Page 49 of Poison Sun

But we can worry about those hypotheticals later.

Right now, we have to focus on the present. Mainly, on our plan for tomorrow night when I go out there to test how strongly the potion calls to the shadow souls.

And as the city lights twinkle below us, casting dangerous shadows across Damien’s face as he lays out the plan, I realize I wouldn’t want to face this unknown future with anyone else by my side but him.

Eventually, we finish dinner, and Damien sees me to the elevator.

Instead of pressing the button, he turns to face me, his sharp blue eyes holding a depth of emotion that makes my heart skip a beat. “Amber,” he starts, and there’s a vulnerability in his voice—a tenderness I haven’t seen from him before.

It’s… disarming.

“Yes?” I can barely breathe, caught up in the intensity of his gaze.

“I want you to feel safe,” he says, lifting his hand to caress my cheek. “With me, you’re safe. Always.”

In seconds, his face is inches away, his eyes searching for permission.

Finding it, he leans in, and his lips meet mine in a kiss that’s gentle, yet full of promise. And as we sink into each other, he opens the bond, saying all the things left unsaid—all the fears, hopes, and trust we’ve shared these past few weeks.

Breathless, I open the door between our souls in response.

As I do, the world around us fades into nothingness, and I never want to return.

But eventually, he pulls back, resting his forehead against mine, and we share a moment of perfect understanding.

“Thank you,” I whisper. “For believing in me.”

“You have far too much spirit for me to do anything but believe in you.” He gives me a mischievous smile, then moves to press the elevator button. “But moving forward, I need you to trust me. If there’s anything on your mind, come to me and let me know. I can’t help you when I don’t know what’s going on with you.”

“Deal,” I say, although the moment the word escapes my lips, I feel like I’ve already betrayed him.

Because my dreams of the Shadow Lord… are they something he needs to know?

No, I tell myself. They’re just dreams. They’re not real. They mean nothing.

The elevator dings, yanking me out of my thoughts.

“Sleep well,” he says, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. “I’ll see you tomorrow. We have a big day ahead of us.”

I haven’t slept well since the night we saw the Shadow Lord in the subway.

But I can’t bring myself to say it out loud. We have more important things to worry about than my bad dreams.

“Night,” I say instead, stepping into the elevator and giving him a small, hopeful smile as the doors close between us.

As I descend, his kiss lingers on my lips, a reminder of the connection we share. Not just from the duskberry bond, but from fighting together. Protecting each other. Trusting each other.

The moment I enter my room and close the door behind me, my phone buzzes again.

Morgan.

Heart racing, I unlock the screen to read her message.

Trust Cassandra. She’s going to reach out to you soon with a request—an important one. When she does, heed her call. It’s vital, not just for you but for all of us.

Before I can fully process her words, another text from her comes through.

Stay strong.

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