Chapter 10
“Let me take Alaric down first. After that, whether you stay or go, that’s your call.”
Lying in bed that night, I tossed and turned. Couldn’t sleep.
Damian’s words kept replaying in my head. “Because I’m gonna chase
you.”
I stared at the ceiling. Sleep was a joke. Then it hit me. Last night, Alaric said something to Amara, something about Damian.
“Damian won’t kill me. Not while she’s around.”
“Why? Why would Damian hold back just because I was there?” I
wondered.
I shot upright in bed, mind spinning. Annoyed, I headed downstairs to cool off in the night air.
A sudden weight landed on my shoulders. A blanket. I turned and saw Damian leaning against the railing in his pajamas, looking half amused, half exasperated.
“You know, even if you’re healthy, freezing your butt off in the middle of the night isn’t a great plan.”
I tugged the blanket tighter around me and said flatly, “Thanks. But honestly, you could’ve pretended you didn’t see me.”
I only chose to side with Damian because he could beat Alaric. They’ve gone toe–to–toe so many times. I know exactly what he’s capable of
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But feelings? I wasn’t planning on that mess again. Getting emotionally tangled was how I got burned the first time.
Still, Damian didn’t look away. His gaze locked on me, dark and deep, as he could see through every wall I built.
“But I did see you,” he said quietly. “And I can’t help wanting to take care of you. So what now, Nicole?
“You really think I’m worse than him?
“You really don’t want to give me a chance?”
His voice was low, rich, and dangerously smooth. Even his breathing pulled me in.
The way he asked that made my heart skip a beat.
“Did I really not want to try?
“The second I came looking for him. Wasn’t that already my answer?” I couldn’t help but wonder.
Under the soft yellow lights, his sharp features looked unfairly good.
Honestly, Damian was hot. Way better–looking than Alaric.
“God, I felt so shallow,” I admitted to myself.
That voice again was warm and teasing, like it was curling around me.
“If you didn’t feel anything for me, why’d you wear that red dress I gave you?
“Why was I the first person you ran to when things went south? You weren’t scared I’d take advantage of the situation?
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“Or maybe deep down, you’ve been into me too?”
Each question stripped me bare. Like he was peeling back every layer I’d tried to keep hidden.
“Why did I choose him? Just for revenge? Just because he
was useful?
“Or maybe after all those fights–all the times he caught me and let me go–I started depending on him?
“Or maybe, I was just really into his body?” A barrage of questions flooded my head.
“I am not into your body!” I blurted.
I turned and smacked right into his chest.
When I saw that smug smile on his face, I suddenly realized I’d just walked right into his trap.
