Page 60 of One Forbidden Moment

Finn nodded."The shadow isn't Everstill itself.It's the part of Everstill that can move.The part that can reach into this world.The part that can learn."

"I don't understand."She rubbed the front of her neck."We traveled through the veil.The shadow seam.The rift.Whatever you call it, it's the same thing."

"We don't think it is," Kallie added softly."It's like a scout.It tests the edges of the veil.It looks for openings...like you."

Jillian's pulse raced."Me?"

Finn's gaze locked on hers, steady and unflinching."Yes.You're a door.The shadow reacts to you.It follows you.It tries to understand you."

Moe muttered under his breath, "It's not touching her."

Finn met his eyes."It doesn't want to touch her.It wants to use her."

Jillian's stomach fluttered."Use me how?"

Finn rubbed his palms together, thinking."Doors don't open the veil.Keys do.But doors make the crossing possible.If Everstill can influence a door—if it can push one—it can force a crossing even without a key."

Jillian's breath caught."So it wants me to open Everstill back up?"

"No," Finn said firmly."It wants you to break."

The room went silent as if someone threw a heavy blanket over her and she couldn't push it off.

Finn continued, voice low and steady."If a door breaks, whether that's emotionally, mentally, spiritually, the veil can crack.And when it cracks, Everstill can push through.It doesn't need a key if the door is weak enough."

Jillian shivered."It wants to hurt me."

Kallie shook her head gently."I don't think so.It wants to pressure you.Confuse you.Frighten you.Wear you down."

Finn nodded."It wants you vulnerable.It wants Moe vulnerable.It wants you both off balance."

Jillian looked up at Moe.His hand tightened on her shoulder, his jaw clenched, his eyes burning with a fierce protectiveness she'd never seen directed at her before.

Finn leaned back, exhaling slowly."The shadow doesn't attack.It doesn't fight.It doesn't chase.It waits.It watches.It learns.That's what it's been doing to us since we left Everstill."

Jillian whispered, "It watched us tonight."

"Let me guess.It watched you grow close.It watched you trust each other.It watched you feel something strong."

Jillian's cheeks warmed, but not from embarrassment.He was right."Why does that matter?"

Finn's voice dropped."Because doors are strongest when they're loved.And weakest when they're afraid."

Moe slid his hand down her arm, his fingers curling around hers.She inhaled a shuddering breath.How did she get to this point in her life when she could sit in her house and believe a wild story about a shadow that was trying to break her?

It was as if the shadow wanted to punish her for falling in love with Moe...or punish Moe for falling in love with her.

Kallie leaned forward, her expression gentle but serious."The shadow wants fear.It wants doubt.It wants to make cracks in your relationship, to find a way through you.That's what it tried to do with us."

Finn looked between them, his expression heavy with meaning."You both need to stay close together.Closer than you think."

Jillian swallowed hard.

Because she suddenly understood.

The darkness wasn't just following them.It was waiting for them to fall apart.