Page 19 of Poison Sun

“He’s gathering them against you,” I say darkly.

“Against us,” he corrects me, and just like that, I’m assured that despite our fight about the potion, he doesn’t hate me. “It’s a declaration of war. As if we didn’t already have one after Viktor’s betrayal.”

“As if we didn’t already have one against the shadow souls,” I mutter, and Damien glances at the expanse of Central Park before turning back to me.

“We’re protected from the shadow souls for the time being, thanks to Sunneva blessing the Fairmont to make it impossible for them to infiltrate our walls,” he reminds me. “As for Viktor…” He lets the sentence hang, pain crossing his eyes. “There’s nothing stopping him, Lucas, and the other members of their growing clan from trying to get in. And Viktor knows the ins and outs of the building. Which means Lucas and the others likely do now, too.”

“You think they can break in?”

“I think they’re going to try.”

My body tenses, hating the idea of being so vulnerable in the one place I was hoping I could finally feel safe. “So, what do we do?” I ask.

“Lucas and Viktor need to be taken care of,” he says. “And we need to get the Astral Compass back.”

“Taken care of,” I repeat, needing to make sure I understand correctly. “You mean...”

“Killed.”

As I thought.

“My kingdom comes first,” he continues, as if he didn’t just say he’s going to kill the man he’s seen as a brother for decades. The man he sired himself. “Viktor betrayed the kingdom. He tried to kill my bride-to-be. He was aware of the risks when he did it, and now he’s going to pay the price.”

Bride-to-be.

Out of everything he said, those words echo in my mind the most.

“I haven’t said yes to your proposal,” I say, the words slipping out before I can stop them.

It’s hardly the most important part of what he’s saying. But he sounds so annoyingly certain about it, even though I haven’t decided yet and won’t have to decide for months.

He pauses, his eyes holding mine for a few seconds. “I know you haven’t,” he says. “And I’m not assuming your answer. Especially because right now, we have more pressing matters to deal with.”

“We do,” I agree, and he nods, seemingly content with my answer.

He walks closer to the railing, gazing out at the park, and I follow him over. It’s so peaceful out there. People are starting to filter in—going on their morning runs, walking their dogs, or tourists snapping photos in the soft light of dawn.

They have no idea about what’s actually out there. About what’s coming.

I’m going to help save them. Sunneva chose me for a reason—impulsivity and all. Morgan’s off who knows where, possibly doing something dangerous, to help me. My mom’s living a blissful life, ignorant to the dark truths of the world, up in Vermont.

I will not give up, and I will not fail. I owe it to myself—and to them—to succeed.

From the approving way Damien’s watching me, I don’t need the duskberry bond open between us to know he’s talking to me right now because he trusts me.

“I have a plan,” he says, as if I would have expected anything less. “And I’m going to need your help to do it.”

“I’m in.” I don’t stop to think before the words come out of my mouth.

His approval is replaced by a scowl.

“What?” I ask.

“It’s never wise to agree to something until you know what you’re promising to do.”

I scowl right back at him.

But, unfortunately, his point is fair.

---