28

I SPEND MY NIGHTS in the air when my targets are dreaming. I can't interfere too much with the nightmares. Not when I've had them set in motion already. I can visit them, observe them, but I don't want to interfere.

I land on the roof of an apartment building, taking in the view of the city at night.

But the pleasure fades quickly: I agreed to meet one of the Shadow Wielders here. Shadow Wielders are high-ranking officers of the Shadow Realm. They often are tasked with guarding the Council. They also have access to a lot of information.

I want to know how to return to human form. There has to be a way to do it.

"Rook," says a voice behind me. "Come closer to the shadows."

I turn away from the city lights and walk towards Trig, the Shadow Wielder.

"You wanted to see me, Rook? What was so important that you would wish me to burn energy to meet here in the mortal realm?"

"I'm in a bit of trouble in the Shadow Realm."

Trig laughs. If he had eyes, they'd probably water. When he collects himself, he shakes his head. "You think I don't know that? I've heard of your escapades and your lack of production. I'd hate to see you be exiled into the outer world. There's no coming back from places like that. And unlike the Council, I like you."

I grip his shoulders. "That's why I need your help. I need to know how to return to human form."

Trig stiffens, if that's even possible for a Shadow Wielder, and floats away, out of my reach. "You want to return to human life? You know you're not supposed to feel tethered to your human life."

"I know. But here I am. So how do I do this?"

Trig sighs. "You can beg the Shadow Council, but they'll want to make a bargain with you. They'll want to see you do enough work to supply the loss you will be creating. Although, since it's you we're talking about, that's not a heavy loss." He pauses, letting that sink in. "There is one other way, a back door to the Shadow Curse. But I don't know what kind of trouble I can get into if I tell you."

"I won't breathe a word to another shadow soul."

Trig looks around, then lowers his voice. "Find someone human to fall in love with you. If you can get that to happen, you'll break the curse."

I stare at the ground. Someone human would never love a creature like me.

Trig is gone before I can ask any more questions, leaving me in the dark.

Finding someone to love me in this form? It's almost impossible. But there is one girl from my past life who believed in things that were supposedly beyond the impossible. Someone I never got over. And maybe it's time I fix that.