The shadow slides away from the blade pinning it to the headboard as if the knife isn’t even solid. It leaps for me, coming away from the tacky upholstered bedframe like a thick, black cloud.I launch backward, falling off the bed in my haste. On the way down, I grab my knife off the nightstand and land on my back with my legs above me, still tangled in the covers. Not the most graceful thing I’ve ever done, especially considering I’m in what amounts to panties and a t-shirt with my ass in the air in front of a stranger. But I at least manage to get my blade ready.The shadow follows me down, and I lash out. My blade flashes silver in the moonlight but does nothing to the blob. It barrels toward me, undeterred, and I roll away, wrapping myself even tighter in the blankets as I try to dodge its attack.The blond man looms over me; I didn’t even hear his approach. He punches out, his fist catching the shadow as if it’s actually a solid form. The dark cloud lurches away from me and hits

I open my eyes to the blaze of half a dozen still-burning light bulbs, plus a hint of golden sunlight pouring through the crack in the curtains. I blink at the overwhelming illumination coupled with my grogginess.Sleep eluded me most of the night after the ordeal. I jerked awake at every small noise, from barking dogs to slamming doors to my neighbors’ television coming on at five a.m. Every time I opened my eyes, I expected to find Blondie standing over my bed, or to see a new shadow monster hovering over me, about to pounce.On any other day, I’d grumble and complain at the bright lights, slam the pillow over my head, and go back to sleep for a little while longer, until my irritable attitude chills the fuck out. But I’m not really interested in the dark right now, considering that’s where shadows sleep. Nor do I have time to waste lying around in bed while Kian and Blondie’s scent markers grow even colder.Last night feels like a strange dream. Rolling over onto my back, I glance

Something prickles across my skin, then a strong scent wafts over me.Warm. Spicy.“You won’t break free.”I jerk at the voice. My heart picks up a nervous rhythm, and I whip my head around to face the doorway.Blondie leans against the door frame, looking for all the world like he’s bored out of his mind. He’s in khaki cargo pants and a black Henley that looks stunning next to his golden skin and insanely blue eyes. I should be terrified of him, knowing what I know about how dangerous he is, but instead, I’m just irritated he found me first.It’s easier to focus on the anger than on the way my wolf howls hungrily inside me.“You’re Ted Bundy?” I grit out.Blondie stares at me, and even though his expression doesn’t change, I’m fairly certain he thinks I’ve lost my mind.It definitely feels like I have.I jerk harder against my restraints, like that’s going to miraculously free me. “You wanna untie me? Or no?”He ignores my question. “What happened?”“I can keep yanking until the head

I have every intention of changing that though.Malix turns away from me to address Frost in a low voice. “She was poisoned too?”Frost nods. His pale hair shifts with the movement, and I can’t help but imagine that hair like spiderwebs over my stomach. My thighs.Fuck, I hate this.Malix lets out a long breath and rubs his hand over his cropped hair. “Shit. She’s never been able to use shadows like that before.”“No.”“That’s something else, man. And her timing was impeccable.”“A little too impeccable,” Frost agrees. His black tattoos do that odd shimmering, wavy thing I saw last night, as if reacting to his inner emotions. Then they settle again on his golden skin.They’ve both apparently forgotten I’m even still in the room. And I don’t think I’m the person they’re talking about, except for Malix’s reference to me being poisoned. I lean against my restraints, cringing at the raw pain in my burned wrist. “Hello? Who’s she?”Neither one of them acknowledges me.Malix sighs and claps

The hallway outside the bedroom is a little more run down. Paint peels from the walls, and the wooden floorboards are scratched and covered in years of sticky dirt and grime. We pass a ridiculously small kitchen that’s empty of appliances, and a living room with two ancient couches spilling stuffing onto the floor. The floor’s covered in takeout boxes and cups, and there are three sleeping nests of blankets.I lengthen my stride to catch up with Malix. “You live here?”Malix shrugs. “It’s where we’re living today.”Well that clears that up. I roll my eyes, but don’t ask him to clarify. Clearly, they’re as nomadic as I am.We reach the front door, and Kian opens it, spilling sunlight into the dim interior. The cabin has a shallow front porch with three narrow steps that lead down to a dusty lawn. Trees surround us on all sides and I can’t hear any hint of traffic, indicating we’re well off the beaten path.As we cross the lawn, I speak to Malix again. “What are you?”Before he can answ