Page 24 of Secrets Of Blackwood

“Look at me,” she pleads, reaching for me, but I step back, out of reach.

“Goodbye, Lily,” I say, turning away from the only light I’ve ever known, condemning myself to the shadows once more.

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Tears streak down Lily’s cheeks, her breath coming in short gasps as the reality of my words sinks in. The sky seems to darken above us, a reflection of the turmoil churning inside me.

“Damien,” she whispers, her voice raw with emotion. “You can’t mean that. We belong together.”

My heart hammers against my ribs, threatening to break through. The desire to hold her, to wipe away her tears and promise everything will be alright is overwhelming. But I can’t. Victoria’s shadow looms over us, dark and menacing.

“Lily, you don’t understand—”

“Then make me understand!” Her eyes are wide, beseeching. They’re the color of a clear summer sky, and just as endless. I could drown in them if I’m not careful.

“Victoria knows about us,” I confess, my tone more defeated than I’d like. “She has something against me, something big enough to ruin both our lives.”

“Let her try!” Lily’s defiance slices through the hopelessness, but it’s a blade too dull against the armor of reality. “We’ll face her together.”

I shake my head, anguish gnawing at my insides. “It’s not that simple. She won’t stop until she gets what she wants—and right now, she wants me to end this.”

Lily reaches out again, her fingertips grazing my arm before I pull away. The brief contact sears my skin. I’m playing with fire, and I know it.

“Please, Damien.” Her voice breaks, and it feels like I’m being torn apart. “Don’t let her win. Don’t let her destroy this… us.”

Her desperation echoes my own internal scream. Yet, I harden my resolve, thinking of the bigger picture, the darker consequences.

“Believe me, nothing would give me greater pleasure than to tell Victoria to go to hell.” I pause, trying to memorize the contours of her face, knowing this might be the last time. “But I can’t risk your safety. I won’t.”

“Damien…”

“Goodbye, Lily,” I say again, firmer this time, though every cell in my body rebels against the word.

I turn on my heel, each step away from her like walking against a current determined to drag me under. I don’t look back; I can’t. If I see the pain etched on her face one more time, I might just shatter into pieces.

The echo of her sobs follows me, haunting every stride, and in that moment, I’ve never felt more alone. The world around us blurs—a canvas smudged with grays and shadows—as I walk away from the girl who means everything to me.

Because sometimes, love means walking into the darkness to keep the light in her safe.

8

Chapter Eight

The moment I storm into the room, Victoria’s icy eyes lock onto mine with unsettling composure. Her raven hair cascades over her shoulders like a dark waterfall, a stark contrast to the paleness of her skin and the steely blue gaze that doesn’t even flinch at my entrance.

“Victoria,” I growl, my voice thick with barely restrained fury. “How did you find out about my past?” The words come out more as an accusation than a question, and I watch her for any sign of weakness.

She leans back against the mahogany desk, the corners of her lips turning up ever so slightly in a chilling smile. “Damien, always so direct,” she muses, crossing her arms. “Some things are better left buried, don’t you think?”

Sweat prickles at the back of my neck, but I stand my ground. “Not when they’re being used against me. Tell me who told you.” My demand hangs between us, but she merely tilts her head, appraising me like a specimen under a microscope.

“Your concern should be less about how I know and more about what I’ll do with the information,” she says, her voice smooth as silk and just as dangerous.

I’m about to press further when Lily walks in, her golden hair catching the light, her expression fraught with confusion and worry. She looks between us, sensing the tension, her bright blue eyes searching mine for answers I’m not ready to give.

“Damien? What’s going on?” Her voice trembles just slightly, betraying her anxiety.

“Nothing, Lily,” I lie, trying to keep my tone even, though my heart races with the need to protect her from the truth and from Victoria’s venomous games.

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