Page 5 of Poison Sun

“Is that all you’ve got?” Cassandra taunts, spinning around for another attack.

“Not even close,” I growl, and I reach for my magic, calling the warmth of the sun through my veins and shooting it out of my palms before she can blink.

She recoils, hissing, blinded by the sudden brightness.

But as the light dims, her smirk returns, and she circles me, a predator sizing up its prey. “Nice trick, but you’ll have to do better than that,” she says.

“Challenge accepted.”

I reach for my magic again, but there’s a film on top of it, slowing me down for a split second too long.

Cassandra launches herself at me again with an unnatural speed that slices through the air.

I dodge again, but this time she anticipates my movement, her air magic propelling her forward. She grabs my arm, pulling me to her, and then she’s behind me, her grip iron tight as she forces my arms back into a hold that’s both immobilizing and painfully tight.

Wind swirls around us. It pulls at my lungs, making it hard to breathe. My eyes water so much that I can barely see the other vampires watching us spar.

Cassandra might be even better at using her air magic than Viktor.

Determined to not let her win, I try to break free, but it’s like fighting against a gale.

“Struggling, are we?” Her voice is a whisper in my ear, cold and mocking.

“No.” I pull at my magic again, using it not to attack, but to heat up my body where her hands are wrapped around my skin.

Burn, I think, and I release my magic to scorch her where she’s touching me. It rises, meeting her skin, heating it in seconds.

The wind around us intensifies the distinct smell of burning flesh.

I prepare for her to let me go and to take advantage of the few seconds I’ll have to turn this fight around and attack.

She doesn’t.

Instead, she tightens her grip, grunting as she creates a sudden, cold gust of wind that sends me crashing to the ground.

The impact knocks all the air out at me at once. For a moment, all I can do is lie there, staring at the ceiling, trying to catch my breath.

Cassandra stands over me, not bothering to reach down to help me up.

“The events of last night seem to have worn you out,” she says. “But I’ve seen you fight. I know your style. And I can assure you that in the next few weeks, we’re going to have a lot of fun together.”

Amber

Cassandra clearly has a unique definition of “fun.”

I get myself together and push myself up, and as I regain my footing, a warm hand reaches out to me.

Abigail.

Ruby’s mom. Since she’s the mother of the only other known star touched in the world, she took me under her wing when I arrived at the Fairmont. She’s one of the few people on my side around here.

Although, after what happened with Viktor, maybe I need to question my instincts about who’s on my side and who isn’t.

Her bright turquoise eyes fill with concern as she examines me for any injuries, even though any I sustained are already healing.

“Are you okay?” she asks.

“All good,” I say. “Just a little winded.”

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