Shadows of the Night | BOOK 2 DRAFT

4

It's Christmas Day here in NZ so here's an early update! :)

4.

Confidence lines the strides of Malik's walk. It radiates off him in waves, and I can't help but compare it to Elias. Elias' confidence was quiet, unspoken, but Malik's demands to be acknowledged. He falls into step beside me as I show him through the castle. My mind races with questions, but I keep my mouth jammed shut.

What do you know about me? What was Elias like as a child? What was the last thing you heard from him? How well did you know him?

Elias is just as physically far away from us as he was before, but with Malik in the castle, his presence feels stronger somehow.

I clear my throat as we reach the library, nodding towards the doorway. "This is it."

I study his face as he scans the room. He's all planes and angles, his jawline as sharp as his cheekbones. Everything about him is striking—from his eyes, to his hair, to his skin. He's made of contrasts. And when he shifts his gaze to me, it's difficult to maintain eye contact.

"Thank you, Milena."

I force a smile as he steps into the library. "No problem."

"I take it you spend a lot of time in here," he says. "Your scent is all over the room."

I shrug. I still haven't gotten used to their heightened senses. "I like it in here."

"Elias loved to read, too, even as a kid." His eyes scan my face, as if searching for something. "Perhaps it was something the two of you had in common."

"Not really. Nobody ever taught me how to read."

He looks surprised but doesn't comment, choosing to survey the bookshelf instead. I take a step back, torn between leaving him alone and pestering him with questions. But there's something about him that sets me on edge. Not exactly in a bad way, but not in a good way, either. Just... nervous.

I clear my throat. "I'll leave you to it, then."

"You're welcome to stay," he says. "I could use some help navigating these shelves."

"I should help Eric. Besides, an illiterate probably won't be much help with books."

Malik returns my smile, and it warms his entire face, takes the edge off a bit. "It was nice to finally meet you, Milena. I'm sure there are lots we can learn from one another."

"Nice to meet you, too."

~

Eric is still in the infirmary wing of the castle, standing silently next to Aliyah who lies in a white cot. She wears the same clothes as earlier, but her arm is bandaged close to her chest, the white material spotted red.

"Milena," she says when I slide through the doorway.

"Hey, I'm glad to see you're okay."

Eric turns, red eyes inspecting me from head to toe, as if looking for wounds. "Where's Malik?"

"I left him in the library."

His jaw clenches, but he looks back at Aliyah. "Is everyone okay?" I ask.

"A few broken arms and legs, but they'll heal soon enough," Aliyah sighs. "Thankfully, Eric and I took the worst of it."

Eric got stabbed in the back, but he's changed clothing so the blood is no longer visible. Still, he stands with one shoulder hunched slightly forward. "Maybe you should have a rest," I suggest.