Page 31 of Secrets Of Blackwood

A scream shatters the quiet of the garden. It’s a sound laced with terror, unmistakably Lily. My heart leaps into my throat as I break into a run, every muscle coiled tight with dread. The past fades away, replaced by the urgent need to protect her.

“Stay away from me!” Her voice cuts through the thickening twilight, the words ragged with fear.

My feet pound against the dirt path, twigs snapping beneath my boots. Adrenaline surges, sharp as lightning, guiding me toward the peril I swore to shield her from. As I burst through the foliage, I see her, her golden hair like a beacon in the encroaching darkness, struggling against the grasp of a man whose face is obscured by a hood.

“Let her go!” My growl is primal, the fury bubbling up, threatening to spill over. I have to control it, can’t let it control me—not this time.

The assailant turns to face me, a sneer twisting his features. “Or what, Blackwood? You’ll do what you did to Alex?” His knowledge of my past sends a chill down my spine.

“Damien!” Lily’s plea is drenched in desperation, her bright blue eyes finding mine. There’s trust there, trust I don’t deserve, but I’ll die before I let it be shattered.

“Focus on me, Lily. Look at me. I’ve got you,” I say, keeping my voice even, though inside I’m a tempest of emotion. Every sinew tightens as I lunge forward, my fist connecting with the man’s jaw before he drops his hold on her.

“Run, Lily!” I bark, pushing her behind me as I grapple with the attacker, each blow exchanged a promise to keep her safe.

She hesitates, torn between fear and the urge to help, but then the sound of more footsteps approaching propels her into motion. “Damien,” she cries as she flees, her voice fading into the night.

“Go! I’ll find you! Go!” The last thing I need is for her to see the monster I fear I am. Not when I’m this close to losing control.

The man under me groans, and I seize the moment to land one final punch, knocking him out cold. My chest heaves as I scan the area, ensuring no further threats lurk in the shadows. With Lily gone and the immediate danger neutralized, the battle shifts inward once more.

I must confront the rival faction, lay bare the truth, and fight for the love that burns within me. For Lily, I’ll walk through fire and emerge scorched but steadfast. Because now, more than ever, I understand that the greatest risk isn’t loving her—it’s living in a world without her light.

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I find her in the garden, moonlight casting a silvery glow over her delicate form. She’s trembling, whether from fear or cold I can’t tell.

“Lily,” my voice breaks the silence like a thunderclap, and she turns to me, her blue eyes wide pools of worry. The sight of her—so vulnerable, so beautiful—it’s both heaven and hell.

“Damien.” Her whisper is a caress that soothes the raw edges of my soul.

I step closer, the night air thick with the scent of jasmine from the blooming flowers around us. “I can’t do this anymore,” I confess, every word strangled by the war raging inside me.

“Do what?” Her question is a soft plea, laced with confusion and fear.

“Be with you,” I choke out, and it feels like I’m ripping my own heart out. “Lily, I love you. God, I love you so much it hurts.” My hands clench at my sides, aching to touch her but fearing the consequences.

“Then why?” Tears glisten in her eyes, reflecting the torment I feel.

“Because every moment with me puts you in danger.” My admission hangs heavy between us, a dark shroud threatening to suffocate the life we could have had.

“Damien, I don’t care about—” Her protest dies as my phone vibrates violently against my thigh, a harbinger of doom.

Yanking it out, I see the message that turns my blood to ice — a photo of Lily with a target superimposed on her face. A single line sets my destiny: End it, or she dies.

My hands tremble, the device nearly slipping from my grasp. “They’re serious,” I rasp, showing her the screen.

“Who?” Her voice is barely above a breath.

“Enemies. My past coming back to haunt us.” I lock eyes with her, the gravity of our situation sinking in. “If I don’t end this, they will.”

“Damien… no.” Her voice cracks.

“I have to, Lily.” My declaration is a knife twisting deeper into the wound. “I have to keep you safe.”

“Damien, please.” She reaches for me, her fingertips grazing my arm, sparking a fire that threatens to consume us both.

But I step back, severing the connection. “It’s over,” I say, even as everything within me screams in protest.

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