Page 6 of Poison Sun

I glare at Cassandra, wishing I could burn her smug smile off her face. However, despite the angry heat rising inside me, I push it down.

Enough of the vampires around here already dislike me. I need to fight my impulsive instincts, and refrain from injuring them outside of sparring sessions.

I just wish it wasn’t so incredibly tempting to show them what I’m made of.

Abigail glances at Cassandra with a frown, then turns to Damien, who’s now standing much closer to us than he was before.

“I think I should be the one to oversee Amber’s training,” she says. “She needs to work with someone she trusts. Someone who can look out for her. Someone who truly wants to help her.”

Damien’s eyes narrow, and no one speaks. “Cassandra is one of the strongest magic users we have. She’ll do anything to protect this clan, and she’s an expert fighter,” he finally replies. “As I said, she’ll be taking over Amber’s training. My decision is not up for debate.”

There’s a distinct warning in his tone.

You do not question your king.

Cassandra cuts in, focusing on Abigail. “If you’re so eager to help, perhaps it’s time you and Xavier join the nightly patrols against the shadow souls. We need all the help we can get.”

Abigail’s expression hardens, and she glances over at her husband—a tall man with a rugged look and a guarded stance—before returning her attention to Cassandra. “Xavier is still learning how to control his bloodlust,” she says carefully. “I, however, have conquered mine. And you’re right—I should be joining the patrols. So, when should I start?”

Cassandra takes a small step back.

Abigail’s response clearly wasn’t what she expected to hear.

“Tonight. You’ll partner with Yannick,” Damien says, and I can’t help noticing that Abigail doesn’t glance back over at her husband.

He disapproves. But he isn’t going to argue with Damien. There’s a hierarchy around here, and Damien is at the very top of it.

Cassandra sizes me up, then turns back to Damien, mischief dancing in her eyes. “I propose that Amber join us as well,” she says, and I just stand there, unsure if I heard her right.

I’m a beacon for shadow souls.

She can’t actually want me to leave the Fairmont, risk them finding us, and then have them launch a giant attack on us?

“She’s proven she’s a capable fighter,” Cassandra continues, as if her request is perfectly reasonable. “She helped successfully navigate the Labyrinth, and she held her own against Viktor. She’s star touched—chosen specifically to help in this war. We can get rid of the shadow souls faster if we draw them to us instead of hunting them down. We should test the true effects of the potion… unless you have other reasons for wanting to keep her locked in here?”

The room buzzes with the weight of Cassandra’s suggestion. Murmurs from the crowd—some agreeing, and some thinking that this could end us all.

My senses are quickly overwhelmed with a rush of Damien’s emotions through the duskberry bond. Protectiveness, concern, and an overwhelming desire to keep me safe, no matter what the cost.

He doesn’t want me to leave.

And it pisses me off.

Because he tricked me into the duskberry bond. He connected me to his emotions without my consent. He trapped me inside the borders of Manhattan.

He clearly doesn’t trust me to make my own decisions.

I will not let him make this one for me. Or any more of them, for that matter.

“I’m going out there.” My voice slices through the tension, and the gym falls silent.

Damien’s eyes lock with mine, and the duskberry bond pulses with his urge to keep me safe, to pull me back from the edge of this decision. But there’s also a tinge of respect. A reluctant admiration for my stand.

And I’m glad for it.

Cassandra simply nods in what seems like approval, saying nothing.

The final call is Damien’s to make.

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