10. Amber

Damien reachesfor my hand and squeezes it, his touch sending a burst of light through my body.

There are so many messages in that one touch.

I’m here for you.

We’re in this together.

You’re stronger than you know.

But he pulls away as quickly as he reached for me, and we follow Maria back inside the office.

My hand buzzes with the remembered warmth of his skin against mine, but I don’t look back over at him. Instead, I focus on Maria, Jax, and Autumn. Each of them has a resoluteness to their expressions, and it’s clear that whatever decision they made is final.

Maria speaks first.

“We discussed your proposal,” she begins. “And while we respect our alliance with you, and while we’ll work together to defeat the shadow souls, we will not get involved in a war between vampire clans.”

All the hope in my chest deflates at once.

Damien’s jaw tightens, but he nods for her to continue.

Autumn, however, speaks in her place.

“Involving ourselves in your battles without just cause is against Guardian law,” she explains. “And we stick to our laws. No matter what.”

She’s tough. I’ll give her that.

Jax is so angry he doesn’t speak. I half-expect him to shift into a wolf and attack on the spot.

If he does, he’ll feel the full force of my magic. I’ll make sure of it.

“But,” Maria says, her eyes flashing with something that looks like a personal vendetta. “It’s well known that Lucas has killed humans. Which, as you know, is against our laws. The Guardians have been unsuccessfully trying to hunt him down for over a year. Therefore, we will help your clan find and kill him. If additional downtown vampires end up as collateral damage, then that’s just the way things will have to be.”

“Can’t say I’ve ever felt sad about dead vampires,” Jax says, zeroing in on Damien.

Damien pays him no mind.

“What’s the plan to find Lucas?” he asks Maria.

Her gaze shifts between Damien and me, then back to Damien. “First, we need to gather more intelligence. We’ve been tracking Lucas’s movements, but he’s slippery—always a step ahead.”

“He certainly is,” Damien agrees, and she says something in response, but my mind is already elsewhere.

Specifically, on Lucas’s words from our first meeting in Central Park

If you ever get tired of playing house with His Royal Majesty, then come to Washington Square Park. From there, you’ll figure out how to find me. I’ll make sure of it.

“Washington Square Park,” I interrupt Maria mid-sentence.

All eyes snap to me, the tension in the room shifting to curiosity.

“What about it?” Jax asks.

Damien stiffens next to me, but I don’t look at him, keeping my focus on the shifters instead.

“Lucas mentioned it to me once,” I tell them, goosebumps prickling up my arms at the memory of his arrogant sneer. “He said if I ever wanted to find him, that’s where I should start.”

“And why would he want you to find him?” Autumn levels her gaze with mine, as haughty as ever.

“Because I’m star touched, and he’s not stupid,” I say simply. “He wants me on his side.”

“I’m sure that’s not all he wants…” Maria trails, her eyes far off again, as if she’s remembering something she’s purposefully not saying.

“No,” I agree, pushing down the disgust swirling in my stomach at the memory of the hungry way Lucas looked at me the night we met. “It’s not.”

“We’ll send someone in Amber’s place,” Damien says quickly, almost scrambling for words. “Get them to scout Lucas out.”

Jax leans forward, appraising me. “No. We’re not going to send anyone in Amber’s place,” he says. “Not when she’s perfectly capable of going herself.”

“Absolutely not,” Damien says.

“It’s a strategic move,” Jax counters. “Lucas wants her. We can use that to our advantage.”

“Strategic? It’s reckless.” A breeze stirs around Damien, making the three shifters stand more on edge.

But he reins it in, focusing on me instead, as if telling me to back him up on this.

“It’s not reckless,” I say slowly, making sure to not sound impulsive.

After all, this is thought out. It’s a plan.

Plans are the opposite of impulsive actions. The shifters see that. Hopefully Damien will see it, too.

“You’re worth too much to us—to all of us,” he says. “We can’t risk you like that.”

He can’t risk me like that.

While he doesn’t say it, the meaning in his tone is clear. He doesn’t want to risk losing me. Not again.

Not after Viktor pushed me in front of that train.

Rage courses through me at the memory of those headlights coming straight at me. Of how Viktor tricked me, tried to kill me, and ran off to join Lucas and the downtown vampires.

If we find Lucas, then we’ll find Viktor.

And then, with the help of the Guardians, they’ll both be dead.

“We only have one shot at this,” I say. “And Lucas asked for me. So, he’ll get me.”

A breeze stirs around us again, followed by a blast of emotions through the duskberry bond.

Damien’s angry.

Not just angry.

He’s as enraged as I was at the memory of Viktor throwing me in front of that train. Maybe even more so.

Maria steps forward and speaks before Damien has a chance. “We’ll set up surveillance around Washington Square Park. Use our connections to track any unusual activity. And we’ll prepare contingencies for every possible scenario.” She turns back to me, her eyes full of promise. “You won’t be alone out there.”

Jax gives Damien a challenging smile. “You brought the star touched here to show us the power you have on your side,” he says. “Now you think her incapable of helping us out where it can count?”

“I have a name,” I remind him. “Amber.”

“Another precious jewel.” Autumn rolls her eyes.

I clutch my fists by my sides, glowering at her. “At least jewels shine bright, unlike some seasons that just leave you cold and wanting,” I shoot back, and I swear the wood floor vibrates under my feet after I speak.

“Enough,” Maria breaks in, although she remains fixated on Damien. “Jax is correct—you came here with Amber to present a case for why our two groups should work together against a vampire who’s been breaking supernatural law. She’s a large part of why we agreed to your proposal. Don’t allow your feelings for her to lessen our strength.”

The words I said to Damien that night in the lobby flash through my mind.

Viktor decided I was an emotional weakness for you.

Then, there were Lucas’s taunts in Central Park about Damien growing soft.

His expression, when I look back over at him, is anything but soft.

“Fine,” he says. “But we do this carefully. With a plan I approve.”

Maria nods without missing a beat. “We have all day to get it in place,” she says. “Ideally, we’d go tonight. But given Amber’s newfound… ability as a shadow soul beacon, it will have to be daytime tomorrow.”

Conflict wars across Damien’s face.

He refuses to look at me. He doesn’t re-open the bond, either.

My heart drops at the realization that whatever warmth was rekindling between us has frozen over once more.

“Tomorrow works,” he finally says to Maria. “The sooner we take Lucas out, the safer we’ll be.”

Decision made, the rest of the day passes in a blur of activity and tension. Plans are laid, routes are mapped, and contingencies are put in place.

The sun sets late in the city in July—around eight thirty—but we head out around seven, to make sure we’re rested before the big day tomorrow.

“One more thing,” Jax says to Damien as we make our way out. “How are Abigail and Xavier doing?”

The smugness in his tone makes it clear he’s not asking out of concern for Abigail and Xavier. He’s goading Damien—prying for something.

“They’re doing well.” Damien’s response is measured, giving nothing away.

Maria glances between the two of them, not saying a word. There is, however, a warning in her gaze, as if she’s mentally projecting for them to stand down.

“Be sure to give them my regards.” Jax sneers, turns his back on us, and makes his way upstairs.

Autumn follows without bothering to glance behind.

“What was that about?” I ask when they’re gone.

Damien’s gaze follows Jax’s retreat before he answers. “Old rivalries,” he says simply. “Ones that aren’t my story to tell.”

“Understood.” I know when to back off, and this is one of those moments.

“I’ll see you tomorrow?” Maria asks.

“Yes. See you tomorrow,” Damien says, and then he opens the door and motions for me to leave first, as though I’m already his queen.