Kissed By Shadows Novels & Stories

“Let them. We’re ending this tonight.” The old church loomed in the moonlight, its silhouette stark against the night sky. Sophie and Alex crept towards it, the weight of the journal heavy in Sophie’s bag. The air was thick with tension, every shadow seeming to hide a threat. They pushed open the creaking doors, the sound echoing in the empty space. The interior was dark, illuminated only by the faint moonlight streaming through the stained glass windows. Dust motes danced in the air, and the smell of damp wood filled Sophie’s nose.

The bond spiked, sharp and urgent, and I spun, blade drawn, as the shadows at the chamber’s edge *moved*, not light tricks but *alive*, curling like smoke, forming shapes—hands, faces, eyes. “Get back!” Lucian shouted, pulling me to the center, his blade flashing as the shadows lunged, not solid but cold, their touch burning like frostbite. I slashed the dagger, its light cutting through, scattering them, but they reformed, faster, their whispers filling my head—*spark, key, ours*. Killian swung his staff, the runes flaring briefly, pushing the shadows back, while Mara stabbed at one, her knife passing through but slowing it. “What are they?” she gasped, her voice shaking.

It was quiet for a few minutes and he finally said, “Tilly and I have absolutely no secrets. People like you and me … we can’t be with just anyone. It’s either one night stands, fake short term relationships or nothing. You don’t just find a Tilly on every corner. A woman that will accept you, that if you are totally honest with her … won’t be afraid of you. I never had someone to … to help me. To direct me, and it damn near killed me. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. I call it my dark shadow … it’s a part of me, but it’s a part of me I can mostly keep hidden, that I can control.

But as I walked away visibly emotionless, I couldn’t shake the image of the woman in the scarf, sitting in the shadows, watching me like she already knew me. And I had no idea that she was about to change everything.

KAREN’S POV The shadows shouldn’t have failed. I kept replaying that thought as I stood by the window, fingers digging into the sill until the wood cracked beneath my nails. Below me, the courtyard shimmered with moonlight, silver dust coating the stones like frost. My shadows—my loyal, obedient creations—had never failed before. They were supposed to be silent, invisible, efficient. But this time, they came back in pieces, ripped apart by a force I didn’t even understand.

The bond flared, searing them both, pulsing with something stronger than ever before—love, fear, desperation, destiny. Aria’s hands trembled as she reached for Killian’s back, clutching his shirt, her voice breaking. “We’ll fight together.” His head turned just enough for her to see the fire in his eyes. “Always.” And then the shadows struck. The doors shattered into splinters, the sound splitting through the grand hall like thunder. Darkness poured in, not just the absence of light, but a living, breathing thing. Figures cloaked in shadow stalked forward, their eyes glowing a sickly silver, their bodies wrong in ways that made Aria’s skin crawl.

“No, you’re not. We’re in this together.” Before I could respond, the ground beneath us trembled violently. The air thickened, and the shadows around us began to shift, coiling and swirling, as if alive. I could hear a faint sound, a low hum in the distance. It grew louder, more insistent, until a figure emerged from the shadows. The man who stepped forward wasn’t just any shadow—it was Kieran. His eyes burned with a cold, unsettling intensity, and the air around him seemed to warp. His voice echoed in my mind, distorted, like a twisted echo of everything I feared.

She takes my hand in hers and squeezes it gently. "We are werewolves, not monsters," she says softly. "Our pack is called the Shadows and is led by Gabriel Valley. He became our leader after his father's death some months ago." I sigh and turn to look at her. Her blue eyes look sad as she stares at me. "I promise you my child, you are not a monster. Being different is your greatest power," she whispers, grazing her fingers across my eyebrows. "You'll see," she adds with a faint smile. I stare at her drowning in my thoughts. I think about everything. Me. Them. The pack. I'd have sworn last night was just a dream but I know what I saw and felt. It was all too real. "Your father and I are going

She lets out a small yelp, followed by a slight growl. Ari doesn’t hesitate as she smashes her lips against mine. One hand moves to her back while the other threads through hair at the base of her neck. I roughly grab her hair and pull her head back as I trail kisses and little bites down her neck. The little vixen lets out a satisfied moan. That’s it; she’s asking for it. My hand on her back moves off her to wave around, commanding the shadows to come around us as the coldness they bring causes Ari to shiver in my arms. The shadows remove clothes. The second we are naked, the shadows disappear.

It took them a few seconds before they responded, but the room suddenly was enveloped in a chill to the bone cold, that felt like it was seeping through your bones into your soul. I took a step back as The Shadows emerged from everywhere and nowhere all at once, swarming Katrina’s hand and pooling at her feet. I saw Ramses’ eyes widen in shock and Jade was cowering into Ramses’ arms. Katrina’s sisters just sat there, stunned. No one even knew what to do. “I thought you might not come.” Katrina said to The Shadows. “We like your blood, we will alwaysss come for you.” They slithered.