Page 118 of Sticks & Serpents

My chest tightened at her words, something raw and deep twisting inside me. I had never loved her more than I did in that moment—amidst the ashes and uncertainty of everything around us.

Leaning in, I kissed her again, softer this time but no less claiming. The taste of smoke lingered on our lips as I pulled away just enough to search her eyes. “Then we don’t need the world anymore.”

I meant it. Whatever was out there—whatever judgments or consequences awaited us—I didn’t care. All that mattered was here and now, with her nestled against me like a lifeline.

The wailing sirens grew louder as they approached our sanctuary of ruin, but I couldn’t pull myself away from her warmth. It felt like a cocoon—a protective bubble against everything that threatened to tear us apart. Her fingers brushed against my chest as if trying to memorize the rhythm of my heartbeat, anchoring us both amidst the impending chaos.

“Damien,” she whispered softly, concern creeping into her voice.

“What?” I searched her face for worry; it always seemed to linger just beneath the surface whenever we ventured too close to this edge together.

“I love you.”

I brushed a thumb across her cheekbone, feeling every curve of her face under my fingertips like it was an intricate map I needed to navigate carefully. “I love you too, little lamb. You're mine, bound by blood. I'm never letting you go again."

Epilogue

From Flames to Draft Day: Is Damien Sinclaire Crestwood’s Most Dangerous Export?

Kara Paige | July 11

Kara Paige:Sinclaire, thanks for coming in. I wasn’t sure you’d show.

Damien Sinclaire:You’ve been begging for this interview for three weeks, Paige. Don’t act surprised.

Kara:Fair. And you brought…glances at HollyMiss Walker.

Holly:quietlyI told you that you didn’t need me here.

Damien:She stays.

Kara:a beatOkay. Let’s start with the obvious. Your family home was burned down last week. Your mother was inside.

Damien:lights a cigarette, ignoring the ashtrayYeah.

Kara:Any comment on how that fire started?

Damien:Fires start all the time. Bad wiring. Poor design. Maybe someone forgot to blow out a candle.

Kara:It was ruled arson.

Damien:blows smokeHuh. Imagine that.

Kara:And your mother?

Damien:She’s brain dead. Machines are breathing for her now. We’ll probably unplug them soon, once the PR people stop pretending to care.

Holly:tenses beside himDamien…

Damien:What?

Kara:There are rumors circling that the fire wasn’t just a tragedy. That it was personal.

Damien:It was always personal. That house never felt like home anyway.

Kara:blinksRight. Okay. Shifting gears. Word on the street is that you’ve been approached by the Serpents. Care to confirm?

Damien:smiles for the first timeThey want killers on their roster. I fit the bill.

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