10. Frankie

Chapter 10

Frankie

One Week Later…

The shadows dance at the edge of my vision as I drive across the bridge to Shadow Locke University. My knuckles whiten on the steering wheel as a chill runs down my spine that has nothing to do with the winter cold. It’s move-in day for the spring semester, and the weight of everything I’ve learned in the past six weeks presses down on me.

“Alright, so one more time,” I say, glancing at Tori in the passenger seat. “Anyone can and will try to kill me.”

See, that is the only thing getting to me—well, among a thousand other things, but that’s the one I’m hung up on. It also explains the hostility from the terrible two. Just thinking about them makes my scars ache.

“Yep.” Tori shifts in her seat and turns toward me. Her blue eyes seem to glow with the winter light, and she practically bounces with excitement at getting back on campus.

I, however, have a few hang-ups—four to be exact.

Tori purposely left her phone at the house during our spa retreat, and Andy and Abbi gave zero fucks about talking to the guys. In fact, after a few tries of them calling and Abbi laughing like a lunatic into the phone, they gave up.

Honestly, I had no idea just how unhinged Tori’s mom is, and I secretly love her for it.

“But why?” I press, even though we’ve been over this a thousand times.

“Think of it as a cat fight. All the girls are fighting for guys to add to their pack, and all the men are fighting to get noticed. Now that you’re in the know, you should look at the rugby games with a new lens.” She mimes wearing sunglasses with a toothy smile.

“It’s just so hostile.” I frown, because the words feel weird, even to me.

I’ve always been a hothead. I go from zero to a hundred really fast and crash even faster, but knowing that an entire university is alright with murder seems, well, disturbing. Maybe I can use that to my advantage though—set up some decoy traps or create a network of allies and keep them guessing.

“If it helps, no one has actually killed anyone in over a decade.” She sighs wistfully. “Mostly because of the population decline.”

That’s another thing she explained. The shadow realm is dying, and no one seems to know why. That disturbs me just as much as anything else.

How can an entire realm just die, and what does that look like?

Apparently, I’ll get a whole new schedule now, one that will teach me how to move easily through the veil, which is something I haven’t even attempted to do.

A part of me is excited to return to the only place that ever felt like home, and as I see the snow sprinkled spires, my excitement bubbles over. I’ll never get tired of the first look at the college.

“Okay, so here’s the deal with shadow realm classes,” Tori explains. “You know how you step into a puddle, and sometimes it’s way deeper than you thought?”

I nod, confused.

“Well, it’s kind of like that. You step into your own shadow, and suddenly, you’re somewhere else entirely. It’s trippy as hell the first few times, and some people get shadow sick, like motion sickness but weirder.” She grins at my bewildered expression. “Don’t worry, I’ll be right there with you. Just don’t let go of my hand, or you might end up lost in the shadows, and trust me, that’s not a fun place to be.”

I really don’t know about that, but okay…

“Ready?” I ask Tori as I pull into the student parking lot.

“Yes,” she says, unbuckling her seatbelt, her hand on the door as she patiently waits to open it. “Office first, since we have to get our keys, then get to the room, and I’m starving.” She groans, rubbing her stomach.

“You’re always hungry.” Something I learned about Tori over the last six weeks is that she is practically a bottomless pit. I swear she’s always consuming something, and she has hidden food stashes in my Jeep now as well.

“I am.” She opens the door as soon as I put my Jeep in park. “Okay, so there are usually parties the first night back, and I really think we should hit up at least one, or we have our own cove party.”

I slowly get out of the Jeep and flip my seat forward to grab our bags. “I’ve never thrown a party.”

“You’re right, we should save that for the spring solstice! I think the rugby team is having something tonight.”

My heart dances in my chest, and I look up at her. Licking my lips, I struggle to find words.

Luckily, Tori reads me like a damn book. “They’ll be there.”

My heart hammers even harder in my chest. Trying to appear nonchalant, I grab my backpack and toss it over my shoulder before slamming the door. It’s cold out here and snowing. I had to splurge a little and buy boots because they are calling for one of the worst snowstorms that we’ve seen in the Northeast in over a decade.

Tori comes around with her own backpack and loops her elbow in mine, leading me to the offices. I swallow as I look around at everyone parking and unloading, some students with keys in their hands and others just pulling in.

“So…” I clear my throat, because asking about packs is still new to me. “Do you have your eyes on anyone for a pack?”

Tori snorts. “No.” She sounds sour. “Honestly, I’m super thankful things didn’t work out with Bishop. Could you imagine what it would be like to have someone in your pack who doesn’t want to be with you?” She shudders as she speaks.

“Well, I have no idea if things will even work out with us,” I say as we step on the path to head inside.

“Have you decided on forgiveness?” she asks. It’s been a conversation we’ve had at least a thousand times, and I still don’t know the answer to that question. On one hand, I want more than anything to forgive, forget, and move on just to put everything behind me so I don’t have to deal with it or talk about it.

On the other hand, I’m not so sure. I need to work through things with each of the guys, and even then, I don’t know. Shrugging, I answer, “I just discovered that I’m not alone in the world and there are others like me, and to immediately jump in and look for a pack seems…”

“Like a terrible idea,” she finishes for me. “I get it, but just remember, having a few guys looking out for you isn’t a bad thing, you know.”

“I’ve always only had myself,” I whisper, the admission more painful than I’d like.

Just then, right in front of me, a student emerges from the shadow of the tower dorm, and I gasp, wide-eyed, as he looks my way and winks. The shadows seem to cling to him like an aura, making his presence almost surreal. It’s like watching a magic trick, except the magic is real and potentially deadly.

Tori laughs and tugs me toward the double doors that lead inside. “You’ll get used to it.”

“How did you all know?” I question, still shaken.

“We get an email,” she answers.

“An email?” I repeat incredulously. What, do they have a shadow shifter Listserv or something?

“Yeah, with a list of students who have crossed the veil and others who haven’t.” She pauses just inside the door and tugs me to the side while taking off her knit hat, her hair staticky and crackling. “There are laws that no one really understands, but we can’t just outright tell someone that the shadows lead to another world. It’s just not done.”

“I get it, you’ve said this.” I drag my nails down my face, scoring my skin. The dull pain grounds me a bit. “It still doesn’t make it any less shocking.”

“Let’s get our room keys. Mama is hungry.” Her stomach gurgles obnoxiously, and I can’t help but chuckle at the sound.

As we step into the student affairs office, my stomach bottoms out, and my skin comes alive with a strange energy. Dorian is behind the counter, and he looks just as bored with the student in front of him as he did the very first time I met him in here. The sterile scent of the office mingles with the faint hint of cologne.

As the door opens and the hinges squeal, he looks up at me, his eyes running the length of my body. I swear I feel a slight touch everywhere his eyes fall, a ghostly caress that leaves my skin tingling.

“Mm-hmm,” Tori hums and heads to the line with another student working behind the counter, leaving me to enter Dorian’s line. “Go get ‘em, tiger.”

I ignore her. Rightfully so.

As he works with another student, I have the chance to look at him, though I wait until he looks away. His hair falls over his forehead, and the sharpness of his jawline catches the light in a way that makes him seem otherworldly. His eyes, a deep foggy blue, glimmer with a hint of amusement as he deals with the student in front of him. There’s an air of indifference about him, as if he’s seen it all and nothing can surprise him anymore, but I know better.

I know the man behind the mask, the one who saved me when it mattered most. It’s a debt I can’t ignore, no matter how much I want to keep my distance.

It’s like we are bound by a string, and no matter where I go, I’ll always find him at the edge of my periphery—not necessarily watching and protecting me like Matteo, but almost as though he, too, can’t help himself, and he has no idea why.

I secretly love that he can’t help but steal little glances at me as he has the student in front of him sign here and there, but then I recall the moment he lifted me, blood coating my torso and his ruined shirt.

My heart clenches as I remember the chaos and fear, and then his hand reaching out, pulling me back from the brink. It’s a memory that haunts me, making it impossible for me to view him as just another student.

He will always be so much more than just another student to me, but I’ll never tell him. Not now, at least.

He shifts slightly, and our eyes meet for a brief moment. There’s a flicker of recognition, a silent acknowledgment of the bond that neither of us can deny. I quickly look away, my cheeks burning with a mix of embarrassment and something else I can’t quite name. This power he has over me is infuriating, a magnetic force that draws me in despite my better judgment.

As I step closer to the counter, I steal another glance at him. His lips curl into a half smile, a knowing look that makes my pulse quicken. Damn him. He knows exactly what he’s doing and the effect he has on me. He’s enjoying it. His arrogance should make me want to punch him, but instead, it only deepens the inexplicable attraction I feel.

I swallow hard, trying to steady my breath as I finally reach the front of the line. Dorian’s eyes lock on mine, and for a moment, the world around us fades away. It’s just the two of us, caught in this intricate dance of push and pull of enemies turned reluctant allies.

“Frankie,” Dorian says, his voice low and smooth. Something in his tone makes my stomach do a little flip, and I hate myself for it. I swallow hard, forcing my face into what I hope is a neutral expression.

“Dorian.” My voice comes out steadier than I feel, thank God. Part of me wants to deck him, while another part… Well, let’s not go there.

His smile widens, and I can see the challenge in his eyes. A part of me wants to verbally spar with him, and maybe before the moment he saved me, I wouldn’t have hesitated, but he also knew about Valerie, and I don’t know how I feel about that yet.

“Looking forward to our lunches again?” he asks, his tone teasing. “I’ve missed our silent debates.”

I resist the urge to snort. Our lunches have been a lot of things, but cordial and friendly they were not.

“Silent debates? Is that what you call them?” I raise an eyebrow, leaning on the counter. “I thought they were more like you trying to pretend I didn’t even exist.”

Why does it feel like something is vastly different between us? Because something is different.

“Is that so?” He chuckles softly, and the sound makes my heart skip a beat. “I seem to recall you enjoying our conversations, especially when I let you talk.”

“Let me talk? Oh please, Dorian. You couldn’t keep up with me even if you tried,” I retort, feeling a thrill at the banter.

“We’ll see about that.” He leans in slightly, his eyes glinting with mischief. “How about lunch? Same time, same place tomorrow?”

Is he asking me out?

“Maybe.” I tilt my head, pretending to consider his offer. “If you promise not to cry when I talk over you.”

Dorian leans closer, his voice dropping to a low, intimate tone. “I assure you, Frankie, I can handle anything you dish out. In fact, I look forward to it.”

I feel heat rising to my cheeks but refuse to back down. “Careful what you wish for, Dorian. You might not be ready for what I have in store.”

His eyes darken, a slow smile spreading across his face. “Oh, I think I’m more than ready. The question is, are you?”

That escalated so fast that I don’t know how to answer him. No comes to mind.

“Exactly what I thought.” He grins, his smile almost predatory. “Don’t be too disappointed, I outsmart most.”

“In your dreams.” I laugh, feeling the tension between us crackle with unspoken words. Time to cut it or incinerate it. “Speaking of dreams, how much did you know about Valerie?”

There, it’s out there in the universe. Honestly, it’s something I have to know if I’m ever going to work past everything that happened to me, not just regarding last semester.

His expression shifts, a shadow crossing his features. “More than I wanted to.”

“And you didn’t think to tell me?” I press, lowering my voice. “You all kept it a secret.”

“It wasn’t my place to say,” he replies evenly, but I can see the conflict in his eyes. “But I’m here now, aren’t I?”

“Barely,” I retort, but there’s no heat in my words. There should be, and I’m going to make him spill everything during lunch, which means I’m already imagining that happening.

“You’re stronger than you think, Frankie,” he says softly, his gaze intense. “You don’t need anyone to save you.”

“Except maybe you,” I whisper, the words slipping out before I can stop them.

He blinks, a flash of surprise crossing his face. “Maybe.”

For a moment, something flickers in Dorian’s eyes—a shadow of pain or secrets longing to be revealed. He opens his mouth as if to say more then stops himself, clenching his jaw. I can almost feel the weight of the words he’s holding back.

“Dorian?” I prompt, suddenly concerned. “What is it?”

He shakes his head, his usual mask of calm sliding back into place. “It’s nothing. Just… be careful out there, Frankie. The shadow realm can be more dangerous than you know.”

The student behind me clears their throat, breaking the moment. I grab my keys from the counter, my fingers accidentally brushing against his. The contact sends a jolt of electricity through me, a spark that ignites every nerve ending. For a split second, I swear I see a flicker of shadow dance across Dorian’s skin, his eyes darkening with an intensity that both thrills and terrifies me. I quickly pull back, my heart racing, hoping he didn’t notice my reaction.

“See you at lunch,” he says, his voice a mix of amusement and something deeper.

“Yeah.” I nod, turning to leave. “See you.”

As I walk away, I feel his eyes on me, the weight of his gaze lingering between my shoulder blades as I catch up with Tori at the door. She gives me one look, and I damn well know she can see right through me.

“Shut up,” I tell her as I swing the door open.

“Not saying a word.” She holds her hands up, though we both know that’s a lie. “Except that?—”

I spin around and press a finger to her lips. “Not a word.”

Her laughter bounces around me as she tries to bite my finger.

As we make our way to our dorm room, I can’t shake the feeling that everything has changed, yet nothing has. The eclipse incident has left its mark on the campus—heightened security, whispered rumors, and an undercurrent of tension that wasn’t there before.

There are still so many unanswered questions swirling in my mind, like the true nature of the shadow realm, the reason behind Valerie’s actions, and the full extent of my own powers.

One thing’s for certain, though—I’m not the same Frankie who first stepped onto this campus. I’m stronger now, and whatever comes next, I’ll face it head-on, even if it means navigating the complicated feelings I have for four very different, very infuriating guys.

As we reach our room, I start unpacking, trying to lose myself in the mundane task—fold, stack, repeat. It’s almost meditative until…

A chill runs down my spine, sharp and sudden, and the hair on the back of my neck stands up.

I freeze with a half folded shirt clutched in my hands. I turn slowly toward the corner of the room.

For a split second, I see her. Those eyes, cruel and cold and so familiar it makes me want to scream.

Valerie.

I blink, and she’s gone, but the chill remains, settling deep in my bones.

“Frankie?” Tori’s voice seems to come from far away. “You okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I force a smile, but it feels brittle. “Yeah, just… thought I saw something. It’s nothing.”

As I turn back to my unpacking, my hands shaking slightly, I can’t shake the feeling.

Valerie’s shadow still lingers, and somehow, I know our time is running out.