Weight of Shadows
Dawn broke gray and unforgiving. The forest was quiet, but not with peace—quiet the way prey hides when predators are near. I had barely slept. My arm still throbbed from the shadow beast’s claws, but Lucien hadn’t allowed me to rest.
“Again,” he ordered, his voice sharp as steel.
My body hit the ground hard, dust rising around me. Pain radiated from my ribs, but I forced myself back up, gasping for breath. The shadows swirled sluggishly at my command, weak, disobedient.
Lucien’s silver hair gleamed in the thin light as he circled me. “Pathetic. You want revenge, but you can’t even hold the shadows for more than a heartbeat. Do you think Derrick will wait politely while you fumble?”
My wolf snarled at the insult. I clenched my fists. “I’m trying.”
Lucien’s smile was
