MasukJude’s POVMy gut’s twisting, telling me we need to hit the vampire realm’s archives to keep Raymond safe, and I’m itching to dig into the truth before it bites us in the ass. Raymond’s next to me, his light soft but steady, cutting through the gloom. He’s pale as hell from Kael’s betrayal, heart still shaky from the last fight, but his eyes burn with that hope I’d die for. My shadows curl around his arm, keeping me steady as much as him.“We’re raiding the vampire archives,” I say, voice rough, eyeing Akira, who’s testing her blade’s edge, her gaze sharp enough to cut stone. “We gotta know what those lords are hiding.”Raymond grabs my hand, his light warm, sending a spark through me. “This ties to Calix’s betrayal,” he says, voice low but fierce, like he’s already piecing it together. “The blade’s hum—it’s connected.”“Then we end it,” I say, pulling him close, kissing his forehead, tasting sweat and dust, our bond buzzing like a live wire. “You holding up, sunshine?”“Barely,” he s
Raymond’s POVJude’s beside me, his shadows curling around my arm, grounding me like an anchor, his eyes burning with anger but softening when they meet mine, like I’m the only thing keeping him from losing it.“Kael’s turned,” I say, voice low, light flickering as I face him in the courtyard, the team circled around, tense as hell. Jude grips my hand, shadows flaring like a pissed-off storm. “You sure, sunshine?” he says, voice rough as gravel, scanning Kael like he’s ready to tear him limb from limb.“He’s been off since the blade,” I say, heart aching from sealing those ancient entities, legs shaky from exhaustion. “We gotta confront him, Jude.”“You hurt him, you’re dead,” Jude growls at Kael, shadows twitching, his hand tight on mine. “What’s your damn game, you bastard?”Kael smirks, wild shadows dancing around him, leaning against a pillar like he owns the damn place. “Power over love,” he says, voice cold as ice, eyes sharp as knives, and it hits like a gut punch, confirming e
Jude’s POV“Hunter’s trail’s hot,” I whisper, shadows hiding us in the night, the underground ruins of the mortal realm smelling like damp stone and old blood. Raymond’s beside me, his light dim to keep us hidden, eyes wide but steady. “You sure about this, sunshine?” I say, voice low, grabbing his hand, shadows curling around his fingers.“Always,” he says, light flickering soft, his voice calm but hopeful. “We gotta stop that hunter. He said the guild’s coming back.”“Damn right,” I say, pulling him closer, kissing his temple quick, tasting sweat. “Stay close—safe.”“Always—my shadow,” he says, smiling, light sparking just enough to warm my chest. “Like when we chased Calix’s goons?”“Yeah,” I say, shadows twitching. “But this guy’s slippery. We fucked up letting him run.”“We’ll fix it,” he says, light steady. “You’re good at this, Jude.”“Only ‘cause of you,” I say, smirking, but my gut’s tight, thinking of that guild bastard from our home attack. “Ready?”“Born ready,” he says, l
Raymond’s POV“My powers feel stronger,” I say, light dancing in our living room, the stronghold’s walls glowing soft from my sparks. Jude’s sprawled on the couch, shadows curling like smoke, watching me with that grumpy smirk I love. “You showing off, sunshine?” he says, voice rough, leaning forward, eyes locked on mine.“Nah, just testing,” I say, grinning, letting my light flicker over a scratch on my arm, healing it slow. “Feels weird, you know? Like since we got that blade, my light’s… bigger.”“Big’s good,” he says, standing, shadows brushing my arm, cool and tingly. “You okay with it?”“Kinda nervous,” I admit, light dimming a bit. “What if I mess up?”“You won’t,” he says, stepping close, kissing my forehead quick. “You’re tough as hell now.”“Thanks,” I say, blushing, light sparking brighter. “Wanna help me practice?”“Damn right,” he says, shadows flaring. “Show me what you got.”I flick my light, brightening the room like a sunny day, and he laughs, shadows dancing with it.
Jude’s POV“We’re home,” I say, kissing Raymond under the sun, peace all around us in the stronghold’s sunny fields, the rebuilt homes glowing with wards. His light sparks, warm against my shadows, and he smiles, eyes soft but tired from all the fights—Calix, the blade, the echo. “Feels good, huh?” he says, voice low, grabbing my hand, his light steady despite his shaky legs.“Damn right, sunshine,” I say, pulling him close, kissing him again, tasting dust and him, our bond humming like a fire. “You okay?”“Barely,” he says, laughing soft, light flaring. “But with you? I’m great.”“Love you,” I say, voice rough, and he grins, light sparking brighter. “Love you too, Jude,” he says, and we walk toward the stronghold, hand in hand, feeling like we finally won.Dante’s leaning on a wall, blood gone from his shirt, shadows calm for once. “You two saved us all,” he says, smirking, but his eyes are warm. “This place looks good now.”“Thanks,” I say, shadows curling. “You helped, man. Remembe
Raymond’s POVThe urban ruins around us are a damn mess, broken buildings glowing with the blade’s light, air thick with the echo’s dark energy. I’m standing in the street, heart pounding, the Seraphin blade humming in my hand. “Echo’s rising—stop it,” I say, my light clashing with the ghostly uprising forces shimmering like pissed-off ghosts from Calix’s betrayal. Jude’s right beside me, shadows curling around my arm.“We can handle this, sunshine,” he says, voice rough, grabbing my hand, shadows cool against my sweaty skin.“Gotta do this, Jude,” I say, light sparking, legs shaky from the blade hunt. “This echo’s tied to that damn blade we found. It’s calling war.”“Together,” he says, kissing my cheek quick, tasting sweat. “Always.”“Damn right,” I say, smiling despite the pain in my chest. “You scared?”“Hell no,” he says, grinning, shadows flaring. “Let’s kick their ghostly asses.”Dante’s nearby, blood crusted on his shirt from the blade fight. “This is gonna be a shitshow,” he







