrifice either.

The strain of my divided self finally overwhelmed me. As we landed, my shadows collapsed back into my body, and darkness claimed me completely.

The last thing I felt was Aya's hand finding mine as we both fell into the void together.