Just You

But Dakshana had known, somewhere in the back of her mind, always known. The night Ashoken vanished, he’d been seeking magic. But he’d failed - and she’d survived the ritual.

These creatures must have taken him and given her the magic instead.

And now they wanted payment.

“I don’t have anything you want,” she said.

That drew laughter, the sound skating across Dakshana’s skin like the softest fur.

“Every human has something that every shadow wants,” the voice said, and those eyes glittered with something deeper and crueller than amusement.

“You won’t get it from us,” Dakshana said.

“Just you, child.”