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Raiden pins me with an amused look. “He didn’t even say anything?”
I shake my head. “It’s just...he’s a little pushy.”
“Pushy?” He quirks a brow at me.
“I kissed him,” I blurt out.
“What?”
“Well, he started it,” I say quickly. “I just didn’t stop it. I kissed him back.”
“And that got you mad?”
“Aren’tyoumad?”
“Why would I be mad?”
“I kissed Damon,” I whisper. “I wouldn’t blame Julian if he asked you to tear my eyes out for it.”
“Ordinarily, that’s how Julian would react,” Raiden says in a low, quiet voice. “But, he’s different with you. I guess it’s the same way with Damon.”
“What do you mean?”
“Damon hasn’t been intimate with Julian in over three years now.”
“Why not?” I ask before I realize it’s rude to pry.
“Damon hasn’t been himself since that one operation three years ago in Southern California,” Raiden explains.
“What happened?”
“We were in the middle of rescuing hostages who’d been captured by the leader of a terrorist group,” Raiden says. “Our troops formed the vanguard. Damon was leading them. We were working with other military groups, so I believe someone betrayed our information to the terrorists.”
The gravity of the situation doesn’t escape me. If I was guessing right, Raiden is talking about the mall attack that ended with the death of several soldiers. The only silver lining was that every hostage was freed and the terrorists captured.
“What happened to Damon?” I ask, feeling my anxiety spiking.
“He offered himself in exchange for the hostages’ lives,” Raiden says in a grim tone. “The news said that the terrorists were captured but they didn’t report about the leader escaping. He took Damon with him and kept him locked for over three months.”
“He hurt Damon?” I ask slowly.
“He nearly killed my brother,” Raiden says in a suddenly gruff voice. He clears his throat before continuing. “Damon was skin and bones when we got to him. Every inch of his skin was cut or pierced with hot iron nails. You could count the bones in his body that weren’t shattered. His corpse was meant to be sent to us after being starved to death.”
My insides shrivel up. I can’t even imagine going through the torture Damon went through.
“Damon’s body healed but his mind...” Raiden shakes his head. “There’s a part of him that was completely changed after that. Julian keeps trying to break through his barriers but fails every time. If Damon kissed you, it means you’ve wakened a dead corner of his heart.”
“That’s worse,” I say.
“What do you mean?”
“Julian will think he likes me more,” I say, feeling worse than before. “I don’t want to do that to him. He’s been so kind and caring to me.”
“Forget about Julian for a second.” Fixing me with a grim look, he asks, “Did you like kissing Damon?”
I’m torn by the question. Is it safe to confess to Raiden?
“Tell me the truth, Iris.” Raiden’s aura suddenly changes as his alpha dominance slams at me.
