Page 36

“ I did most of the work. All you have to do is get the device.”

Tyler’s words flash across my mind as I make my way toward the main building. It might have the device I am supposed to steal, but I still have to get into the commander’s office, find the safe, and break into it.

Apparently only those with Shadow DNA can enter his office. Something Tyler and the two parentals that raised the old Sena do not have.

Luckily, I have the night on my side and the darkness to cover me.

I make it to his office without anyone stopping me. Or so I thought.

Sloane walks towards me, her eyes on the file in her hand. Before I get a chance to turn around or find a place to hide, she looks up and spots me. “Sena. What are you doing here?”

I glance around trying to think of something and say the first thing that pops into my mind. “I was supposed to meet one of the girls downstairs, but she went to the toilet and never came back.” I force a frown. “I was just looking for her.”

Sloane mimics my frown. “Who is it? Let me help you look for her.”

“It’s Robin,” I tell her, knowing Robin is already tucked up in bed by now, having met her on the way over here.

Sloane glancing down the hall. “I?—”

“I’ll take that way,” I quickly tell her before faking a fearful glance down the other. “There were a few male Shadows I’m not familiar with down that way.”

“Of course.” She reaches out and pats my hand. “Don’t worry. I’m sure she’s fine.”

I smile and nod to her and wait until she turns the corner before heading down the hall and straight for the commander’s office. I reach for the handle, hoping by some string of luck it’s open. And as soon as my hand touches the handle and keypad, it clicks and opens.

I guess luck really is on my side tonight.

Glancing up and down the hall, I make sure no one is around before heading inside.

I look around trying to find a safe. But there’s no missing it. It’s smack dab in the center of the left wall. I don’t know how I missed it last time I was here. But I guess I wasn’t really looking for it either. I just wanted to get the hell away from Talos.

I move toward it and raise my hand like I did the door. But after a minute of standing there and nothing happening, I realize that isn’t going to work a second time.

Narrowing my eyes on it, I run my hand along it and try to figure something else out to open it when the safe opens with a pop. But not before shooting out sharp daggers from somewhere in the wall beside it.

My shadowy shield bursts out of me, almost instinctually and blocks every one of them.

With a sigh of relief, I grab the only small rectangular gray device inside, close the safe and get out of there as fast as I can.

I make it outside to the start of the forest before I glance back to see if I’ve been followed. And relax when I spot no one behind me.

I turn back when a hand yanks me to the side and grabs the device from my grip.

Finally realizing it is Tyler, I shove him back and step away from him.

He chuckles as he stares from the device to me. “Good job, sis.”

“Fuck off. Take the device with you and don’t ever come near me again,” I warn him.

“You got it.” He turns to leave but then stops and turns back around to me with a savage grin. “Just one more thing.” Reaching into his pocket, he takes his phone out and presses something. Seconds later, a loud, blaring alarm goes off.

Fear slams into me, nearly freezing me to the spot. “What did you do?” I ask as dozens of male Shadows rush out from every direction.

I turn to head into the forest when a splash of water hits me. Wiping it from my eyes, I find Tyler shaking the little bottle of sparkling water in his hand before slamming it down and smashing it in front of me.

“No more hiding, sis. It’s time they see the real you.” He chuckles, backing away as pain slices down my back, making me gasp.

I drop to my knees as he disappears, cursing him to hell and back.

“There’s something over here,” a male voice shouts, heading in my direction.

I try to move, but my wings have decided to make a slow, painful exit this time, making it impossible to do anything but wait.

“SENA!” Theon shouts from somewhere behind me.

Shit. I must have dropped my barriers to them.

I try to stop them, to create a barrier around me or just move. But nothing works. Nothing, because I’m panicking as I hear everyone move closer and closer.

I hear the rustle of footsteps around me just as my wings pop out and open wide. And this time they don’t just slice long slits in my tops, they shred it, along with my bra.

“Sen…” Knox whispers.

“What the fuck?!” Malakai says.

Wrapping my arms around my chest, I stare at the ground, not able to look at any of them, knowing I’m nothing but the enemy now.

One they more than likely hate.

I jolt as a dark shadow crosses my vision. A large jacket slides over the front of me, covering me, and I glance up finding Theon’s gaze on me. But I quickly avert my eyes, not wanting to see the hate in his.

“Look the fuck away. Now ,” Malakai grits out from somewhere beside me.

Someone helps me to my feet, and I spot the tattoo on his arm and figure out it’s Knox.

“Sena…” he starts, but someone clears their throat.

“Please come to my office, Sena,” Commander Talos’ voice calls out. “It seems we have much to discuss.”

Shit. He’s going to find out about the device now too.

Keeping the jacket backward, I slide my arms into the sleeves and keep my eyes down as I make my way back toward the main building and office.

From the corner of my eyes, I spot Malakai and Theon on one side of me with Knox and Cyrus on the other.

The rest of the Shadows follow us but keep a wide berth from the angry four beside me.

We step into the office, and I wait for the shouts or accusations to start but nothing comes.

“You four wait outside,” Talos orders making the four of them freeze. I spot clenched fists and tense bodies.

“Sir—” Malakai starts. I glance up to find Talos giving him a sharp look. One that makes them turn to me before leaving.

Talos opens his mouth to say something when a portal opens inside the room and an older man around the same age as Talos steps through with Dakson by his side. Dakson’s eyes widen when he spots me and my wings.

Talos grows stiff, his eyes narrowed with instant animosity toward whoever this man is.

“Levington. What are you doing here?” Talos bites out.

Levington’s brown eyes flicker to me and soften before looking back at Talos with nothing but hostility.

“We got a call that one of our own accidentally ended up here. I’m here to rectify that,” he says.

“May I enquire who told you this?” Talos snarls.

Levington smiles. It’s not a nice smile and probably one as vicious as many others I’ve come across. But there’s something in his eyes. Something soft and protective that almost makes me want to trust him.

“I’ll keep that information to myself for now,” he replies.

“Of course you would,” Talos grits out.

“Sena?”

I jolt, realizing they’re talking to me, and glance up at Talos. He smiles at me probably trying to come across as pleasant in some way, but it comes out all wrong and fake. “Can you explain?”

I glance down at my hands. “I didn’t know…” I swallow hard. “I didn’t know about the wings. They just... popped out,” I tell them while keeping the tidbit of my fake brother throwing some sparkly water on me to reveal them to myself.

I catch Levington frown. “We haven’t had a female Alita since before the war. It’s possible she had some recessive gene that awakened with her bond.”

“If that’s the case, there could be others,” Talos says with a far-off look.

Lexington’s eyes flicker to his and narrow. “Sena? Dakson will show you how to retract your wings. I’d like to discuss something with the… commander if you wouldn’t mind taking it to the other side of the room.”

Dakson tilts his head in the direction we should go while watching the commander and Levington with a worried look.

Once we’re on the other side of the room and Levington and Talos are attempting to be civil, Dakson focuses on me, giving me a questioning look.

“Sena…”

“Just show me how to make them go away…” I glance at him. “ Please .” I don’t want to talk or think about anything else. And he must see that on my face as he sighs but nods.

“Try and relax first,” he says.

I narrow my eyes on him, and he smiles. “Close your eyes, drown everything around you out.”

“Easy for you to say,” I huff. “You didn’t just pop out wings in front of everyone.”

“I was seven when mine came in. Right in the middle of my first kiss. She was human too and had never met a Shadow before.” He squints. “I think I may have scarred her for life.”

I frown. “Why would you think?—”

“Can you imagine it? Black wings appearing from nowhere. Me growling out in pain…” He shakes his head with a small smile. I guess he wasn’t too hurt by it. “She probably thought I was a demon or death.”

I smile, and he glances at me, his eyes softening. “Close your eyes. Breathe.”

Realizing what he’s done, I give him a grateful look before closing my eyes and try to block out everything. My mates and their anger. My fears and worries. Talos and Lexington’s harsh murmurs and instead focus on each breathe.

In. Out. In. Out.

The thump, thump of my heart slows down and everything starts to fade away.

“Now imagine your wings slowly drawing back into to the center of you,” Dakson whispers. “Imagine them disappearing completely.”

I focus, and after a minute, I start feeling a tug, but it disappears as soon as it came.

“Good,” he says, and I open my eyes and glance over my shoulder, my eyes widening when I see they’ve disappeared.

“That’s it?” I ask, feeling shocked that it was as simple as that.

Dakson smiles at me. “Keep practicing, and it will get easier and easier.”

“But if you can retract them so easily then why did you all have them out in the War Camps?” I ask.

His smile turns mischievous. “To show the other Shadows just how lacking they are without pretty wings.”

I wince, and he chuckles. I guess their hearing isn’t so bad either.

“It’s settled,” Levington says, gaining our attention. “Sena will stay here until the war games are over and then come to our academy.”

Levington glares at Talos. “Her mates will also join her.”

My stomach drops and twists as Levington and Dakson leave, both sending me small smiles that I guess are supposed to assure me everything will be okay. But not an ounce of my body feels it.

“Go to your mates,” the commander orders, no longer faking any more kindness. I glance over at him to find him as stiff as a board, his eyes filled with nothing but rage. “I doubt they will find moving to their enemy’s territory something enjoyable.”

I make my way out of the office as guilt seeps through me with his words, nearly consuming me whole.