Chapter Four
Nala rests her head on my shoulder at the oak table in the dining hall. I take a large bite out of my chocolate chip croissant and savour its sweetness, knowing our plan for tonight could go sour.
Tonight’s plan hangs over me like a shadow. Ryder and I will leave at nightfall, and if all goes well, we’ll return by morning. I’ve been keeping my mind busy, afraid that too much thought will make me hesitate, make me talk myself out of it.
But as much as the darkness ahead terrifies me, it also draws me in—an irresistible pull I can’t deny.
“Even thinking about that place gives me the heebie-jeebies,” Nala mutters, shivering as if the mere thought of the Shadow Realm can crawl under her skin.
“I didn’t even think it was real,” River says, taking a deliberate bite of his jam toast.
“Neither did I,” I reply, swallowing quickly around my own bite. “But apparently, it is.”
“…And you’re going with Ryder?” River raises an eyebrow, though I know he already knows the answer.
“Yes.” I sip my orange juice, keeping my tone steady. The worry etched across his face betrays him despite my calm.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea, considering…” River gestures toward his eyes, and I know exactly what he means.
“We’re working on keeping his heart rate low,” I say, taking another bite and swallowing. “I think he should be fine.”
River’s gaze doesn’t waver; his concern burns in those hazel eyes. “How’s that going for you so far? I felt him get angry last night.”
Ever since River saved Ryder, their energies have been intertwined. The lore on twins emphasises shared powers and emotions after the transfer, and so far, the connection has been unbroken—each pulse, each surge of feeling mirrored between them.
“Oh… you felt that.” My cheeks heat as I remember Ryder’s jealous outburst. I don’t tell River the truth—that the surge of anger he sensed came from Ryder thinking we were fucking behind his back.
“It was nothing,” I say, forcing calm. “He was just mad I was keeping secrets from him, which is… understandable.” I shove the last piece of croissant into my mouth, though my stomach churns.
“It didn’t feel like nothing,” River counters, glancing at Nala, who meets his concern with equal weight. “Let us come with you.”
The corners of my mouth lift in a small, bittersweet smile as I take in the two of them. They would follow me into the Shadow Realm without hesitation—into the place Suns go to die—to protect me.
But it’s far too dangerous for them.
“No Suns are allowed in the Shadow Realm,” I say, watching a flicker of relief wash over them. “They won’t be able to sense that I have Sun in me. To them, I’ll be Moon through and through.”
They nod, though worry still lingers in their eyes.
“Just… be careful,” Nala murmurs, setting her cream cheese bagel on her plate so she can reach over and squeeze my hand.
“I will.” I return the squeeze, offering a small smile—but River’s gaze remains restless.
“What does it feel like, being connected to Ryder?” Nala asks, shifting the conversation to something slightly less tense.
“Uh… well… it’s strange,” River admits, brows knitting together.
“Last night, I could feel his anger. Rage coursed through me, but I knew it wasn’t my own.
” He pauses, rubbing at his bicep. “And the other day, I felt this sharp pain in my arm that wouldn’t go away.
Later, when I saw Ryder, he’d been sliced in the same spot during combat. ”
“Whoa!” Nala exclaims, eyes wide with awe. “But… do you feel… everything?” She winks, eyebrows jerking, and River sputters, almost spitting his drink back into his cup.
“River, you don’t have to answer that,” I say, swatting Nala lightly on the arm and stifling a laugh.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to,” River chuckles, shaking his head.
Our laughter dies abruptly as the double doors swing open, and faculty members stream into the dining hall.
“Silence, students!” Mr Heddingbrow bellows as he strides into the hall, followed by a man I have never seen before.
“Sun Sovereign—it’s a pleasure to meet you all.
” The new man’s voice carries across the high ceiling, crisp and commanding.
He is tall, dark-haired, and slim, standing between the thick podiums as if he belongs there.
Sliding his rectangular glasses down onto the bridge of his nose, he holds out a piece of paper like he has rehearsed every word.
“I am Mr Felix, your new headmaster.” He clears his throat, tugging at his green checkered tie, straightening it.
“I know there’s speculation surrounding your previous head’s disappearance, but I assure you, I am not going anywhere.
If anyone has questions or wishes to speak with me further, I’ll be in my office. ”
His voice echoes one last time, and then he is gone.
Chatter surges around the hall, whispers about Miss Worthington ricocheting from table to table. No one at Sun Sovereign knows exactly what happened that night. They have theories—none of them accurate. Nala, River, and I exchange glances, silently hoping this new headmaster will be an improvement.
“Mind if I steal this one from you?” Jaxon asks, placing his hands on River’s shoulders, a mischievous grin smouldering across his face.
“Hi, Jaxon,” I say with a smile as River stands to greet him.
“All right, mate,” River replies, giving him a firm handshake. “Ready for combat?”
“Ready to kick your ass,” Jaxon jokes, and River laughs.
“That’d be a first from you,” River banters, slinging his satchel over his shoulder. “See you later, ladies.” He shoots Nala and me a playful smile as he leaves the table.
“See you later,” we echo, stacking our empty plates.
Suddenly, the orange glow of the hall’s orbs flickers, dimming for a heartbeat before snapping back to life. The chatter dips, then rises again, curious and unsettled.
“Woah… that was weird, right?” I ask, glancing at Nala.
She looks unfazed. “I’m sure it happens all the time. Come on—we’ve got taming to do.” She grabs my hand and tugs me toward the door, pulling me along with her calm certainty.
***
I cling to Craize’s fur like it’s a lifeboat, I mean, it is the only thing keeping me from plummeting fifty feet into the valleys below.
“Target training starts now!” Mr Knight projects his voice from the back of Nakka. Nala, Elijah, Trina, and I are the only ones bonded with an elion so far. We’re practising for the end-of-year assault course, and my stomach has never flipped this much in an hour.
“Your elions are your transport, not your weapons. To hit the targets, you must rely on the throwing knives I’ve supplied.
” He clears his throat as the breeze ruffles his hair.
“You have two knives. The goal is to hit as many targets as possible while keeping your weapons. You’ll have to retrieve each knife after you throw it, but beware—your opponents may try to steal them.
Once you’re out of knives, you’re out of the game. ”
His enthusiasm is unsettling, a broad smile stretching across his face.
“Meet your targets.” He lifts a powder-pink bunny in his grasp, and it writhes, flailing its tiny limbs. I gasp, and Nala looks apprehensive. He lets go, and it flutters around us, its fluffy wings beating against the breeze.
“I see a few worried looks,” he remarks. “These bunnies are enchanted—they heal instantly and don’t feel pain.”
A shaky breath empties my lungs. I always wanted a pet bunny. I remember pleading with my father, begging for even one pet—a hamster, a cat, anything. He considered animals vermin, only fit to live outside.
It never stopped me from feeding the neighbour’s cat. I would pinch bits of meat off my plate at dinner and stuff them deep into my pocket, careful to avoid my father’s gaze. The cat had no collar or name tag, so I called him Bunny.
A brief smile flickers at the memory, but it quickly fades.
I remember finding Bunny dead, his neck twisted like a ragdoll, his tortoiseshell coat caked with dirt from our flower beds and streaked with blood.
One of the foxes must have gotten him. I sobbed for him, for the cat that wasn’t truly mine, and buried him in the garden.
After that, I never thought about having a pet again.
“Relax, young one. Don’t be fooled—they’re not as sweet as they look.” Craize’s voice vibrates through the fleshy walls of my mind.
“What do you mean by that?” I start to ask, but Mr Knight’s whistle cuts me off.
“Let the games begin!” he shouts.
Without warning, Craize leaps into the air. My knuckles go white as I tighten my grip on his mane, heart lurching with every frantic beat.
A pink cottony shape emerges between the translucent clouds. I hesitate, stomach churning at the thought of striking it. How can I bring myself to slay a bunny, even if Mr Knight says it’s part of the exercise?
Craize, however, dives straight for it with terrifying speed. The wind tears through my hair as he banks sharply over the mist-draped valley, each powerful beat of his wings slicing the air. Below, the stone spires of Sun Castle look small and distant, while the sky around us hums with movement.
Nala and Elijah chase in perfect tandem, their thighs gleaming with throwing knives holstered to their legs. Five pink, fluffy bunnies dart through the air like deranged cotton balls, wings flapping furiously. One locks eyes with me for a heartbeat, its gaze pleading, innocent.
Mr Knight’s words echo in my mind: “They don’t feel pain and heal instantly.”
With a pang of guilt, I unsheathe my knife and fling it. The blade slices through the bunny’s pink flesh and lodges in its neck. My heart jumps into my throat. How could I be so cruel?
The bunny doesn’t react—it freezes for a moment before I gingerly retrieve my knife, hand trembling. Tears threaten to spill as I stare at the wound… and then, impossibly, two new bunnies sprout from the original, pink fluff multiplying before my eyes.
“What the—?”