Bound by Shadows (Kissed by Shadows Series, Book 2)

by Lola StVil

  “Fuck you, Atlas. Fuck both of you. I hope you’re really happy together, but mark my words. If he does it with you, he’ll do it to you.”

  She doesn’t give me a chance to say anything else. She barges past me, slamming me into the door frame. She storms down the stairs and through the living room, ignoring the team, and then she slams out of the door.

  I take in a shaky breath. Now I know what she really thinks of me.

  I head for the living room.

  I can hear Regal.

  “It really was just a kiss. And yeah, I suppose sometimes I think about it. But I never would have acted on those thoughts. That’s why it’s called a fantasy. I love Quinn, and I never wanted to hurt her. And that’s why it’s meant to be private.”

  “Are you serious?” Saudia snaps. “You cheated on Quinn, and now you’re trying to make out she’s the bad guy because she looked in the box?”

  I’ve heard enough. I turn away and head to bed.

  It’s been three days since Quinn saw Regal’s Tusk box fantasy. She hasn’t been back to the house, and she’s completely off the grid. I can understand why she isn’t accepting my calls or Regal’s, but she’s ignoring the whole team.

  I know they’re worried about her. It’s not like her to not stay in touch with them.

  Although they’re trying to stay out of it, it’s obvious Saudia is still mad at Regal. Perry is giving him the cold shoulder, and Remy told him she was ashamed to be his sister. For the most part, no one has said anything to me about it at all.

  Maybe they understand it’s because I was grieving at the time. Maybe they see it was Regal who had to be faithful to Quinn, not me. Or maybe they just don’t want to get told to mind their own business.

  The atmosphere in the loft has reached an all-time low. Langston is calling and calling Quinn, and getting increasingly frustrated when she gets no response. I can’t sit here listening to this anymore, knowing that I’m at least partially responsible for it.

  “I’m going to get some air,” I say.

  I make my way up to the roof. I stand with my elbows propped on the wall, my chin resting on my hands, looking out at the city.

  I haven’t been up here long when I hear the door open behind me. I can’t be bothered with trying to explain myself yet again. I don’t turn around.

  “Please, just go away. I’m fine, and I don’t need a lecture,” I say.

  “Good, I’m not here to give you one.”

  Kane.

  I spin, not quite believing my ears. I don’t know what to do. I want to run to him, embrace him, and never let him go. But after the way we left things, I’m afraid he’ll push me away.

  I stand staring at him. He looks back at me, equally lost on what to do next. We hold each other’s eyes. He finally looks away with a little cough.

  “So,” he says.

  “So,” I repeat.

  He doesn’t say anything else.

  “I never got a chance to thank you. For helping us,” I say.

  I decide to start out on safer territory.

  “Did you catch Hell for it from Arken?”

  Kane shrugs. “Nothing I couldn’t handle.”

  I want to know exactly what that means, but it’s obvious he doesn’t want to talk about it, and I don’t want to push it.

  “I called Sadie,” he blurts out.

  “You did?” I say, surprised.

  He nods.

  “Yeah. I guess we’ve got a lot to talk about, but I couldn’t face her alone. She’ll be here any minute. Do you mind sticking around?”

  He won’t look at me as he asks. He looks down at the ground, kicking his foot against it and scuffing his sneakers.

  “Of course I don’t mind.”

  He looks up then, and our eyes meet again. There’s so much I want to say to him, but I don’t quite know where to start.

  “Listen, Disney… ” he says.

  He doesn’t get any further. The door opens again, and Sadie comes out.

  “Later,” Kane mouths to me, and I nod.

  I take a moment to wonder if I should tell Sadie what happened with Quinn, but I decide against it. If Quinn wants Sadie to know, she’ll tell her, and if she doesn’t and I tell her, it’ll only make everything worse. And anyway, this isn’t about me. It’s about Kane.

  Sadie smiles at Kane. She takes a step towards him, and he backs up a step, so she stops.

  “I’m so glad you agreed to talk to me, Kane. We have a lot to discuss.”

  She looks at me. “And thank you for agreeing to this.”

  I nod. I don’t tell her that I didn’t know about it until thirty seconds ago. I’d have agreed anyway.

  She doesn’t get to say anything else. A shadow forms over the rooftop, and someone lands there with a bang.

  Kane instinctively steps towards me when he sees our unwanted guest is Talon.

  “What do you want, Talon?” Kane asks.

  “Is that any way to greet an old friend?” Talon asks.

  “It is when Arken sends them,” Kane says.

  Talon smiles slyly.

  “You’re right. Arken did send me. He has decided that the best punishment for you for failing him is to watch the new Keysu kill the girl you love.”

  Kane pushes me behind him and faces off with Talon.

  “I love you like a brother, Talon. You’re my best friend. But I’m telling you now, if you lay so much as one finger on her, it’s going to be a problem.”

  Talon shakes his head sadly.

  “I tried to warn you to stay away from her. What did I tell you? Just do your job. Take her life. End the mission. But you didn’t listen. And now it’s come to this. I’m sorry.”

  He actually does sound sorry.

  “So Arken’s chosen you as the new Keysu and you couldn’t wait to come over here and get started,” Sadie says bitterly.

  “No, not me,” Talon says with a sick smile.

  “Bullshit,” Kane snaps. “Don’t play games with me, Talon. Arken is looking for the being with the blackest heart. And if that isn’t me, and it isn’t you, then who the hell is it?”

  The ground beneath us shakes, the sky goes dark, and a loud crack of thunder goes off above us.

  “Me.”

  We all turn to the sound of the icy, malicious voice.

  Quinn…

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