The Shadows Between Us By Tricia Levenseller May 2026

"And I," Alessandra whispered, leaning into the freezing cold of his aura, "am the girl who is going to help you rule them. Or take them from you. I haven't quite decided yet."

"You're staring again," a voice like shifting gravel whispered near her ear.

The Shadow King, Kallias, moved through the crowd like a predator through tall grass. He was physically unreachable—swathed in a literal aura of shadows that kept everyone at a five-foot distance. To touch him was to die, or so the rumors claimed. To Alessandra, it was simply a puzzle to be solved. The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller

"I am a king of ghosts and secrets," he said, stepping closer, his eyes searching hers for the fear that usually greeted him.

A flicker of genuine surprise crossed his handsome, pale features. The shadows recoiled slightly, reacting to his internal shift. For a second, the barrier thinned. "And I," Alessandra whispered, leaning into the freezing

"He touches nothing he doesn't intend to destroy," the guard replied.

"I don't do 'safe,'" she smiled, her eyes bright with the thrill of the hunt. "It's far too boring." To help me tailor the next part of this story, tell me: The Shadow King, Kallias, moved through the crowd

That night, she didn't wait for an invitation. As the music swelled into a haunting cello melody, she stepped into his path. The shadows around him hissed, rising like cobras.