Page 7 of Shadowkissed

The rogue drops like a wrecking ball, claws out, teeth bared, aiming straight for the man’s throat.

I react before I think.

My hand flies up, runes along my forearm flaring to life. A column of shadow bursts from the ground between them, slamming into the rogue mid-air and hurling him sideways into the dumpster with acrashthat rattles the metal all the way to the rooftops.

The shifter spins, already crouched and ready to shift—eyes glowing now, body tensed to strike.

But he’s not looking at the rogue.

He’s looking atme.

And my glamour’s gone.

The tattoos shine like wildfire across my skin. My eyes glow violet, not with magic borrowed, but with power Iam. The shadows cling to my fingers, dripping like ink.

His gaze doesn’t hold anger. Or fear. Not yet.

But he sees me.Reallysees me.

“No,” I whisper. “No, no, no?—”

I bolt.

I don’t wait for him to speak, or shout, or follow. I don’t give him a name, or a reason, or a promise.

The shadows wrap around my legs like silk and drag me down into the street’s cracks.

I disappear before the truth has a chance to settle.

Because if he looks at me too long…

He’ll stop seeing a woman who saved his life and start seeing what I really am.

Adark fae.

A walking prophecy.

And a monster the world’s been waiting to burn because even with the veil lifting, no one, not even other paranormal creatures, are ready for what I am.

4

DANTE

Well… fuck me sideways.

She’s gone.

Again.

One second she’s blazing with power, tattoos glowing like lightning carved into skin, shadows wrapping around her like living armor—and the next?

Nothing.

She disappears into the cracks of the alley like the whole goddamn night made her up.

But that was real. I know it. I felt it in my bones.

I’m still standing in the alley, breathing like I just ran a marathon, adrenaline jacked through the roof, staring at the empty space she vanished from.

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