23. Amber

I paceback and forth in my room, glancing out at the final rays of twilight leaving the city skyline, with my phone in hand.

The Shadow Lord didn’t bother me after I pushed him out of my dream last night, so I was able to get in some good sleep after that.

I’m going to need it for what’s coming next.

In the meantime, I’ve lost count of the number of texts I sent to Morgan. Each time I bring up our messages on the screen, none of them show as delivered. Every call goes straight to voicemail. I rebooted my phone, hoping the issue is on my end, but have had no luck. Either she turned off her phone, blocked me, or is somewhere with no service.

A knock on my door pulls me from my thoughts.

“Amber?” Damien’s voice, smooth and reassuring, filters through the wood.

I rush over, pull the door open, and his icy blue eyes scan my face, filling with concern.

“We’re about to leave,” he says, and while he looks over my gear in approval, the worry doesn’t leave his eyes. “Are you sure you’re up for this? We can always wait for another night. After yesterday’s events, I’m sure they’ll all understand.”

He’s saying it, but I’m not sure he believes it.

After all, he said it the other night: we need to do this sooner rather than later. Before my magic weakens even more.

“I spent the entire day on the roof, recharging my magic,” I tell him. “I feel good. I promise.”

The confidence in my tone makes me proud. Because I am confident. The others will have my back out there. I’ve faced shadow souls before. My sun magic still exists—even though it’s weaker than usual—and I’ve done a good job learning to fight with weapons.

I’ve got this.

And even though it’s all business between us right now, I can’t get the kiss from last night out of my mind.

From the longing way he’s looking at me, I think he feels the same.

However, neither of us open the duskberry bond. We have important things to do. We can’t afford to get distracted. I know it, and I’m sure he knows it, too.

So, we go through the hallway, down the elevator, and into the lobby where Abigail, Cassandra, Yannick, and a few groups of vampires I recognize are gathered. They’re all armed and in their gear, a reminder of the dangers we’re about to face.

I’m ready, I repeat to myself, breathing slowly and steadily to keep myself grounded. I’ve got this. No one’s going to let anything happen to me.

“Remember, the goal tonight is observation and protection,” Damien tells the group, the command in his voice leaving no room for argument. “Amber’s safety is our top priority.”

I feel a dozen eyes on me, some curious, others calculating. Cassandra nods at me, a silent show of support that I cling to through the tension.

Trust Cassandra, Morgan’s text from last night flashes through my mind.

I give my trainer a small smile of gratitude, which isn’t returned. Instead, she reaches for Yannick’s hand, who’s standing next to her, and gives it a small squeeze.

Interesting. I knew they were together, but I’ve never seen them be openly affectionate.

The city air is crisp as we step outside—Damien leading the way—the buildings the only light against the dark night. As quietly as possible, we move through the streets with purpose, heading toward Central Park. The walk is only a few blocks, but it feels like an eternity.

As we approach one of the southeast entrances of the park, Damien signals for us to slow down. There are a few more hours until the park closes—when it’ll transform into the realm of the fae—which gives us plenty of time to complete our “field test” and get out of there before the magic takes hold.

I glance around, ready for shadow souls to attack before we can step inside. But, there’s nothing.

Maybe the potion doesn’t call to them as strongly as we suspected.

This should be good news. But I still can’t shake away the feeling that something’s off.

Damien nods to the group, and we slip into the park like shadows merging with the night. There are people strolling around, posing for photos with each other, but still no sign of shadow souls.

Even though Abigail’s partner while guarding at night is Yannick, she remains close by my side. A quick glance over my shoulder shows that Yannick’s staying near Cassandra, the two of them sharing whispered secrets back where they trail behind.

Eventually, we move deeper into the park, away from the well-lit paths and into an area where the city’s skyscrapers are nothing but distant silhouettes. It’s quieter here—the type of quiet that amplifies every small sound into a warning.

My heart races as the knowledge of being a magical beacon suddenly feels more real than before. It’s far more frightening now that I’ve made myself a walking target.

Maybe this was a bad idea.

But we’re already here, putting ourselves at risk for our little “science experiment.” Turning back now would be a waste. I’m committed, and I don’t quit after setting my mind to something.

Soon, Damien signals us to stop.

We’re in a secluded glade, surrounded by ancient trees that watch us with unseen eyes. Nothing nearby is moving—at least, not yet—which hopefully means the shadow souls still haven’t tracked me down.

With no time to waste, the group spreads out, forming a protective circle around me and Damien. Cassandra and Yannick position themselves with their backs to us, eyes scanning the darkness.

We stay like that for about fifteen minutes.

“I don’t like this,” Abigail whispers. “It’s too quiet.”

As if on cue, the shadows around us surge to life.

They emerge from the darkness in numbers that make my heart sink, their forms shifting and twisting in ways that shouldn’t be physically possible.

Damien’s at my side, his sword drawn and ready.

“Stay close,” he tells me, a steady beacon in the approaching chaos.

Our vampires are trained with both weapons and air magic, and they defend themselves with supernatural swiftness, running their blades through the chests of the shadow souls and melting them into puddles of goo on the grass.

As instructed, I don’t move away from Damien. And much to my relief, when I reach for my magic, its warmth pulses at my fingertips. It’s weaker than before I drank the potion, but it’s there—my light in this sea of darkness.

But there are so many of them. And it’s not long until they break through the vampires standing protectively around me and Damien and launch themselves toward me, their spindly fingers ready to wrap themselves around my neck and hold me down so they can suck my soul dry.

And then, without a second to spare, I push my magic outward in a bright light that slices through the shadows to hold off as many of them as possible.