Shadow Reckoning

The rain was relentless, washing the city in a haze of neon reflections. Shade and Jade moved through the backstreets, silent shadows cutting through the dark. Their bodies were still humming from the tension, from the adrenaline, from each other.

But they didn't have time to process it.

Not when Lucian was still out there.

Jade glanced at him as they slipped into an abandoned garage, their temporary safehouse. "So… you wanna tell me what the hell happened back there?"

Shade leaned against a rusted workbench, running a hand over his face. "Lucian isn't just running a crime syndicate. He's playing with something worse."

Jade crossed her arms. "Worse how?"

Shade exhaled. "He did something to me. Or tried to. I don't know what it was, but I felt it." His jaw tightened. "It wasn't just power. It was… something old."

Jade studied him. "You saying he's some kind of cult leader?"

Shade met her gaze. "I'm saying he's not just a man anymore."

A beat of silence.

Then Jade muttered, "Great. Just what I fucking needed—crime lords with a side of supernatural bullshit."

Shade smirked despite himself. "Yeah. Same."

Jade stepped closer, her eyes searching his face. "Are you okay?"

Shade hesitated. The answer was no.

Because since that moment in the cathedral, something had shifted inside him.

He could still hear Lucian's voice in his head, whispering.

And the worst part?

A small part of him wanted to listen.

He shoved the thought down. "I'll live."

Jade studied him for another second before nodding. "Good."

Then she grabbed his collar and pulled him into a kiss.

This time, there was no hesitation. No restraint.

It was rough, needy—more than just hunger. It was desperation. The kind that came from knowing that tomorrow might not come.

Shade groaned, backing her up against the wall, his hands gripping her waist, pulling her closer. Jade's nails raked down his back, dragging his jacket off, her body arching into his.

He wanted to lose himself in her.

He needed to.

But before he could take it further—

His phone vibrated.

Jade exhaled, forehead against his. "You have got to be kidding me."

Shade clenched his jaw, forcing himself to answer. "What?"

Lauren's voice came through, sharp and urgent. "Shade. We have a problem."

Shade sighed. "Of course we do."