Page 50 of Poison Sun

My fingers hover over the keyboard, my mind swirling with questions.

What does Cassandra want from me? I finally send.

Frustratingly, the message doesn’t show as delivered.

Morgan? I try again.

Again, it doesn’t deliver.

I huff in frustration and throw the phone onto my bed. This is ridiculous. I’m supposed to trust Morgan, but how can I do that when she doesn’t trust me with everything she knows?

It’s infuriating.

But since glaring at my phone isn’t getting me anywhere, I head to the bathroom to get ready to go to sleep.

When I get back into bed, the messages still haven’t delivered. So, giving up, I lie back, staring at the ceiling, and turn off the lights.

The darkness envelops me in a second.

Sleep comes surprisingly easily.

Then, it happens.

The dream begins as it often does, with shadows swirling around me, thick and oppressive.

Soon, he’s here. The Shadow Lord, emerging like a prince of darkness. He’s hauntingly beautiful, and while I know I should, I can’t move away.

“Amber,” he says, his voice a melody that resonates through my soul. It calls to me, tempting me, teasing me.

But no.

I can’t let him get to me.

I won’t let him get to me.

“Stay away from me.” I glare at him, as if my gaze can cut through him like a knife.

He’s unfazed.

“Why do you fight what you know you want?” he asks, and from his tone, he sounds legitimately curious.

“I don’t want this,” I say, but my heart’s hammering in my chest as I remain trapped in those mesmerizing, inky eyes as dark as night, like I always am.

Eyes that are becoming increasingly familiar.

“I can give you more power than you’ve ever dreamed.” He smirks knowingly, as if he already has me. “I don’t want to hurt you, Amber. I want to help you. What can I do to get you to understand?”

“You’re lying.” I step back, shaking. “You want to take my power. You don’t want to give me anything.”

“Are you so sure about that?” The challenge in his eyes scares me, yet intrigues me at the same time. He must sense it, because he continues without giving me time to reply. “I can feel your curiosity. Your desire. Your need to know why I come for you each night.”

“No,” I say, but as he gets closer, I remain trapped in his haunting gaze, unable to move away. His hunger pulls at me, teasing me, taunting me.

As much as I hate it, a part of me doesn’t want him to stop. And before I realize what’s happening, my breaths shallow, and it’s just me and him, floating in a sea of darkness.

“Yes.” His face is inches away, and he lifts his hand to let his finger brush against my cheek.

Just like Damien did earlier before he kissed me.

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