Zayden's bedroom felt cozy and quiet.
Aylin was dozing next to him, breathing deeply and evenly. The sheets were all twisted around them, her bare back pressed against his chest while his arm wrapped around her waist.
But Zayden couldn't sleep.
He hardly ever got good sleep these days; there were just too many enemies, too many dangers, and too much that could go wrong.
So, when his phone buzzed — the special one he kept tucked in the nightstand — he snapped awake.
That phone only buzzed when it was important.
It was for Shadow Network messages, which had encrypted in ways only a handful of people could access.
Zayden carefully pulled away from Aylin without waking her. She murmured something in her sleep and rolled over, but stayed out cold.
He quietly opened the drawer and grabbed the phone.
One new message.
Encrypted.
Zayden opened it, his eyes darting over the text.
Then a chill shot through him.
