Page 98 of Song of the Shadow Prince
His touch, his words were too much; they broke through my defenses. “I do trust you,” I whispered, my words barely audible over the thumping of my heart. I trusted him… to an extent. “But it’s complicated.”
“Then let’s uncomplicate it.” He leaned in closer. His lips were inches from mine, his breath warm against my skin. “Start by staying here with me. No more secrets.”
The temptation to give in, let go of all the worries, and lose myself in him was overwhelming. Even though I knew I had to return to my world because what was happening between us was as fleeting as it was intense. But in that moment, as the music of our breaths filled the room, nothing else seemed to matter.
I reached up and brushed my fingers against the stubble on his jaw, tracing the line of his strength, his resolve. “Damien,” I said softly. That was all the invitation he needed.
His lips met mine in a kiss that was both a promise and a balm. It was gentle at first, exploratory, as if he was memorizing the way I felt and responding as he learned. But soon it deepened, driven by all our unspoken words and pent-up emotions. His hands slid around my waist and pulled me closer, his touch firm yet tender, commanding yet giving.
As we kissed, the world around us dissolved. There was no beach house, no Elaria, no looming responsibilities—it was merely Damien, me, and the undeniable truth of our connection.
When we finally parted, breathless and slightly dazed, Damien rested his forehead against mine. “No matter what happens,” he breathed, “no one can take you away from me.”
I gulped, unable to speak, my emotions too tangled to unravel. In his arms, I felt safe but also daring, which was dangerous. But deep down, I knew the reality that loomed as relentless and immovable as the tide. And soon, I would have to face it. Make no mistake – if he knew I was leaving on Saturday, he would stop me. But for now, for tonight, I would allow myself this escape, this momentary lapse into what could have been.
“Damien,” I whispered as I pulled away, “why… why don’t we talk for a bit?”
He frowned. “Talk? Talk about what?” He held me as if he was worried I would run away from him.
The look in his eyes was concerning. Possessiveness glimmered in their depths, and I was what he wanted to possess.
I chuckled awkwardly as I reached for his hand and led him toward the sofa. “I don’t know much about you, and you don’t know much about me,” I ventured. “Before we go any further, don’t you think we should get to know one another?” I said, trying to stall. If there was one thing I was good at, it was talking. I could talk shit for days. And that was exactly what I planned to do until I made my escape Saturday.
He furrowed his brows, perplexed. “Why would you want to know anything about me?”
Because Damien had been isolated on an island all his life, his social skills left much to be desired. I held his hand and interlocked it with mine, offering a shy smile. “Because,” I giggled and tried not to roll my eyes, “I want to know everything about you. What you like, what you don’t like. What makes you smile, what makes you sad. Everything.”
Damien watched me intently as if he couldn’t believe what I was saying, or else he’d never heard someone say the words to him. Although I foundthathard to believe. Gianna seemed like the type to say all that gushy shit.
“Don’t you want to know about me, too?” I quirked a brow and smiled as I leaned forward. “I want to share my world with you.”
He swallowed thickly as he observed me, and I knew I had him when his hold on my hand tightened. Damien was the broody type, the type of guy who probably never felt loved. They were a hard nut to crack, but not impossible. I felt guilty manipulating him, but I had to remember he wanted something out of me, too. His intentions weren’t necessarily pure.
“But, I mean, if you don’t feel comfortable…” I grimaced as I started to backpedal.
“No!” He gripped my hand. “I do… I do feel comfortable,” he murmured, almost unsure of himself. “I want to know everything about you.” He leaned closer. “So tell me, Cat, who are you?”
24
DAMIEN
Saturday arrived so quickly, it was disconcerting. I’d spent every night at the beach house with Cat. Honestly, I didn’t expect to like her as much as I did. At first, I thought gaining her trust was vital and maybe getting her emotionally invested would force her to stay. Who would have thought that the one to get emotionally invested was me?
We spent each night sharing our lives with each other. She told me about her world and what she did. I told her a bit about me, but I mainly let her speak while I listened. I enjoyed listening. And it seemed that she enjoyed talking in turn.
But now it was Saturday, and Uncle Bai and I were preparing for tonight’s clandestine operation. The vast chamber that served as our planning room was lit by the eerie glow of molten rock that crept along the natural grooves of the walls in the volcano, casting unnerving shadows that danced like spirits whispering secrets of the old world.
Uncle Bai was methodically checking the items he would need for the evening—a cloak woven with spells for concealment, a pouch filled with gold coins enchanted to return to him should they be stolen, and a small, intricately carvedamulet that would allow him to communicate with me should the need arise.
“The vampires, nobles, and royalty think they're clever, meeting in secret to watch these fights,” Uncle Bai muttered as he adjusted the straps on his cloak. “But we'll be cleverer. This portrait they watch through, it’s no simple magic.”
I nodded, my mind already racing ahead to the challenges we would face. “I'll be overhead. If anything goes wrong once you're inside, use the amulet. I'll be close enough to respond quickly.”
The plan was risky. As a dragon, I had the advantage of flight and the cover of night, but discreetly following Uncle Bai would be challenging. Luckily, the sky was a tapestry of swirling clouds that heralded an incoming storm, which would provide the cover I needed to keep a watchful eye without revealing my position.
My uncle clasped my shoulder, his grip firm. “Be careful, Damien. These nobles, especially the royals, play games with lives for amusement. They won't hesitate to end yours if they discover you.”
His words were a stark reminder of the stakes. “I will. And the same to you. Be careful inside. If it feels wrong, pull out. We're not here to play heroes, just to gather information.”
