Page 23 of Poison Sun

If he does, he’ll feel the full force of my magic. I’ll make sure of it.

“But,” Maria says, her eyes flashing with something that looks like a personal vendetta. “It’s well known that Lucas has killed humans. Which, as you know, is against our laws. The Guardians have been unsuccessfully trying to hunt him down for over a year. Therefore, we will help your clan find and kill him. If additional downtown vampires end up as collateral damage, then that’s just the way things will have to be.”

“Can’t say I’ve ever felt sad about dead vampires,” Jax says, zeroing in on Damien.

Damien pays him no mind.

“What’s the plan to find Lucas?” he asks Maria.

Her gaze shifts between Damien and me, then back to Damien. “First, we need to gather more intelligence. We’ve been tracking Lucas’s movements, but he’s slippery—always a step ahead.”

“He certainly is,” Damien agrees, and she says something in response, but my mind is already elsewhere.

Specifically, on Lucas’s words from our first meeting in Central Park

If you ever get tired of playing house with His Royal Majesty, then come to Washington Square Park. From there, you’ll figure out how to find me. I’ll make sure of it.

“Washington Square Park,” I interrupt Maria mid-sentence.

All eyes snap to me, the tension in the room shifting to curiosity.

“What about it?” Jax asks.

Damien stiffens next to me, but I don’t look at him, keeping my focus on the shifters instead.

“Lucas mentioned it to me once,” I tell them, goosebumps prickling up my arms at the memory of his arrogant sneer. “He said if I ever wanted to find him, that’s where I should start.”

“And why would he want you to find him?” Autumn levels her gaze with mine, as haughty as ever.

“Because I’m star touched, and he’s not stupid,” I say simply. “He wants me on his side.”

“I’m sure that’s not all he wants…” Maria trails, her eyes far off again, as if she’s remembering something she’s purposefully not saying.

“No,” I agree, pushing down the disgust swirling in my stomach at the memory of the hungry way Lucas looked at me the night we met. “It’s not.”

“We’ll send someone in Amber’s place,” Damien says quickly, almost scrambling for words. “Get them to scout Lucas out.”

Jax leans forward, appraising me. “No. We’re not going to send anyone in Amber’s place,” he says. “Not when she’s perfectly capable of going herself.”

“Absolutely not,” Damien says.

“It’s a strategic move,” Jax counters. “Lucas wants her. We can use that to our advantage.”

“Strategic? It’s reckless.” A breeze stirs around Damien, making the three shifters stand more on edge.

But he reins it in, focusing on me instead, as if telling me to back him up on this.

“It’s not reckless,” I say slowly, making sure to not sound impulsive.

After all, this is thought out. It’s a plan.

Plans are the opposite of impulsive actions. The shifters see that. Hopefully Damien will see it, too.

“You’re worth too much to us—to all of us,” he says. “We can’t risk you like that.”

He can’t risk me like that.

While he doesn’t say it, the meaning in his tone is clear. He doesn’t want to risk losing me. Not again.

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