44. Frankie

Chapter 44

Frankie

The beeping machines are driving me crazy. Each sound reminds me how close I came to losing the brother I just found. I sit by Finn’s bedside, my newfound brother still recovering from years of suspended animation. The sterile smell of disinfectant mingles with the metallic tang of magic that seems to cling to everything in Shadow Locke.

Finn’s eyes flutter open, focusing on me with a mix of wonder and uncertainty that mirrors my own tumultuous emotions.

I’m not sure I’ll ever get over the difference in our eyes.

Mine hold shadows, and his hold light.

“Hey there,” I say softly, reaching out to squeeze his hand. His skin is cool to the touch, as if his body is still remembering how to be alive. “How are you feeling?”

Finn tries to smile. It’s weak, but I catch a hint of the troublemaker he must have been. “Like I’ve been asleep for a century and run over by a truck, so better than yesterday.”

I can’t help but chuckle, marveling at how his sense of humor mirrors my own. It’s weird seeing bits of myself in him—same, but different, like we’re puzzle pieces that don’t quite fit anymore. “Well, you’re not far off. Blackwood had you in stasis for years.”

At the mention of Blackwood’s name, Finn’s expression darkens, shadows gathering in the hollows of his cheeks. The monitors beside his bed beep a little faster, as if his body remembers a terror his mind is still processing.

“He... He told me things, Frankie, about us, about our family. I’m not sure how much of it was true, but...”

I lean in, my heart racing to match the accelerated beeping, forgetting about everything else. Right now, it’s just me and Finn. “What did he say?”

Finn takes a deep breath, his chest rising and falling like he’s preparing to dive into deep, dark waters. “He said our parents were from different realms. Our mother was a light shifter, and our father was a shadow beast. That’s why we’re... different.”

The truth hits me like a sucker punch. I can’t breathe for a second. I think back to those eredar beasts and how weirdly connected I felt to them. Holy crap, it all makes sense now. It’s like someone just flipped a switch in my brain. Suddenly, a part of me I never knew was there wakes up.

The truth lands like a physical blow, reshaping my understanding of who and what I am.

“That’s why Blackwood wanted us,” I whisper, the pieces falling into place with a terrible clarity. “We’re living bridges between the realms.”

Finn nods, his eyes filled with a mix of fear and awe that I’m sure is mirrored in my own. “He said we have the potential to reshape reality. That’s why he kept me hidden and manipulated your life through Valerie. He was grooming us to be his weapons by injecting you with my light and me with your shadows.”

This new info weighs on us. It’s suffocating, like we can’t escape it no matter how much we want to. I think of all the pain and struggles that have led to this moment and feel a surge of anger toward the people who treated us like pawns in their cosmic game. It burns in my chest, a fire that threatens to consume everything in its path.

I have to rub the ache in my breastbone. It doesn’t help.

“Well, he failed,” I state firmly, squeezing Finn’s hand with a ferocity that surprises us both. “They don’t get to control us anymore. We make our own choices now, yeah?”

Freedom comes with its own weight, a responsibility I’m not sure I’m ready for.

A knock at the door interrupts our conversation, the sound jarring in the hushed atmosphere of the medical wing. Leo pokes his head in, his usual grin tempered by concern. The sight of him—solid, real, and untouched by the madness of our newfound heritage—is like a breath of fresh air.

“Hey, sorry to interrupt,” he says, glancing between Finn and me, searching for signs of distress. “The council’s representatives are here. They want to talk to both of you.”

I sigh, the reality of our situation crashing back like a bucket of ice water. The world beyond this room won’t wait for us to process our shattered identities. “Alright, send them in.”

When Leo’s gone, I look at Finn. “Are you good to do this? I can tell them to take a hike if you need a break.”

Finn shakes his head, already pushing himself up with a determination that makes my heart swell with pride. “No, I want to be here with you. I can’t explain it, I just don’t want you to go.”

His words warm my heart, chasing away some of the chill left by our revelations. “Right. Together.”

As the door opens again, I feel Finn’s grip on my hand tighten. Two figures enter, walking in like they own the place. The room suddenly feels smaller. The first is a tall, slender woman with silver hair that seems to shimmer with its own light. Her companion is a broad-shouldered man whose skin is so dark it appears to absorb the fluorescent glare of the hospital lights.

“Frankie and Finn Vale,” the woman says, her voice melodious yet firm. “I am Councilor Aria, and this is Councilor Dante. We represent the interests of both the light and shadow realms.”

I frown, suspicion creeping in. “How did you know to come here so quickly?”

Aria’s lips quirk in a humorless smile. “We’ve been monitoring Shadow Locke for some time. The power surge from your confrontation with Blackwood set off every alarm we have. It was... impossible to ignore.”

Their titles make my skin crawl, and they stare at us like we’re lab specimens. I can practically feel their eyes judging every move. This is way above my pay grade.

“We understand you recently learned of your... unique heritage,” Councilor Dante rumbles, his deep voice seeming to resonate in my bones.

Finn shifts beside me, his discomfort palpable. “You mean the fact that we’re some kind of hybrid abominations?” he says, a hint of bitterness in his voice.

Aria’s expression softens slightly. “Not abominations,” she says gently. “Miracles. The union of light and shadow is something that hasn’t occurred in millennia. Your existence changes everything.”

Her words piss me off. Who does she think she is? “We’re not miracles or weapons or pawns,” I say firmly. “We’re people, and we’ve been through hell because of the games you’ve all been playing.”

Dante nods, his dark eyes gleaming with something that might be respect. “We understand your frustration, Frankie, but you must understand the magnitude of what you and your brother represent. The balance between our realms has been deteriorating for centuries. Your birth is a sign of hope. I am one of the last light shifters.” His eyes flick to Finn, and a fierce protectiveness burns through me.

Finn’s grip tightens on my hand. “Hope for who?” he asks, his voice hoarse. “Because from where I’m sitting, all this has brought us is pain and manipulation.”

Aria steps closer, her silver hair seeming to glow in the harsh hospital lighting. “For everyone,” she says softly. “Light and shadow are not meant to be separate. They are two halves of a whole, like day and night. Your existence proves that unity.”

I feel a surge of conflicting emotions at Aria’s words. Part of me wants to believe in this grand destiny, this idea that Finn and I could somehow heal the rift between realms, but another part, the part that’s been hurt and betrayed too many times, recoils from the weight of such expectations.

“That’s a lot to put on two people who just found out about all this,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “We’re still trying to figure out who we are, let alone what we might mean for your worlds.”

Dante nods, his expression grave. “We understand, but time is not on our side. The deterioration between realms is accelerating. We’re already seeing increased incursions of shadow beasts in the human world and light creatures fading from existence.”

Finn stirs beside me, his face pale but determined. “What exactly are you asking of us?”

Aria and Dante exchange a look, and I feel my stomach clench with apprehension.

“We believe,” Aria says slowly, her luminous eyes darkening with concern, “that you two have the potential to restore the balance and heal the divide between light and shadow, but to do so, you’ll need to learn to harness your unique abilities, and that will require intensive training in both realms.”

She waves her hand, and a shimmering image appears in the air between us. It shows two realms, light and shadow, slowly drifting apart. As we watch, cracks appear along the divide, dark tendrils seeping through.

“This is happening as we speak,” Dante adds grimly. “The barrier between realms is weakening. If it collapses entirely, both worlds could be destroyed. We estimate we have months, maybe a year at most, before the damage becomes irreversible.”

My heart sinks at her words. Just when Finn and I are finally reunited, they want to separate us again.

“No,” I say firmly, standing up. “We’ve been apart for too long already. Whatever training you have in mind, we’ll do it together or not at all.”

Dante’s expression darkens. “You don’t understand the urgency of the situation. The longer we wait?—”

“The longer you wait, the more time we have to actually process everything that’s happened,” Finn interrupts, his voice stronger than I’ve heard it since he woke up. “We’re not your weapons or your miracles. We’re people who have been lied to and manipulated our entire lives. If you want our help, you need to give us time and space to decide for ourselves.”

Pride swells in my chest at Finn’s words. Despite everything he’s been through, he’s standing his ground. I squeeze his hand in silent support.

Aria sighs, her luminous eyes filled with a mixture of frustration and understanding. “Very well,” she says after a moment. “We can’t force you, but please understand, the fate of both realms may rest on your shoulders. We’ll give you time, but not unlimited time. The balance grows more precarious by the day.”

“As you wish, however, you will both need to form your packs and bond,” Dante adds, his tone leaving no room for argument. “This is not negotiable. We will be in touch.” With a nod to each of us, the two councilors turn and exit the room, leaving heavy silence in their wake.

As soon as the door closes, I slump back into my chair, suddenly exhausted. Finn lets out a long breath, his hand still gripping mine tightly.

“Well,” he says with a weak attempt at humor, “that was intense.”

I can’t help but laugh, the sound tinged with hysteria. “Yeah, you could say that. ‘Hey, kids! Congrats on finding each other after years of manipulation and trauma. Now go save the universe!’ No pressure or anything.”

Finn chuckles then winces slightly. “Ow. Don’t make me laugh, it hurts.”

I immediately sober, concern flooding through me. “Sorry. How are you feeling?”

He’s quiet for a moment, his eyes distant. “Physically? Like I’ve been put through a meat grinder. But emotionally? I’m... I don’t even know. Overwhelmed, I guess. It’s a lot to take in.” He pauses, his brow furrowing. “What do you think we should do?”

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “Honestly? I have no idea. Part of me wants to tell them all to go to hell and just... I don’t know, run away somewhere. Start over.” I look at Finn, seeing my own uncertainty mirrored in his eyes. “But another part... I can’t shake the feeling that they are right about the urgency. I’ve seen the shadow beasts, Finn. They are getting bolder and more dangerous.”

Finn nods slowly. “And if what Blackwood said is true, about us being able to reshape reality, that’s not something we can just ignore, is it?”

“No,” I admit reluctantly. “I guess it isn’t.”

We sit in silence for a moment, the weight of our newfound responsibility settling over us like a heavy cloak, then Finn speaks again, his voice soft but determined.

“Whatever we decide, we’ll do it together,” he says firmly. “You and me, sis.”

Sis.

I feel a surge of warmth in my chest, a fierce love for the brother I only just found. “Okay,” I whisper, squeezing his hand. “Always.”

Just then, the door opens again, and Leo pokes his head in. “Hey,” he says, his eyes darting between us. “Everything okay in here?”

I manage a small smile. “As okay as it can be when you were just told you might be responsible for saving multiple realms,” I reply, trying to inject some humor into my voice.

Leo grimaces sympathetically. “Yeah, I caught the tail end of that conversation. Heavy stuff.” He steps fully into the room, closing the door behind him. “Listen, I know it’s not my place, but whatever you two decide, you have people in your corner. Me, the pack, we’re here for you.”

His words bring a lump to my throat. After years of feeling alone, of never quite fitting in anywhere, the idea of having a support system, a family, is almost overwhelming.

Finn looks at Leo curiously. “Pack?” he asks, glancing between us.

I realize with a start that in all the chaos, I haven’t had a chance to explain everything to Finn. “Right, sorry. Leo’s part of my pack—we’re shadow shifters. Well, I guess I’m not exactly a typical shadow shifter, but...”

“But you’re our alpha,” Leo finishes firmly. “Hybrid or not.”

Finn’s eyebrows shoot up. “Alpha? Wow, sis, you’ve been busy while I was out.”

I feel a blush creeping up my neck. “It’s a long story. I’ll fill you in on everything, I promise.”

Leo clears his throat, his hand briefly touching my shoulder. The warmth of his skin sends a familiar tingle down my spine. “Speaking of packs... Frankie, the others are getting antsy. They want to know what’s going on, if you’re okay, and... well, they are curious about Finn.”

I lean into his touch, just for a moment, drawing strength from his presence. “Thanks, Leo. I don’t know what I’d do without you guys.”

His eyes soften, and I catch a glimpse of the depth of emotion there before he masks it with his usual grin. “Crash and burn, probably, but hey, that’s what we’re here for, right?”

I look at my brother, nibbling my cheek.

Finn’s lips quirk into a mischievous grin, a spark of life returning to his eyes. “Well, I guess I should meet this pack of yours and make sure they are worthy males.” He raises a brow, his tone light but with an undercurrent of protectiveness. “I have some brotherly moments to make up for. Plus, I need to know who to threaten if they hurt my little sister.”

I snort, rolling my eyes. “Little sister? You’re like, what, two minutes older?”

“Two minutes is two minutes,” he retorts, his grin widening. “I’m clearly the wise, mature one here.”

My heart squeezes in my chest.

This right here is what I’ve been missing my whole life.

“Send them in,” he tells Leo who bounces from foot to foot.

Leo grabs the doorknob and lets it swing open. Matteo is the first one through, then Tori rushes me, nearly knocking me over as she launches herself at me.

“I thought you were dead! What’s this about light and dark and oh my gods, you have a cut! Are you okay? You have to be okay and and…” She trails off.

Laughing, I drag her off me. “Tori, I’m alright.”

She nearly sags with relief.

Behind her, I just catch Bishop walking in with flowers that he sets aside.

“This is Finn. My brother.”

Tori’s eyes widen comically as she whips her head between Finn and me. “Brother? You have a brother? Since when?”

“Since birth, apparently,” I say with a wry smile. “It’s... complicated.”

Matteo steps forward, his usual stoic expression softened by concern. “Are you both alright? We heard there was some kind of confrontation with the council.”

Finn shifts in his bed, clearly uncomfortable with all the attention. I squeeze his hand reassuringly before addressing the group. “We’re okay. Just... processing a lot of information. The council wants us to help with some kind of balance between realms, but we haven’t decided anything yet.”

Bishop steps forward, concern softening his features. “Whatever you decide, we’re with you, Frankie. Both of you,” he says, nodding to Finn. “If you need help researching the balance between realms, I have access to some rare texts that might be useful.”

Matteo, ever the tactician, chimes in. “We should start planning for different scenarios. If the council is right about the urgency, then we need to be prepared for anything.”

Leo, sensing the tension, throws an arm around my shoulders. “Hey, don’t forget the most important part of all this—figuring out if Finn has any embarrassing baby stories about Frankie.”

Tori bounces on her toes, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Oh, or maybe some cool light powers we can test out! Can you imagine the pranks we could pull?”

I feel a rush of gratitude for my pack and their unwavering support. Finn looks overwhelmed but touched by their acceptance.

“Thank you,” he says softly. “I... I’m not really sure where I fit in all this yet, but I appreciate the welcome.”

Tori, never one for prolonged seriousness, bounces on her toes. “So, do you have cool light powers? Can you make things glow? Oh, can you make yourself glow?”

Finn blinks, caught off guard by her enthusiasm. “I, uh... I’m not sure?” He glances at me, a blush creeping across his face.

Neither of us get a chance to say anything more, though, because Dorian rushes into the room. His face is red, and he is breathing hard.

“Francesca,” he heaves, bending at the waist.

“Yo, man, you good?” Leo grabs a water bottle and chucks it at his head. He misses, and it clatters to the floor.

“Francesca.” Dorian looks up at me, and something in his gaze burns through me. “I was right.”

“Right about what?” My heart thunders in my chest.

“You’re father. He’s alive,” Dorian states, glancing between me and Finn. “And he’s a shadow beast.”

The room falls silent, the weight of Dorian’s words hanging heavily in the air. I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut, all the air rushing out of my lungs. Beside me, Finn goes rigid, his hand tightening around mine.

“What... What do you mean?” I manage to choke out, my voice barely above a whisper.

Dorian straightens, his eyes blazing with a mix of excitement and concern. “I’ve been digging into the archives and following leads. There were rumors about a shadow beast who could take human form and had connections to the light realm. I thought it was just a myth, but then I found records of sightings of a creature that matched the description moving between realms.”

My mind is reeling, trying to process this new information on top of everything else we’ve learned. “But how do you know it’s our father?” I ask, clinging to skepticism like a lifeline.

“Because,” Dorian says, pulling a worn photograph from his pocket, “I found this.”

He hands it to me, and Finn leans in close to see. The photo is old, faded, and creased, but the image is clear enough. It shows a man with familiar eyes—my eyes—and a woman with Finn’s eyes whose hair seems to glow even in the image. They are both smiling and looking at each other with unmistakable love.

Our parents.