Page 66 of Song of the Heart Scale
I spun around, dress swirling around my ankles, just in time to see Damien charge into the foyer. His dark hair was windswept, his clothes were damp with sweat and mist, and his eyes—those endless, obsidian eyes—locked onto mine like I was the only solid thing in the room.
“Cat!” he breathed, crossing the marble floor in great strides before I could even say his name.
He didn’t stop to explain. He didn’t ask permission. He just wrapped me in his arms, strong and shaking and all-consuming. The force of him pulled the breath from my lungs. I clung to him, burying my face in his chest and inhaling the familiar scent of pine smoke and something darker—something uniquely Damien.
“By the Immortals,” he whispered into my hair. “I thought you might have left.”
I pulled back just enough to look up at him. “I’ve been here, waiting for you. But I wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye. I just... needed air. And maybe some emotional stability.”
He exhaled a shaky laugh, resting his forehead against mine for the briefest second before he straightened, though he still gripped my arms as if to convince himself I was real.
Royal Prince Bai stepped in behind him, his expression tight. His eyes briefly met mine, then shifted away. Whatever had happened, it wasn’t good.
“Damien…” My hands slid down his chest to rest on his forearms. “What happened?”
His jaw clenched. The shadows in his gaze deepened. “It was chaos,” he said quietly. “The ceremony... it started fine. Thorne said all the right words, wore all the right robes. The High Priest crowned him.”
“Okay,” I said slowly. “And then?”
He looked me dead in the eyes. “Thunder cracked. But it wasn’t natural. It came from the earth, not the sky. The flowers died. Everything died. It was like the ground itself rejected him.”
I blinked. “An omen?”
Damien nodded. “Worse than that. The crowd panicked. People screamed. Fainted. Some tried to flee.”
My chest tightened. “Did anyone get hurt?”
“Not during the omen,” he said. “But after? Yes. Thorne lost it. Declared that anyone who didn’t bow to him was a traitor. He forced the guards to surround the plaza. Said anyone who didn’t kneel would be executed.”
I stared at him. “You're joking.”
His eyes were grave. “I wish I was. He controlled the crowd by fear alone. The council knelt. The nobles, too. Even the High Priest. Not because they believed in him... because they were afraid.”
My stomach turned. This was like a freakin’ episode ofGame of Thrones.
His uncle finally spoke. “He took the crown, but not the blessing. And the Immortals answered.”
I turned to look at him. “And what happens now?”
Damien’s mouth twisted. “Now he rules. At least on paper.”
“But not in spirit,” I whispered.
Damien slowly nodded. “Exactly.”
I reached for his hand, threading my fingers through his. “You’re safe now. That’s what matters. You came back.”
He brought my hand to his lips and placed a soft kiss on my fingers. “I had to. By the Immortals, Cat, you don’t know whatit was like, not knowing if you were okay. I thought you would think the thunder was enough to open the portal and leave. I needed to see you.”
My heart pounded faster. “I waited for you. I didn’t eat. Didn’t rest. I just... waited.”
He touched my cheek, brushing his thumb along the edge of my jaw. “You shouldn’t have to. I promise not to leave your side ever again.”
I smiled, but it didn’t quite reach my eyes. “Then let’s make sure we survive long enough for you to keep that promise.”
When he pulled me close again, I didn’t resist. I leaned into him and pressed my ear against his chest, comforted by the sound of his heart thundering beneath the surface. Or maybe that was the storm still rumbling above.
Either way, it felt like a warning.
