Page 46 of Realm of the Wicked

‘Do you?’

‘Yes.’ He arched a perfect dark eyebrow. ‘The only thing that hurt you in this house is me. Which is to be expected, I suppose. Not that it makes that particular pill any easier to swallow.’

‘No.’ The word slipped from my mouth before I could process what I was even saying.

Damien smirked. ‘No? If your circumstances are making you lonely, it’s because of me. If you miss your sister, that’s because of me too. Seems fairly straightforward to me.’

I shook my head. ‘Grace is alive because of you. Being here… being here is my own fault, really. If I’d done a better job of protecting her in the first place, there wouldn’t be a need for me to save her.’

Damien cocked his head, pressing his lips into a tight line as he eyed me. ‘And you’re here on the landing alone because…?’

I stayed silent, desperately not looking toward the corner I knew the Nihil hid in. Not that it mattered. The pieces fell into place, his eyes narrowing sharply. ‘Tell me I’m wrong, and you weren’t about to do what I think you were going to do.’

‘I don’t know what you mean,’ I squeaked, my voice cracking.

‘So you weren’t about to offer yourself to the Nihil?’ he hissed. ‘Tell me I’m wrong, Stella.’

I wanted to. I so badly wanted to tell him he was wrong, to watch the look of quiet disappointment slip from his face, and I didn’t know what that said about me, or the strange feelings for Damien I did my best to ignore. Kiss me.

But telling him he was wrong would be a lie. ‘They promised me I would see Grace again.’

He closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose as he exhaled, the mirror image of the night he appeared in my room. It felt as if he was gathering every ounce of his strength to not snap.

‘Stella?’ His voice was quiet, a dark demand I found myself unable to refuse.

‘Yes?’ I toed the fading carpet, working the tip of my shoe into a discolored damask. It might’ve been white once.

‘If I see you risk your life again like that, I will lock you in your room like the fragile princess you seem to think I consider you.’ When he opened his eyes again, his gaze bored into me, searing me from the inside out. ‘Do you understand me?’

He was throwing my words back at me. More importantly, he was throwing my words from that night back at me. Did it keep him awake at night like it did me?

I straightened my shoulders, not daring to look away. ‘Is that a threat?’

‘A promise.’ The words, silky and seductive, made me question if it was really such a bad thing after all. ‘You seem to not comprehend the lengths I will go to keep you safe, and are insistent on putting yourself in harm’s way. I’d rather like to go at least a few days without worrying about your safety. If you are unable to do this, then you have only yourself to blame for the consequences. But mark my words, Bambi. I will not allow you to put yourself in harm’s way again.’

I fought the shiver that wanted to race down my back at the thought that Damien might care enough about me to protect me like that. That was ridiculous, though. He cared about me as a prized possession if anything, the toy of the little boy who got whatever he wanted and didn’t like to share. Nothing more. Nothing like affection. Simple jealousy is all it was.

‘Do I make myself clear?’ he repeated.

‘Yes.’ I gritted my teeth.

Damien didn’t relax, tension stretching taut between us. He watched me carefully for several minutes before he spoke. ‘I want to show you something. Will you come with me?’

It was phrased as a question, but he didn’t wait for a response before he turned away from me, striding down the hallway.

I wasn’t about to miss out on whatever something was, and he knew it. With one last look toward the corner, I followed.

The trail he took led us back to the library. He held the door open for me, my shoulder brushing against him as I walked past. There wasn’t anything between us. There wasn’t. The goosebumps that exploded over my skin when I touched him meant nothing.

I meant nothing.

It was nothing.

‘You’ve already shown me the library.’ I crossed my arms, frowning. ‘If I’d known you had a poor memory, I would’ve stayed back with Archie. At least he’s a better conversationalist.’

‘Ah, yes, I can understand how you’d rather spend time with your beast from Hell who can’t speak. Much better company, I’m sure. Too bad I saw him taking advantage of Agatha’s absence and sneaking into the kitchen with Luna.’ Damien shot me a look and waved me forward. ‘And you can apologize for your smart mouth because I’m not trying to show you the library. What I want to show you is in the library.’

I laughed. ‘If you’re thinking I owe you an apology, you are sorely mistaken.’