Page 46 of Shadowkissed

Dante steps closer to me. His voice is softer now. “And if he tries to take you?”

“I don’t want to find out what happens if he does.”

For a moment, we just stand there. Him breathing hard. Me trying not to fall apart.

And then I whisper, “I need to see Thorne.”

Dante tilts his head. “Thorne? Not as in the Seelie Court, The–”

I nod. “Yes.” I respond, cutting him off. “He’s trained me when no one else has. When I was left to be bargained for or to die. He’ll be furious as sin about this, especially after the warnings. But he’s the only one who might know what to do. There has to be another way—some way to block the bond from leaking power. Some kind of binding or warding. If not for me... then foryou.”

Dante studies me. “You trust him?”

“With my life.”

“Then let’s call him.”

I nod, drop to my knees on the floor, and brush my fingers across the stone. The air chills instantly, my runes flaring to life like they’re waking from a dream.

“What are you doing?” Dante crouches beside me, watching.

“I’m drawing a summoning rune. Not to bring him here—but to send a message.”

He watches the lines form under my fingers, glowing faint blue as they settle into the ground. When I’m done, I press my palm to the center and whisper Thorne’s true name. A flicker of power sparks through the room.

“It’s done.”

Dante’s hand hovers near my back. “What now?”

I look over my shoulder, shadows coiling gently at my heels.

“Now,” I say, “we call the supernatural council.”

His brows lift. “You’re not messing around anymore.”

I look him dead in the eyes.

“ I’ve put this off long enough, but with my powers growing, Seraphiel has made is move and he wants thissoon.Because this isn’t just about us now. If we don’t stop Seraphiel before the ritual begins... we lose everything. And so will the rest of the world.”

22

DANTE

I’ve fought wraiths with bone daggers. Faced down corrupted alpha wolves with madness in their eyes. Once got stabbed in the neck by a demon who smiled while he did it.

But this supernatural council shit? Itrattlesme. Not that I show it.

I stand still, arms crossed, every inch of me braced and unreadable, just like I was trained. But inside? There’s this low, hot hum under my skin, like my instincts know I’m walking into something too big for fists and fangs.

I’ve heard of the council before. Everyone has.

The elite circle that governs what’s left of the supernatural realms—witch circles, vampire dynasties, elemental lineages, old-blood shifter families. They step in when balance tips too far. When worlds begin to bleed.

They’ve never invited me.

Why would they?

I’m a lone wolf. A bounty hunter. A traitor to my former pack and a mutt with more scars than titles. I don’t belong to anyone anymore. But now I belong toher.And I’m not walking into this pit of snakes and ancient politics without remembering that.

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