Page 48 of Poison Sun

“I can find him,” Damien finally breaks the silence.

“How?”

“After over a century of knowing each other, I know Viktor’s favorite spots downtown. I can ask the Guardians to search those places. It might be a tedious process, but eventually, we’ll find him.”

“You think the Guardians will help with that?” I ask. “Because as far as I’m aware, Viktor hasn’t broken any supernatural laws.”

Sure, the Guardians frown upon the fact that Viktor tried to kill me. But the job of the Guardians is to protect humans from being killed and to ensure supernaturals aren’t being bitten.

Viktor didn’t bite me. He just tried to kill me.

Which, to them, apparently doesn’t count. Especially since their laws don’t say anything about the star touched.

They seriously need to amend their laws.

“You weren’t there, but I saved Maria’s life back in Lucas’s building,” he tells me. “She owes me. Plus, I’m not asking her to go against Guardian law and attack Viktor. I’ll simply be asking her to find him.”

“It’s worth a try,” I say.

After all, anything that could result in Viktor getting what’s coming to him has my support.

Then, much to my surprise, Damien proceeds to tell me about some of the good times he had with Viktor back in the day. Everything from nights at their favorite jazz club in the Roaring Twenties, to when they entered the New York City marathon in the eighties.

“We once volunteered at a soup kitchen during the Great Depression,” he continues. “It was Viktor’s idea. We spent the day serving food, talking to people, and listening to their stories. It was humbling—a reminder of the fragility of life and the strength of the human spirit.” He pauses, as if he’s experiencing that moment all over again. “That day, I saw a side of Viktor I hadn’t known existed. I never imagined he’d turn on me.”

“That was a long time ago,” I say gently, even though it feels strange to give Damien life advice, given how short mine’s been compared to his. “People change.”

“They do,” he agrees, returning his attention to his food.

We’re finishing up when my phone buzzes with a text.

And my heart jumps when I see it’s from Morgan.

Amber

Startled and excited at the same time, I read Morgan’s message out loud to Damien.

“We have a lead. More information to come later. Hang tight.”

His eyes sharpen, the nostalgia for his time with Viktor giving way to the intensity of the vampire king I first met. “Ask her if it’s about the potion,” he says, and I do as asked.

A few minutes pass, and we don’t get a reply.

“I don’t think she’s going to give us any more information.” I place my phone back on the table, face up, to make sure we don’t miss any messages.

“Whatever it is, we need to be ready,” he says. “We have to ensure you're as strong as possible, particularly with your focus on weapons training—a wise choice given the complications with your magic. But your magic, even weakened, is still useful. We’ll work on exercises to help you control and maximize what power you have left. And when we go out to test out the effects of the potion tomorrow night, you’ll be guarded. Heavily.”

“You still want me to go out there?” I ask.

“We need to learn how strongly the potion calls to the shadow souls,” he says. “Best to do it sooner rather than later. Before the potion…”

He trails off, apparently unable to say it out loud.

Before the potion consumes my magic entirely.

“Got it,” I say, and as we continue to eat, my thoughts drift to my desire to ask Damien about immortality. Mainly, if he thinks being star touched will make me immortal. And about what he thinks will happen to me if I ever turn into a vampire.

Would I lose the magic I have now, like other supernaturals do when they’re turned? Or would it be different for me, since I’m star touched?

---