20. Amber

Startled and excitedat the same time, I read Morgan’s message out loud to Damien.

“We have a lead. More information to come later. Hang tight.”

His eyes sharpen, the nostalgia for his time with Viktor giving way to the intensity of the vampire king I first met. “Ask her if it’s about the potion,” he says, and I do as asked.

A few minutes pass, and we don’t get a reply.

“I don’t think she’s going to give us any more information.” I place my phone back on the table, face up, to make sure we don’t miss any messages.

“Whatever it is, we need to be ready,” he says. “We have to ensure youre as strong as possible, particularly with your focus on weapons training—a wise choice given the complications with your magic. But your magic, even weakened, is still useful. We’ll work on exercises to help you control and maximize what power you have left. And when we go out to test out the effects of the potion tomorrow night, you’ll be guarded. Heavily.”

“You still want me to go out there?” I ask.

“We need to learn how strongly the potion calls to the shadow souls,” he says. “Best to do it sooner rather than later. Before the potion…”

He trails off, apparently unable to say it out loud.

Before the potion consumes my magic entirely.

“Got it,” I say, and as we continue to eat, my thoughts drift to my desire to ask Damien about immortality. Mainly, if he thinks being star touched will make me immortal. And about what he thinks will happen to me if I ever turn into a vampire.

Would I lose the magic I have now, like other supernaturals do when they’re turned? Or would it be different for me, since I’m star touched?

But we can worry about those hypotheticals later.

Right now, we have to focus on the present. Mainly, on our plan for tomorrow night when I go out there to test how strongly the potion calls to the shadow souls.

And as the city lights twinkle below us, casting dangerous shadows across Damien’s face as he lays out the plan, I realize I wouldn’t want to face this unknown future with anyone else by my side but him.

Eventually, we finish dinner, and Damien sees me to the elevator.

Instead of pressing the button, he turns to face me, his sharp blue eyes holding a depth of emotion that makes my heart skip a beat. “Amber,” he starts, and there’s a vulnerability in his voice—a tenderness I haven’t seen from him before.

It’s… disarming.

“Yes?” I can barely breathe, caught up in the intensity of his gaze.

“I want you to feel safe,” he says, lifting his hand to caress my cheek. “With me, you’re safe. Always.”

In seconds, his face is inches away, his eyes searching for permission.

Finding it, he leans in, and his lips meet mine in a kiss that’s gentle, yet full of promise. And as we sink into each other, he opens the bond, saying all the things left unsaid—all the fears, hopes, and trust we’ve shared these past few weeks.

Breathless, I open the door between our souls in response.

As I do, the world around us fades into nothingness, and I never want to return.

But eventually, he pulls back, resting his forehead against mine, and we share a moment of perfect understanding.

“Thank you,” I whisper. “For believing in me.”

“You have far too much spirit for me to do anything but believe in you.” He gives me a mischievous smile, then moves to press the elevator button. “But moving forward, I need you to trust me. If there’s anything on your mind, come to me and let me know. I can’t help you when I don’t know what’s going on with you.”

“Deal,” I say, although the moment the word escapes my lips, I feel like I’ve already betrayed him.

Because my dreams of the Shadow Lord… are they something he needs to know?

No, I tell myself. They’re just dreams. They’re not real. They mean nothing.

The elevator dings, yanking me out of my thoughts.

“Sleep well,” he says, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. “I’ll see you tomorrow. We have a big day ahead of us.”

I haven’t slept well since the night we saw the Shadow Lord in the subway.

But I can’t bring myself to say it out loud. We have more important things to worry about than my bad dreams.

“Night,” I say instead, stepping into the elevator and giving him a small, hopeful smile as the doors close between us.

As I descend, his kiss lingers on my lips, a reminder of the connection we share. Not just from the duskberry bond, but from fighting together. Protecting each other. Trusting each other.

The moment I enter my room and close the door behind me, my phone buzzes again.

Morgan.

Heart racing, I unlock the screen to read her message.

Trust Cassandra. She’s going to reach out to you soon with a request—an important one. When she does, heed her call. It’s vital, not just for you but for all of us.

Before I can fully process her words, another text from her comes through.

Stay strong.

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.

The touch, so similar yet chillingly different, snaps me back to reality.

I have to fight this.

And so, I cling to my memory with Damien, letting it fill me with light, using it to push back against the Shadow Lord’s darkness.

“No,” I say again, this time with more force as I step out of his grasp. “I don’t want you. I want Damien—not you.”

The Shadow Lord’s expression darkens, anger flashing across his hauntingly beautiful features. “You think you’re strong because of him?” he hisses, the seductive charm gone, replaced by something far more sinister. “He can’t protect you from everything. Not from me, and especially not from the darkness that swirls in your veins, calling me to you each night.”

“The potion.” I suck in a sharp breath, which only seems to excite the Shadow Lord more.

“You drank it.” He gazes down at me, like he can see into my soul. “That was your choice. You might not realize it yet, but you want this. You want me. You wouldn’t have done it if you didn’t.”

“I don’t want you. I never will.” I hold out my arms, palms toward him, and call on my sun magic.

There’s nothing. Only an empty well.

It’s impossible to reach my light in his world of darkness.

He stares at me, and I can almost see the wheels turning in his mind, calculating his next move.

Then, without warning, he laughs. It’s haunting, and chilling, and dangerously melodic at the same time.

“Very well, Amber,” he says, but from the glint in his eyes, I know this isn’t over. “Cherish your time with the vampire king. Yet, when boredom strikes and you realize youre meant for greater things, know Ill be here, lurking in the shadows of your mind.”

“I’m not safe here,” I realize.

“Wrong,” he says. “With me, you’re always safe.”

With that, he fades away, dissolving into the darkness until I’m falling through mist, alone once again.