~~~

I rarely had dreams, and that night was one of the few times I did.

Someone was getting closer to me.

I couldn’t move. Not because I didn’t want to, but because something held me in place.

My body was frozen on the bed, my limbs unresponsive. The air grew thick, pressing against my chest.

Then, a breath—hot and too real—brushed against my neck. A sharp, searing pain followed, so intense it sliced through me, bone-deep.

And then it was over.

I gasped awake, lurching upright. My heart slammed against my ribs as I sucked in desperate breaths. My hand flew to my neck, fingers rubbing against the skin where the pain had been. Cold sweat clung to me, my nightshirt damp.

I swallowed hard and turned toward Kate. She was still sleeping, undisturbed.

Closing my eyes, I exhaled slowly, willing myself to calm down. It was just a dream. A dream too real to be just a dream.

After a few deep breaths, I slipped out of bed and went to the bathroom.

By the time I returned, the weight of sleep was already pulling at me again. I climbed back into bed, but before I could close my eyes, something caught my attention.

A shadow.

A large, looming shadow standing over Kate’s bed.

Sleep vanished.

A scream tore from my lips, and in an instant, the shadow disappeared.

~~~~

"No! I know what I saw!"

The general let out a heavy sigh.

When I screamed, Kate had jolted awake, and Devon had immediately teleported into my room.

I had barely begun explaining when Devon vanished again. Before I could process that, the general and his second-in-command, Adam, arrived with a team of hunters.

I told them everything.

And just like Kate, they didn’t believe me.

Adam scoffed. "You were half-asleep, hunter. It was probably just your imagination."

"It wasn’t," I said firmly.

"I have more important issues to deal with than this!" the general exploded before storming off, his boots thudding heavily against the floor.

The hunters left one by one, muttering among themselves. All except Jack—the water elemental I had met weeks ago in the cafeteria.

Jack gave me a sympathetic look. "You should get some rest, Kira."

I barely acknowledged him. My gaze was locked on the window, staring at nothing.

Kate sighed beside me before pulling me into her arms. I let her hug me.

"You were still sleepy," she murmured. "You definitely imagined it."

No. I didn’t.

The shadow was real. I knew what I saw. But tomorrow, the entire safeland would hear about this. And no longer would I just be the powerless hunter.

Now, I’d be the powerless, lying hunter.

Tears burned behind my eyes.

I pulled away from Kate. "You should go back to sleep."

She hesitated, but I nodded in reassurance.

Within minutes, she had drifted off again. I watched her, half-expecting the shadow to return. It didn’t.

But my heart wouldn’t stop pounding.

I was shaking.

And one name kept ringing in my head.

Devon.

I needed to find him.

I slipped out of my room without bothering to grab a sweater. The hallway was eerily silent, my footsteps too loud against the floor. Every few seconds, I glanced over my shoulder, convinced something—or someone—was following me.

I had no idea where Devon stayed. I never asked. But I knew he always kept his distance, living as far from the rest of the people at safeland as possible.

So, I waited.

I strolled around the building, hoping he would teleport to me. He didn’t.

I tried calling his name—softly at first, then again.

"Devon."

Nothing.

I whispered it sixteen more times. Still, nothing.

Disappointment settled in my chest as I made my way to the front steps of the building. I sank down, pulling my knees to my chest and exhaling shakily.

Maybe he wasn’t coming. Maybe—

"You shouldn't be outside."

I stiffened.

Slowly, I looked up.

Devon stood in front of me, bare-chested, his crimson eyes glowing faintly under the moonlight. He was beautiful, effortlessly so. Despite being half-naked, he didn’t even seem cold.

I let my gaze linger.

He cocked his head to the side. "How long will your ogling last?"

I didn’t answer. Instead, I stood, rushed to him, and wrapped my arms around him.

He went rigid.

I buried my face in his bare chest, my fingers digging into his skin as I trembled.

"I didn't imagine the shadow, Devon."

His heartbeat was steady against my cheek. I tilted my head up, locking eyes with him. For a fleeting second, something flickered in his gaze—sorrow, worry. But just as quickly, it was gone.

His expression went blank.

"Kira, I... I..." He exhaled sharply, tilting his head back. "You..."

Devon never stammered.

A chill ran through me.

I stepped away, suddenly feeling like I had crossed a line. "I’m sorry," I murmured, wiping my tears away.

Silence stretched between us.

Then, at the same time, we both spoke.

"I’d like to go—"
"Come with me, Kira."

I stared at him.

He repeated, quieter this time, "Come with me."

I didn’t hesitate.

I nodded.

I didn't know where we were going. I just knew I was safe with him.

~~~~

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