Page 109 of Poison Sun

Amber

Cassandra screams as Yannick turns to a pile of ash, a sound of raw agony and rage, and launches herself toward the vampire responsible.

I’ve never seen her move so fast.

The vampire dodges her sword just in time, his own weapon drawn in a clashing dance of metal and magic.

I could move to help.

But I can’t let Abigail out of my sight. One wrong move, and Lucas can order to have her killed, too. As it is, the guard assigned to her is already by her side, his dagger ready to pierce her chest at a moment’s notice.

Lucas merely watches Cassandra and his guard with a twisted interest, as if he’s enjoying a gladiator match rather than a battle that might result in his clan mate’s death.

Meanwhile, Cassandra and the vampire are a blur of motion, their fight moving them off into the benched seating that goes up from the sunken stage. Their screams and grunts echo in the air, and it’s a dance of death, each strike precise, fueled by years of training and the hunger for vengeance.

The vampire, however, is putting up a good fight.

I refocus on the center of the stage.

Abigail remains slumped in the chair, unconscious. Moonlight reflects off the pile of Yannick’s ashes. Lucas is giving me a satisfied smirk, his head tilted as he waits for my next move.

His message is clear.

If I don’t give him what he wants, Abigail will be next.

I know what I have to do to save her. I hate it, and I can feel the awful sensation of bugs crawling over my skin at the thought of it, disgust twisting in my gut. Not just at the act, but at myself.

Taking a deep breath, I sheathe my dagger back into my boot and raise my hands in surrender.

However, I don’t start making my way down the steps. I can’t risk any sudden moves.

“Do you have something to say?” Lucas asks, his voice somehow carrying over the nearby fight.

I do my best to swallow down the rising sickness about what’s coming next. Because I’m more than just my body. More than the blood that flows inside of it. I’m my heart and my soul, and he can never take that away from me.

“If I let you drink from me, will you let Cassandra take Abigail out of here?” I ask.

His smirk fades into a contemplative look, his gaze flicking to where Cassandra and the guard are locked in their battle.

The hunger that flashes in his eyes is unmistakable.

“Yes,” he agrees, and he licks his lips, as if he’s already tasting me. “If Cassandra can be persuaded to stop trying to kill my clan member, I’ll allow her to leave with Abigail. But only with Abigail.”

“And me?” I ask Lucas. “Will you let me leave… after?”

I don’t know why I’m asking. I plan on fighting Lucas tooth and nail to get out of here after Cassandra and Abigail are safe.

But I want his answer, anyway.

“I’ll ensure you live. But the correct question is—will you want to leave after?” he asks in return, and that sick feeling rises to my throat again at the reminder of the potential bond that might form between us by the time this is over.

“Yes.” I don’t need a second to think about my response. “I’ll want to leave.”

“We’ll see about that.” He runs his eyes up and down my body in the most snakelike way possible, making my every nerve stand on edge.

He pauses for a moment, turning his attention to the vampire hovering above Abigail’s unconscious body. “After I start, you release her and let Cassandra carry her out of here,” he says. “Follow them and stay at the entrance of the island, to keep watch for any shadow souls.”

The guard nods in acknowledgment of his leader’s order.

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