average human’s Reviews > Shadows of Change > Status Update

A born leader, that one.

I can’t help the grin tugging at my face.

“Look at you, shadow mom,” I murmur, watching as her chaotic shadows move around her. They make her look like she’s at the center of a wild, beautiful dance only she knows the steps to. My heart does this stupid little flip thing, and I roll my eyes at myself.

This is not fair.

And then I realize the shadows are hers.

Oh, hell.

They’re alive in a way I’ve never seen before, curling and twisting around her legs with minds of their own. One of them, a bigger one that looks like it runs the show, is actively herding the smaller ones away from Thorne’s boots.

There's a pause, and for a moment I worry I've offended him. Then I hear a low chuckle. "Your humor will serve you well at Arcanum, Kaia. It's not an easy path you're choosing."

"Yeah, well," I say, trying to sound nonchalant and probably failing miserably, "turns out my social calendar was looking a bit sparse. Thought I might pencil in 'learn not to accidentally destroy the world with my freaky shadow powers' between 'laundry day' and 'existential crisis.'"

"Ah, Kaia," Thorne's smooth voice answers, sounding entirely too smug. "I've been expecting your call."

Of course he has. Because apparently, I wasn't just joining a magic school, I was diving headfirst into every fantasy novel cliché imaginable. Next thing you know, he'll be telling me I'm the chosen one.