Page 286 of Shadowman

You’re not a fighter. You’re no Raphael.

“Lem…” my voice calls quietly as I trek deeper into the tombs. “Lemuel…?”

There’s a light in the distance… Noises. Footsteps clomping, hushed voices. No gunfire, but itdoessound like outside is just ahead.

We discovered that the tombs actually lead out of the mansion—like an underground tunnel, orsecret passageway, if you will. But the outside is blocked by a metal gate, and last we checked, it was locked from the outside.

Adrenaline has spiked inside me as I grow closer. Despite the sounds coming right toward me, I don’t stop. Because if I’m going to die down here, may as well get it over with.

Maybe I’ll finally be at peace.

Byron will be sad… Until he finds out I lied to him. And then he’ll be glad I’m dead. He’ll have his friends, his family back, and I’ll no longer be weighing him down with my evil breaths.

I’m the reason he’s turning his back on the people he loves. The way heonce againchose me over them made me so nauseated with myself, I nearly gagged. It should feelgood, having him want me this way… But it doesn’t. Because I didn’t earn it.

I only have him because I’ve lied and manipulated him. Byron isn’t weak; he’s just lonely, and I took advantage of that. I seduced him, dragged him out of the closet and lured him away from his people. And go figure, now he’s attached, whenhewas the one pretending to fight it all along!

It should be the happiest thing ever, because I’m utterlyenamoredby him. But that’s the problem. I can’t stop myself from ruining the things I love…

And I don’t want to be that curse anymore. The storm that smashes him to pieces.

A shadowy figure approaches me in the dark, and my steps slow. My breathing shallows when I see the person lift their arm, the glint of a knife in their hand bringing fear,yes, but also an odd sense of reprieve.

“Just do it,” I whisper, closing my eyes. “Fucking kill me…”

“Trevel??”

My eyes spring open.

“F-Felix…?” I tremble as he steps out of the darkness.

The Carver is here, covered in dirt and mud and… all sorts of black, on his face, his clothes. He looks feral. Like he’s been living in the woods for weeks.

He tucks his knife away in his pants, wandering up to me until we’re inches apart. I swallow hard as his gray eyes hold me in place.

Then he launches himself at me. Not to attack, but to…

He throws his arms around my shoulders, pulling me in tight.

He’s hugging me. The Carver is… hugging me?

What in the bloody hell…??

“Thank you,” he whispers by my ear, squeezing me so tightly I can barely breathe. It feels…nice.

I melt into him, arms slinking around his waist to hug him back because I just need it right now. I’m sick of talking to myself.

I don’t hate you, Felix Darcey. I’m not certain I ever did.

“Thank you so much, Trevel,” he says again with emotion thick in his tone.

“Alright…” I shiver. “For… what?”

He chuckles, letting me go to smile up at my face. “For saving Lemuel.”

My lashes flutter, brows lifted in surprise.

“I mean, I know you also kidnapped us.” He smirks. “But you made it right. That’s all that matters.”