Page 74 of The Hellkeeper

“It’s over,” I whisper. “It’s really, really over.”

I press my forehead against her arm. “Damien burned it all down,” I breathe. “The village. The people. The ones who hurt us. They’re dead. All of them. There’s nothing left. They can’t touch us anymore.”

“Please, open your eyes,” I beg.

Nothing.

The heart monitor beeps beside me, its steady rhythm doing nothing to soothe the storm inside me.

“Wake up, Margaret,” I plead. “The world’s waiting for you.”

Tears fall without my permission. A hand settles on my shoulder, warm, familiar. Damien.

He hasn’t left my side since that night. Since he carried me out of Hell and never looked back.

“She’ll wake up,” he says softly. “She’s strong. Like you.”

My hand finds his, clutching it.

He’s here.

I’m here.

We’re free.

“The nurse is waiting for you.”

I stiffen. He notices instantly.

“Amelia,” he warns, eyes dark and endless, filled with a level of obsession I never thought I’d witness. “You have to do this, or they’ll get worse.”

We dealt with my wounds ourselves the day Damien rescued me. Unfortunately, the burns on my feet got infected. I don’t regret it. I couldn’t handle being around people that day. I needed quiet. I needed him.

The nurse is kind. Gentle. She always makes sure to be careful with me. But after everything, I developed a quirk, I hate anyone but Damien touching me.

“I’ll be right here,” he promises. “She just needs to change the dressing.”

I nod once.

A knock sounds at the door.

“Come in,” he calls.

The nurse steps in with bright eyes and a calm smile.

Damien shifts, pulling me into his lap, his arms caging me.

“You two are adorable,” she says. She always says that.

“Let’s get this over with, sweetheart,” she hums as she sets up.

I feel Damien’s body tense as she kneels and unwraps the gauze on my feet. He watches her closely, never letting her touch me without me being on him. I’m grateful she respects our boundaries. She’s an angel.

She works quickly, replacing the gauze and applying something cool that soothes the sting.

“I see a lot of couples,” she murmurs, “but you two? You’re something else.” She chuckles. “It’s the way he looks at you.”

I glance at Damien.

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