Page 103 of The Reaper's Vow
I nod, unable to find words. My fingers twist in the blanket still wrapped around my shoulders, anchoring me to something tangible when everything else feels like it might dissolve at any moment.
Damien crouches in front of me, somehow making himself smaller as he looks up into my face.
“You don't have to be strong right now,” he says quietly. “Not for me.”
Tears blur my vision as I look down at him. This man who killed an alpha to save me, who holds me now like I might shatter if he's not careful enough.
“I was so scared.” The words scrape my throat raw. “Not just of Lockhart, but of losing you. Of losing us. When the bond went quiet, I thought?—”
“I know.” His hands cover mine where they clutch the blanket. “I felt it too. The silence. It nearly drove me insane.”
I lean forward, resting my forehead against his. The simple contact sends relief flooding through our connection. A warmth I hadn't realized I was desperately craving.
“The tracker,” I say, pulling back enough to face him directly. “I understand why you did it. I hate that you didn’t tell me, but I understand.”
His jaw tightens. “I violated your trust. I should have?—”
“You saved my life.” The truth of it settles between us, complicated and messy but undeniable. “We'll figure out the trust part later. Right now, I just need you to help me wash him off my skin.”
Damien rises, offering me his hand. “Come on. Let me take care of you.”
He leads me into the bathroom, where the soaking tub is already filling with water hot enough to cloud the mirrors. Steam curls through the air, carrying the scent of heat and stone. When he shuts off the faucet, he uncaps a small bottle on the counter and lets a few drops fall into the water. The sharp hiss of oil meeting heat fills the space, and the scent of lavender blooms between us, soft and grounding.
He turns back toward me, ready to help, but I lift a hand to stop him.
“I can manage,” I start to say, but he shakes his head.
“Let me. Please.”
There's something in his voice—a need that matches my own. He needs to care for me as much as I need to be cared for. To replace Lockhart's violence with his gentleness, his possession with protection.
I nod, letting the blanket fall away. His shirt follows, pooling at my feet. Damien's eyes don't linger on my nakedness. Instead, they catalog every mark, rage flickering behind his careful control.
“I should have killed him slower,” he growls, his hands clenching at his sides.
“You killed him. That's what matters.”
He helps me into the tub. The hot water engulfs me, and I can't suppress the groan. I sink deeper into the water, letting it rise to my collarbone. The warmth penetrates my aching muscles, drawing out pain I didn't even realize I was holding.Damien kneels beside the tub, rolling up his sleeves before reaching for a washcloth and soap.
“This might sting,” he warns, gently lifting my arm from the water.
His touch is reverent as he washes away the dried blood. I watch his face as he works, the muscle ticking in his jaw each time he uncovers another bruise beneath the grime.
“I felt my wolf tonight,” I say, breaking the silence. “Really felt her.”
“Your wolf was always part of you, kitten. You just needed to stop being afraid of her.”
“I'm not afraid anymore.” The words surprise me with their certainty. “Not of her. Not of what I am.” I pause, studying his face as he rinses soap from my skin. “I’m more afraid of what comes next than my wolf.”
“What do you mean?”
“Lockhart's dead, but that doesn't end this. Other alphas will now be aware of my bloodline. They'll want what he wanted.”
Damien's hands still in the water. “Let them come,” he says quietly, but there's nothing quiet about the promise. “They'll learn what happened to the last alpha who tried to take you.”
I reach up, cupping his face with my wet hand. “I don't want you to have to keep killing for me.”
“Then they shouldn't keep threatening you.” His thumb traces my lower lip, careful of the cut there. “This is what being mated to me means, Karina. I will destroy anyone who tries to harm you. It's not a choice. It's what I am.”
